Jowell wants skinny models off the Fashion Week catwalk

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

More on the Size Zero debate here...

• Five skinny models barred from Madrid catwalk

• We'll have no Size 0 models, pledges Fashion Week chief

• Moss's agent breaks rank and says weight must be discussed

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell has said she wants to see extremely thin models kept off the catwalk.

But rather than legislation, she believes the fashion industry should regulate itself.

Experts last night dismissed her comments, saying designers were unable to regulate themselves and would keep using dangerously thin models.

Dr Dee Dawson, who runs the Rhodes Farm eating disorders clinic in North London, said: "We are talking about people's lives here and these people design dresses, they don't know anything about what's healthy and what's not."

She added that models at one of the opening shows, by designer Caroline Charles, were too thin.

Uruguay model Luisel Ramos, 22, died of heart failure last August after not eating for several days. In November, Ana Carolina Reston died after living on apples and tomatoes.

London Fashion Week organisers have refused to follow the example fashion bosses in Madrid and Milan and set a body-mass index limit, used to determine healthy weight, for models.

Asked whether London should have doctors checking models, Miss Jowell said:

"I think it is for the industry to make these decisions, but the short answer is yes."

She added that the focus should be "on thinness which is making the model ill, rather than simply an arbitrary measurement".

The British Fashion Council has asked designers to use healthy models aged over 16. It has also set up a taskforce to look into the issue.

A spokesman added: "I was at the Caroline Charles show and the girls looked perfectly fine."