I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s ever walked by mannequins on display at a store and asked, “Really?” It’s not uncommon to see weirdly skinny mannequins sporting merchandise in size 0, safety pinned at the back because it’s still too big. Those clothes often end up being what I describe as “good on the rack,” but not really anywhere else.
The Gap's "Always Skinny" mannequin earned the nickname "Death Camp Chic" |
You know it’s a problem when your bones are literally bigger
than what’s supposed to be a full flesh-and-bone representation. Of course, not
all mannequins are like that. But the average size for mannequins in the United
States is between sizes 4 and 6. This contrasts sharply with the average
woman’s size, which is between 12 and 14 according
to Women’s Wear Daily.
Mannequins are also blessed with abnormally long figures and
limbs, some as much as 6 inches taller and 6 sizes smaller than the average
woman, according to the Chicago Tribune. But lately some in the fashion
industry have taken a stand against the promotion of anorexic figures,
including major gurus like Vogue, which is run by editor Anna Wintour and
contributed to by fashionistas
like Lauren Santo Domingo.
But now a photo of two mannequins is making the viral rounds
on the Internet—and the approval has been overwhelming. The picture depicts two
mannequins from an unknown Swedish retail store sporting sets of purple
lingerie. What’s special about them is that they actually look like real women.
They have hips, breasts, and soft tissue. Their legs and arms look proportional.
They are still slim, yes, but in a healthy way.
Average-sized mannequins from a Swedish retailer are receiving praise for being realistic. |
A few worry that making larger mannequins will promote
obesity, but to that I say “Pah!” The mannequins aren’t obese; they are a more
realistic depiction of what women actually look like. How does seeing a super
skinny mannequin help us picture clothing on our own bodies? How does it make
us feel when those clothes don’t seem to fit in quite the same way?
The
picture surfaced earlier this week on the Women’s Rights News Facebook page
with a message attached: “Store mannequins in Sweden. They look like real
women. The US should invest in some of these.”
And I have to say, I agree. What do you think?
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