Teen dumped as face of fashion week

Melbourne City Council has dumped the face of its coming Melbourne Spring Fashion Week because of her age.

Fifteen-year-old Claire Quirk was to be crowned "the face" of the fashion week, and appear on catwalks at many of the festival's 142 events.

Ms Quirk, a year 11 student accompanied to all public appearances by her parents or a chaperone, turns 16 on the day she was to tread the catwalk at the opening gala of the festival, which runs from September 3 to 9.

But Cr Fiona Snedden, who chairs the council's business committee, objected to the selection choice of such a young girl by the Melbourne City Council's marketing officers.

"As a parent, I have a fundamental issue about this," she said. "Fifteen is just too young. There needs to be a time when we stop and say, 'Is it wrong to have models this young?', doesn't there?"

The council's move follows the British fashion industry panel's Model Health Inquiry, which last week recommended banning models aged under 16 from London Fashion Week.

The British report called for a scientific study into the prevalence of eating disorders among fashion models, and an investigation into whether a minimum body-mass index requirement should be introduced for London Fashion Week models, a measure already adopted by Madrid fashion week.

Australia's main fashion industry body supported the restrictions on models younger than 16 working at big fashion shows, saying younger teenagers were ill-equipped to face issues such as sexualisation, alcohol and rejection.

Australian Fashion Council manager Zoe Edquist said yesterday that Melbourne's fashion festivals were "adult environments", and that younger teenage models must be chaperoned.
Ms Edquist, whose organisation represents more than 200 fashion businesses, said: "Children under the age of 16 - and they are really children - are in a very adult industry. It's not an adult industry in the way the pornography industry is adult, but it is a grown-up environment."

If the environment was properly controlled, there was not a problem, Ms Edquist said. Once children were older than 16, they would be able to handle themselves. "I think 16 is the age of consent, but I think it's also generally considered an age when young people are able to handle themselves in a grown-up environment."

Cr Snedden, who has a seven-year-old daughter, also objected to having such a young face as the figurehead of the festival because it was "the wrong demographic" to attract shoppers to Melbourne.

"The demographic we are pitching to is a young, savvy gen X and gen Y demographic, and to women who are my age," said Cr Snedden, 51.

Ms Quirk and her parents yesterday declined to speak to The Age about Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.

But her agency, Chadwick Models, said she would have made an excellent face of the festival.

"We don't want her to be singled out as the model that was dumped as the face of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week because she was too young," Chadwick model booker Lyli Estalote said.

"She is almost 16, but we understand the conservativeness of society."

Ms Quirk until recently lived in Singapore with her parents, Ms Estalote said. "She was probably Singapore's most photographed model."

Fashion group backs curbs on teen models

As manager of the Australian Fashion Council, Zoe Edquist sees more child models than most. Today she has been contemplating the recommendations that have been made by the Model Health Inquiry in Britain.

Their report, which was commissioned by the British fashion industry and released this week, suggests that models under the age of 16 be banned from the catwalk.

This is in order to protect them from the more undesirable aspects of the industry - illicit drug use and the potential to be overly sexualised or develop eating disorders.

Ms Edquist says their suggestion is a step in the right direction.

"I'm not sure about an outright ban, but I think that definitely there does need to be some regulations in place to make sure that young, vulnerable, underage girls aren't exploited by the fashion industry," she said.

"I think that it's probably a sensible move."

Australian and international modelling agent Stephen Bucknall agrees.

"I think that it is heading in the right direction," he said.

"I believe people under the age of 16 should not be in fashion shows unless they are supervised and do have a chaperone with them."

Mr Bucknall says the problem with models under the age of 16 is that they lack the maturity needed to deal with the intense scrutiny and pressure.

He says while he does have some models under the age of 16 on his books, he always ensures they are protected.

"I definitely think anyone around the 16 age bracket should have adult supervision," he said.
"I, myself - if I have any models that are doing fashion shows within Australia or overseas - I insist that a staff member or myself are present and backstage if needed."
Ms Edquist agrees that maturity is needed to survive in the industry.
"Modelling is a job that requires a huge amount of rejection for nearly every model," she said.
"So if you're a 14-year-old girl working as a professional model, you can pretty much bet nine out of the 10 jobs you'll go for you'll be rejected.
"So I don't know if rejection to that extent is something that is very healthy for a girl of that age."
But both Ms Edquist and Mr Bucknall believe a blanket ban is not beneficial for the industry, as there are lots of girls who can cope with these pressures at a young age.

Teen fashion turns feminine

Summer basics get touches of lace, bows, patterns

Dreamy pastel layers and pretty patterns and prints add up to a picture-perfect summer.

The laid-back, feel-good look is great for anyone, but especially nice for teens looking to put a new twist on the standard summer combo of a tank top and shorts, says Joshua Thomas, a trends spokesman for Target in Minneapolis.

The trend stems from the season.

“Summer is a time when we’re a little more willing to take risks and experiment with clothing,” Thomas says. “So those feminine touches and little bits of romantic charm, like the Victorian lace tops and bow accents, are perfect. It’s also reflected in the different patterns and the softer shades of fabric. It’s uncomplicated sophistication.”

Baby doll tanks and tunics are billowy and cool – pair them with Bermuda length shorts or rolled-up capris. Layer a few lace-trimmed tanks and wear with a skirt. Or go ultrafeminine and don a dress, says Lisa Rhodes, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Maurices. And don’t forget to accessorize. Bold jewelry and hats are a great way to infuse a bit of your personality into your wardrobe, Thomas says.

“The options really are limitless,” he says. “It really is a fun time of year. There truly is something for everyone.”

Andrea Maassen, a 15-year-old sophomore at Brandon Valley High School, loves dresses and baby doll tanks. “I just love going shopping because there is so much out there,” she says. Courtney Woolheater, a 15-year-old sophomore at Roosevelt High School, likes being able to dress up the basics and still keep cool. “When it’s hot, I don’t like to sweat.”

Reach Janna Farley at 575-3628.tterns