Why Is Ultrathin Back in Fashion? The Shrinking Runway Trend

The Fashion Industry’s Return to Ultrathin and What It Means for Body Diversity

Not only are there fewer curve models on the runway, the thin models appear to be getting thinner.Credit...Estrop/Getty Images, Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times, Andrea

If you’ve been following recent runway shows, you might have noticed something unsettling—the models are looking thinner than ever. Just a few years ago, fashion seemed to be embracing body diversity, celebrating plus-size models and more inclusive sizing. But now, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, and the ultrathin fashion trend is making a strong (and concerning) comeback.

A Shift Away from Size Inclusivity

Back in 2021, Paloma Elsesser became the first plus-size model to grace the cover of American Vogue, marking what seemed like a major shift toward size diversity in fashion. But fast forward to 2025, and the industry is backtracking. Not only are fewer curve models appearing on the runway, but the standard thin models seem to be getting even thinner.

Fashion insiders are noticing this shift, too. David Bonnouvrier, a founder of DNA Model Management, put it bluntly: “The pendulum went one way, and now it’s swinging full force the other way.” And you can see it everywhere—from high fashion catwalks to ad campaigns, there’s a noticeable absence of the body diversity that once seemed to be gaining ground.

Not only are there fewer curve models on the runway, the thin models appear to be getting thinner.Credit...Estrop/Getty Images, Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times, Andrea

The Hypocrisy of Fashion’s ‘Ideal’ Body

What’s particularly ironic is that while designers are creating clothing with exaggerated hourglass silhouettes—think padded hips, structured shoulders, and cinched waists—the real models inside those garments are thinner than ever. Take the recent Schiaparelli show, where a model’s protruding hip bones looked almost like an accessory themselves.

What’s Driving the Ultrathin Trend?

Several factors could be fueling this return to extreme thinness:

• Cultural Shifts: The rise of social media trends glorifying thin bodies, alongside celebrities visibly losing weight, has influenced public perception.

• Weight Loss Drugs: With medications like Wegovy and Ozempic gaining popularity for weight loss, some speculate that the accessibility of these drugs is influencing body standards.

• Fashion’s Cyclical Nature: Trends in fashion often swing back and forth, and unfortunately, body diversity seems to have been treated as a “trend” rather than a permanent shift.

Across the runway season, thin models were back on catwalks after years of change. Credit: Getty

What Happens Next?

The fashion industry’s return to ultrathin ideals raises serious concerns about body image, eating disorders, and the mental health impact on young audiences. While some brands are still pushing for inclusivity, the overall direction of high fashion suggests a return to exclusionary beauty standards.

So, where do we go from here? Will brands continue to shrink their models, or will the public demand a return to true inclusivity? The conversation isn’t over, and it’s up to consumers, models, and fashion insiders to push for lasting change in an industry that too often treats body diversity as a fleeting trend.

What do you think about this shift? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!