By William Stolerman

Despite CFDA guidelines which stipulate models should be at least 16 years old to feature on the runway, a girl aged 15 starred in three top New York Fashion Week Shows.

Schoolgirl Hailey Clauson, 15 (above), was cast by Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY and Oscar de la Renta at the fashion extravaganza, and what’s more, von Furstenberg is President of the CFDA.

The designer has since admitted she had no idea the model was so young, and has expressed her regret at the incident.

In a letter to CFDA members, she wrote: “As you remember, I sent you all a letter prior to the shows, emphasising healthy models and diversity, and reminding you of our Health Guidelines. One of the guidelines, as you know, is not to hire models under 16 in addition to making sure that all of them are properly fed.”

“Well, it is to my horror that I discovered last Friday that in spite of me repeating that to my production and casting people, one girl slipped through the cracks. One girl who will be 16 in March walked my show last week!!”

“I was horrified and terribly embarrassed. From now on I will instruct my casting people to demand IDs. I encourage you to do the same. Please accept my apology. I am trying to be a good leader and set an example … so please, please accept my apology.”

Though the guidelines aren’t legally binding, they form a key part of the CFDA’s health initiative launched in 2007. Amongst other provision, the guidelines also try to prevent girls younger than 18 from working past midnight at fittings or photo shoots.

Calvin Klein also disregarded the rule when he cast the teenager in his show last season – where she made her catwalk debut.

Via [dailymail]