Marc Jacobs Defies CFDA, Has Underage Models Walk In Fall Show

by Julia Rubin | 12:01 pm, February 14th, 2012

“Looks like some young’ns are cast in the Marc Jacobs show. Best not tell @CFDA,” Eric Wilson of the New York Times tweeted last night. Marc’s response? I can do whatever I want, thankyouverymuch.

According to an article by Wilson today, at least two of the models who walked in Jacobs’ show were younger than 16. Last month Diane von Furstenberg sent out a letter to reenforce the CFDA‘s recommendation that 16 be the absolute minimum age for runway models during New York Fashion Week. A dozen agencies signed a pledge agreeing to keep underage girls (and boys) off the catwalk, though Ford Models did not.

Jacobs used Ford to cast 14-year-old Thairine Garcia and 15-year-old Ondria Hardin (who also walked for Jacobs last season) in his show. The designer, who is indeed a member of the CFDA, told the Times that he doesn’t think much of the guidelines:

“I do the show the way I think it should be and not the way somebody tells me it should be. If their parents are willing to let them do a show, I don’t see any reason that it should be me who tells them that they can’t…There are children actors and children models for catalogs and stuff, so I guess if a parent thinks it’s O.K. and a kid wants to do it, it’s fine.”

Check out Garcia (on the left) and Hardin in last night’s show:

[NYT]

CFDA Marc Jacobs NYFW NYFW Fall 2012 Ondria Hardin Thairine Garcia Underage

Follow Us

Tips

Style Dish

click here for advertising opportunities