My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

Size 16 Mannequins in Debenhams

111 replies

calamitygin · 07/11/2013 10:18

unveiled yesterday ... is no-one talking about this??? Or have I just missed the boat (as usual)

OP posts:
Report
rainbowfeet · 07/11/2013 10:24

I saw it & thought it was a positive step towards reducing the pressure on women & in particular young girls to feel they have to look a certain way! Smile
However the waist & hip measurements of the mannequins might have been a British size 16 but the tummy's are flat, thighs & buttocks toned... Where's the wobbly bits?!!! Wink

Report
calamitygin · 07/11/2013 10:28

yes, well it's a start isn't it?

OP posts:
Report
KosherBacon · 07/11/2013 10:29

I looked at the model and thought "she's got skinny legs for a size 16". They seem to have given her bigger hips and thats about it.

Report
calamitygin · 07/11/2013 10:41

some size 16's do have skinny legs though I take your point.

OP posts:
Report
Karbea · 07/11/2013 10:46

Is 16 the average size of a British women then?

Report
Branleuse · 07/11/2013 10:47

i dont particularly see the point. I dont think its even "a start" Its a crap token gesture. They may be bigger, but its not about saying all body shapes are acceptable, if youve got a choice between kate moss or christina hendricks,

Report
rainbowfeet · 07/11/2013 10:47

I'm a 16 & fortunately have slim legs (ish) but have wobbles elsewhere!

Hope they help by putting clothes on the mannequins that are designed to flatter larger figures to give us inspiration when shopping! (Not that I need any encouragement to spend money)!! Wink

Report
LaurieFairyCake · 07/11/2013 10:49

I personally like it as it gives me a much better idea of how something is going to look.

If there are no lumps and bumps that can be achieved by a real person in control underwear if they want to. I always wear light control pants, light control tights and that slight smoothing effect is good enough for me.

Report
DesperateHousewife21 · 07/11/2013 10:50

I dont think it'll catch on though. I get the point of mannequins but you still need to try things on.
Im a size 8 and doesnt always look the same on me as it does on them.

Report
calamitygin · 07/11/2013 12:51

I agree, I think it does give you a better idea of what a particular garment will look like if you're bigger than an 8/10 and yy agree you must still try things.

Branleuse everything has to start somewhere doesn't it, you may see it as a crap token gesture but I don't. Not sure what your point is about Kate Moss and Christina Hendricks. They both look great imo.

OP posts:
Report
Karbea · 07/11/2013 13:25

I'm a size 8 and 5 ft tall, seeing a size 16 model won't help me. The best thing would be to have different size/shape models. This would be hard to do in store, but relatively easy online I would have thought.

Report
SundaySimmons · 07/11/2013 13:50

Stupid idea. Why not have mannequins of all sizes.

I'm a size 10, I will be put off by bigger sized mannequins because they will not show how the clothes look on me.

Report
rainbowfeet · 07/11/2013 14:00

Karbea ... I believe these mannequins will be on display alongside the usual size 10 ones not replacing them. Smile

Report
dottyaboutstripes · 07/11/2013 14:01

I'm a size 10 but I'm only 5ft 1 so I never look the same in clothes as on mannequins anyway. The size 16 one has a WAY better figure than mine!!

Report
BobaFetaCheese · 07/11/2013 14:03

If they're going to do a 16 because it's the 'average', why not make the mannequins 5'4 instead of stretched out?
I'm a size 8 but seeing a size 16, 5'4 mannequin (with average bust, waist & hips) would give me a better idea of how clothes fit than a size 8 6'5 one!

Report
calamitygin · 07/11/2013 14:04

until window displays go digital and all mannequins are virtual (patents idea) you're never going to get 50 different body shapes and heights. The point is that they are starting to diversify and that's got to be a good thing surely?

Yes it's a drop in the ocean but it does helps with the debate about body issues because it makes the news and people post on twitter/facebook/blog about it etc

OP posts:
Report
OBface · 07/11/2013 14:17

Not sure about this TBH. A size 16 shape certainly wouldn't be healthy (in most cases) and overweight people put a huge strain on the NHS. Does this start to normalise obesity?

Report
calamitygin · 07/11/2013 14:32

not this old chestnut again ... look when I was a size 16 I was still within the "healthy" weight range as deemed by the NHS, admittedly I was close to the edge but I was a damn sight healthier than someone who smoked 20 fags a day/drank "moderately" every day/took no exercise at all etc.

size 16 is not "obese"

OP posts:
Report
OBface · 07/11/2013 15:21

But for a lot of people it is. When I had my DD I put on a lot of weight and at 5ft 7 and a size 14/16 my BMI just crept into the obese range. I was told this by my GP.

Size 16 is most certainly unhealthy if not obese. We have a problem with weight in this country, I don't agree that Debenhams increasing the size of mannequins is sending out the right message.

www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/laura-donnelly/10174593/Obesity-bankrupting-the-NHS-warns-peer.html

Report
CajaDeLaMemoria · 07/11/2013 15:25

The virtual mannequin idea has already been patented.

So has the idea of having displays which use mirrors to "import" your image and show you what the outfit would look like on you, roughly. There's data protection concerns with both at the moment.

Just as an FYI!

Report
iwantanafternoonnap · 07/11/2013 15:28

You can be a size 16 and healthy you know! There are skinny people where I work and ask one of them to run 5km and they could not manage it where as I can.

Report
OBface · 07/11/2013 15:32

I understand that you can be a size 16 and healthy! But it is more unusual.

Having a high percentage body fat ratio is without doubt less healthy than having a low one.

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

DelGirl · 07/11/2013 15:32

here obface have one of these Biscuit

Report
OBface · 07/11/2013 15:43

Really? I am honestly and genuinely shocked. When my weight went up following pregnancy I wanted to get back into shape, mainly for health and fitness reasons.

Given the strain on the NHS why I am so bad for not wanting to normalise the nations' weight gain?

Report
OBface · 07/11/2013 15:44

Delgirl a bit extreme to give me a biscuit for saying a lower body fat ratio is better than a high one no? Surely this is fact?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.