It Looked Hot on the Mannequin—So I Bought It

You’re shopping in a casual department store, not really finding anything stylish enough to splurge on, when all of a sudden, it catches your eye: a sleek, luxurious-looking mannequin dressed in one of the best outfits you’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s the perfect belt position or the pose of the statuesque mannequin, but there’s an urge to recreate the same look on yourself in an effort to look anywhere near as good.

What is it about the mannequin that piques interest in clothes that would otherwise be tossed aside? There’s a science behind the mannequin’s marketing skills involving intricate curation and stylistic talent. In the fashion world, mannequins highlight various fabrics and textures and even sell accessories. The mannequin is hugely impactful and has uses beyond fashion in fields such as medicine, art, cosmetology, and even the film industry. 

Mannequins have a rich history of importance that dates back to ancient Egypt as King Tutankhamun was discovered buried with a wooden dress form. They evolved further from dressmaker’s tools to the plaster marketing figures that are used when shopping today. Mannequins can be made of paper mache, wax, and even wicker—all formed with the human physique in mind. Today, diversity is the main initiative of the retail industry. Companies are working toward broader body types and even representation of gender non-conforming figures that allow for more androgyny in fashion. The world’s largest maker of custom mannequins, Fusion Specialities, partnered with The Phluid Project to create gender-neutral and size-inclusive figures through their Prism line.

Mannequins catch shoppers’ eyes and make clothes look so good that they are tempted to buy them. But, feminine figures represented through mannequins often depict a flawless slender physique of unattainable body standards. Mannequins can contribute to fascination, fetishization, eating disorders, and widespread body image issues among people already impacted by these unachievable beauty standards.

Mannequins also allow curated outfits that make you want to buy multiple items if they are styled interestingly. They are a valuable retail tool used by visual merchandisers who are responsible for styling the mannequin and marketing clothing to everyone. These experts ensure proper lighting, the creation of themes, and the styling of accessories. Mannequins also contribute to human psychology. A study showed that customers were more likely to purchase items displayed on a headless mannequin as opposed to one with a head, possibly due to the open interpretation aspect and potential self-insertion of clothing looks.

Mannequins represent the fit and look of clothing on a real body—or close to the anatomy of a human. They may be striking in window displays and strategically set up in the center of a shop. But, the benefits of online shopping include the ease of comparing various models and poses, which is sometimes more convenient. Although, in-store solutions allow for the use of fitting rooms and holding the clothes up to the body to picture what the fit could be like.

Since forever, models have assumed the role of real-life mannequins for clothes, but they often add the elements of movement and personalization to garments in a way that a lifeless figure cannot accomplish. A recent iconic example of a model being used as an experimental mannequin is Bella Hadid. She was a part of the groundbreaking display at the October Coperni fashion show in which a fibrous spray-on material called “Fabrican” was used live to create a dress on the model.

Whether they are modeling clothing in a store or helping save lives through CPR lessons, mannequins are incredibly useful figures. They have a compelling history and influential nature that shapes the shopping habits and fashion senses of many. Mannequins may be immobile, but they will continue to pose with confidence and grace as long as they have a hand in the world of fashion and retail. 

Strike Out,

Matilda Pollard

Boca Raton

Matilda Pollard is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She is a proud Pisces who loves all things creative. Her hobbies include trying new foods and watching classic rom-coms. You can reach her at mpollard280@gmail.com