Clothes almost always look better in ads and magazines than they do on real people. Be it a bunchy collar or an inseam that seems designed for an extraterrestrial, it can be tempting to wonder if the problem is you.
However, the real reason isn’t because clothes just fit better on models. It’s a weird, low-tech trick that has nothing to do with body type, filters, or computer-generated images.
Fashion model Arabella VanderZee (@arabellavanderzee) reveals the secret to models’ perfect fit in a TikTok she posted on June 7.
The secret? Paperclips.
In VanderZee’s post, models first face the camera. Sure enough, their outfits look made for their bodies.
Then the camera reveals the models’ other sides to show large paperclips pinning the excess fabric so the clothes appear to fit perfectly.
Text overlay on the TikTok reads, “The clothes never fit me like they fit the model. Lmao they don’t fit us either.”
“Clipped in EVERY outfit. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t look like the website,” VanderZee’s caption states.
Her TikTok has been viewed 1.9 million times as of Monday afternoon.
How to get that paperclip fit at home
Using paperclips to keep clothes in place for a fashion shoot is a novel but temporary solution. The real problem is clothes that just don’t fit right.
There are some solutions for this issue.
The first thing you should do is make sure you know your sizes.
For a basic measurement, you need to know the dimensions of your bust/chest, waist, and hips, the Sewing Revival advises. Then compare these measurements to a sizing chart online or provided by a retailer.
More complete measurements may include the collar, shoulders, inseam, thigh, hips, back waist, front waist, sleeve length, and trouser length.
Bear in mind that sizes can vary, even with the same brand. And remember you’re buying for the fit, not the number on the tag.
A more expensive option is to get your clothes tailored. Even relatively inexpensive items can look luxurious with good tailoring.
Getting clothes altered can be expensive in itself, however. Fees vary widely, from as little as $15-$20 for a simple alteration to many times that amount for an elaborate garment or entire outfit, such as a suit.
If you’re confident in sewing, you can also tailor your clothes yourself. Done right, this saves money and gives you that made-for-you fit—if you have the skills and patience to pull it off.
A simple trick—or a big lie?
The fashion industry is notorious for misleading consumers. Much of the time, this deception merely causes people to buy things they otherwise wouldn’t if they knew how they would actually look in real life.
In extreme cases, deceptive advertising can contribute to, some might say even cause, body dysmorphia. This is a potentially serious mental illness in which the sufferer worries about their appearance constantly and may even see themselves drastically differently than how they actually appear.
Body dysmorphia has been linked to low self-esteem and self-harm.
Although it is an inarguably serious condition, most would probably agree it’s a bit of a stretch to blame paperclips.
Some people who commented on VanderZee’s lighthearted post are not amused.
“Shouldn’t they be advertising the clothes as they are,” lamented one commenter.
A second opined, “So isn’t that like somewhat false advertising?”
Another likened it to makeup companies putting false eyelashes on models for mascara advertisements.
Companies have taken a lot of heat for this practice, including from the United States’ regulators. The United Kingdom has also reportedly banned ads featuring Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, and Penélope Cruz over the issue.
The model agrees with critics. In response to someone saying the surreptitious paperclips on models are “seriously not fair,” VanderZee replied, “I agree!”
VanderZee’s post is clearly meant to make people feel better about themselves when clothes don’t fit them like they “fit” the models in the ads. While it may be having this effect, it’s also put a target on clothing companies’ backs—right next to a paperclip, probably.
@arabellavanderzee Clipped in EVERY outfit. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t look like the website #fyp #trending #xyzcba #mexico #mexicocity #cdmx #modeling #models #model #reality #photography #ecom #ecommerce #groupshot #relatable ♬ original sound – SHOTTAWORLD??
VanderZee public relations representative did not immediately respond to an email sent on Monday.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
