Fat is the new thin

I haven’t been to the gym for a week, but do I feel guilty? Not after reading this and this. According to the UK press, curves are officially in.

Granted, I should have seen it coming. The first clue was Eva Longoria Parker’s unapologetic five-pound weight gain. (In her words: “I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat.”) Then, it was Kate Winslet proudly squeezing her curvy frame into skin-tight Hervé Léger. Finally, Kate Moss admitted to New York Magazine that she was wearing a bra for the first time after gaining a few pounds. Suddenly, being “fat” (translation: normal) isn’t such a big deal anymore.

The Sunday Times blames it on the recession:

“…only a few months ago, Madonna’s sinewy calves or Victoria Beckham’s angular collarbones seemed like bona-fide dinner-party conversation-starters. Now that we have some actual problems, debating some neurotic x-ray’s eating habits seems pointless, to say nothing of panicking about our own bodies. Clearly we had too little to worry about if “Is it gluten-free?” or “Should I eat carbs after 6pm?” were troubling questions. Who cares? Malnourished women aren’t interesting any more. They’re depressing.

…Fat people, meanwhile, look better every day. Why? Because they look carefree. So heave a sigh of relief and let your gut out. Kate Moss might be “fat”, but it turns out she’s bang on trend, as ever.”

Finally, a fashion trend I can actually get behind. For years, I’ve been saying that unless you’re a supermodel—which is another word for genetic freak—you have a choice between your face and your rear. Not both. You can starve yourself and slave away at the gym to get perfectly sculpted buttocks, but that usually means your face will be a little on the gaunt side. Or, you can say to hell with it, eat what you want (in moderation, of course) and enjoy that extra bit of roundess that makes your face look younger and plumps out wrinkles.

I know which choice I’m making. And Kate Moss, apparently, agrees.