Fashion magazines are constantly criticised for altering images to make models appear thinner, but in the latest Photoshop fail, an international fashion magazine has been attacked for airbrushing skinny supermodel Karlie Kloss to make her appear more full-figured.
Posing in Numero magazine, the 20-year-old model is pictured topless with her hands raised above her head in a seductive pose causing her ribcage to protrude from her body.
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In the original images, released by the photographer and brought to attention by several outraged fashion bloggers, Kloss appears emaciated.
But by the time the spread was printed, the image had been altered to cover up her bony body, adding several pounds to the model’s skinny frame.
The unusual airbrushing — a technique usually reserved for making models appear slimmer — was carried out without photographer Greg Kadel’s knowledge, and much to his shock and disappointment.
In a statement from Kadel’s studio, the photographer revealed that he wanted to represent the model as she appears naturally.
“It was Greg’s desire to represent Karlie as she naturally is … slender, athletic and beautiful,” the statement read.
“That is why he released the images as he intended them to be seen by the public. He is shocked and dismayed that unbeknownst to him, Numero took it upon themselves to airbrush over his original images.
“Greg stands by his original artwork and cannot stress enough that he not only was unaware of the magazine’s retouching but also finds the airbrushing of Karlie unacceptable and unnecessary.”
As well as upsetting the photographer, the altered images have fashion bloggers and commentators outraged for a number of reasons, from accusing the magazine of ‘playing God’, to criticising the choice of model.
“This is another case of a magazine being extra cautious (or lack taste), and I prefer Kadel’s original to Numero’s manipulation,” one blogger stated.
Several observers have suggested the airbrushing was unnecessary, and that even a fuller-figured model in the same pose would have exposed ribs.
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“Anyone who stretches back like that will have their ribs show through. It’s natural; unlike the edited image,” the Fashion Copious blogger said.
It has been suggested that the magazine was being cautious in their treatment of the images, following a spread in Vogue Italia last year featuring the same super-thin model that ended up appearing on a number of pro-anorexia website and garnered a great deal of criticism for promoting unhealthy body image.
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