Lingerie brand Aerie features real-sized models in its ads

New York

ATTEMPTS to move away from airbrushing in advertising have ebbed and flowed over the last decade, but at a time when even Barbie now comes in petite, tall and curvy, more retailers are turning to authentic-looking women to market their products.

One of them is Aerie, the intimate-apparel brand owned by American Eagle Outfitters, which features women of varying body types in its marketing campaigns to promote a positive body image. To underscore the point, the company will begin a social media campaign this week to support the National Eating Disorders Association.