So the blogs are burning up this week over Boing Boing’s accusations of possible photo-shopping by Ralph Lauren.  The ad, originally featured on Photoshop Disasters, features the already gaunt Fillapa Hamilton, slimmed down to a cartoon-like figure in jeans and a sleeveless blouse. With arms razor-thin enough to slice suzuki for my rainbow roll, and a thimble sized waist,  Boing Boing‘s Xeni Jardin blogged: “Dude, her head’s bigger than her pelvis.”  Apparently, tis not “cool” to speculate on hip bone to hip bone ratios in the fashion world; Ralph Lauren filed a Digital Miliienium Copyright Act against Boing Boing and Photoshop Disasters for using the image to criticize/for commentary.

Can you say backfire? Unfortunately, for RL their filing has actually just drawn more (negative) press and attention; they are now the hot company to blame for the rise in body dysmorphia . The flames over body image and retouching have been stoked.

I pray this will be the tipping point for designers; that they will finally get the message loud and clear they have to STOP doing this to girls. Year after year, season after season these reckless designers throw these ads at us women, and it just destroys us. Upon seeing this ad I immediately  felt that familiar self-hatred only fashion can stir within me. As always is the case I started bingeing, purging and cutting myself. Putting Sheryl Crow’s “I Shall Believe” on repeat, I opened all the windows and doors in the house,  took to bed, and rocked myself with my thumb in my mouth for hours. How are we women supposed to cope with these types of demands!?!?!?!!??!!?? How am I supposed to wear such ugly jeans!??!?!?!