When it comes to body and size inclusivity, fashion isn’t exactly known for having the best track record—and it seems like for every step taken forward for the fashion world to appreciate women of all shapes and sizes in recent, there are still those who focus only on the mostly unachievable, narrowly defined female body ideal. Take (now ex) Herve Leger executive Patrick Couderc, for example.
The former UK managing director of the iconic fashion brand responsible for the often imitated bandage dress came under fire Sunday after he made some rather nasty comments in an interview to the Daily Mail about the women he believes should be and shouldn’t be wearing the fashion house’s dresses. Among the body types he mentioned? Couderc told the Daily Mail that “voluptuous” women, as well as those with “very prominent hips and a very flat chest,” should stay away from wearing Herve Leger’s body-con styles. (Does that even leave any women left to be wearing his dresses?)
“Yes, you have a 12th of an inch around your stomach, it’s not really a disaster, and what you’re not noticing is that your cleavage is about two inches too low because you are 55 and it’s time that you should not display everything like you’re 23,” Couderc said in his interview.
As if that weren’t bad enough, the exec also targeted lesbians with his cruel comments, saying that truly “committed” lesbians wouldn’t want to wear a Herve Leger dress, because they would rather look “butch and leisurely.” Ouch.
Thankfully, Herve Leger is taking action to show they do not stand behind Couderc’s rather, um, blunt interview by reportedly firing him. The fashion house also addressed the situation with a Facebook post, apologizing to the brand’s fans.
“His remarks are not a reflection of Herve Leger, which celebrates sensuality, glamour and femininity without discrimination,” the brand said. “His comments were deeply offensive to us all.”
We’re just glad Herve Leger (and the rest of the fashion industry) finds this as completely unacceptable as we do! After all, with a considerable amount of progress being made towards body positivity in fashion, it would be a shame to let those like Couderc get in the way.