Size 16 Mannequins in Debenhams

[calamitygin]

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

[SundaySimmons]

I agree with Obface.

If I was a size 16 I would be hugely overweight.

I'm 5"6.

Are they now going to have age appropriate mannequins as well?

[JuneauWhoIAm]

OBface, I agree with you.
I don't see it as a positive step at all.

[JuneauWhoIAm]

Maybe she's hoping if you have enough biscuits you'll want large mannequins too OB

[DelGirl]

It was for your 1st and 2nd post obface, they don't read well imho

[LittleTulip]

Also agree with Obface.

Yes some size 16s are healthy however in reality the majority are not and are obese.

Fair play to Debenhams for having these mannequins but maybe they should have stuck to having size 12/14s. I would consider size 16 as unhealthy 'large' unless you are 6ft tall.

[Allthingsprettyreturns]

It's a positive move. Did M and S not try aomething similar (maybe it is still doing it) where it had size 14mannequins?

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

I think Branleuse's point about Kate Moss and Christina Hendricks was that they're both equally uncontainable body shapes. i.e. you either have those shapes or you don't.

Christina may be the curvy woman's poster girl, but the average woman is going to struggle just as much to acquire her figure as they would to acquire Kate's.

Women come in all shapes and sizes, but the only acceptable ones seem to be model-esque tall and thin, and glamour girl va va voom.

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

Equally unobtainable.

[Ecuador]

I never even glance at mannequins to see what clothes look like .

[ubik]

Did upi see that programme on TV where it asked igf you can be fat and fit? The answer was yes, there were people who had more muscle mass and were fitter than the slimmer people. But obviously the folk who were slim andfit were healthiest of all.

[calamitygin]

there was an interesting comment piece in todays guardian online

The writer decries them for being "still weirdly super human" and patronising to women as they have flat stomachs. I felt so weary reading this because I personally see them as glorified clothes horses that display the garments, giving you a rough idea of what they might look like on. I don't expect them to be exact replicas of the human form with every lump and bump on show.

People moan about mannequins being too "thin" and then moan when they make them bigger because they're too tall, too "acrylic", too "not like me".

So short sighted.

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

Agreed. Of course they're 'toned' and lacking wobbly bits.

They're solid, inanimate objects.

In any case, way to ensure most retailers don't even bother, and default to the Barbie-esque mannequins of old. Damned if they do and damned if they don't. Might as well save money and just stockpile the usual size ones.

[SundaySimmons]

When I rule the world , I shall rid the earth of mannequins and have clothing in department stores replaced by live models of regular women of all shapes and sizes who will wear the clothes for sale and wear who will wear a badge indicating they are modeling for the store and they will approach women and talk to them about the clothes they are wearing.

[ArbitraryUsername]

Many mannequins lack vital features like heads and stuff. I think not being a bit wobbly way down the list of things that make them unrealistic representations of the human form.

I would have thought that, if you were wanting to offer more flexibility in displaying clothes, having mannequins in a range of sizes (and heights) would be useful. Then you could display a dress in a size 8, some trousers and a top in a 12, a skirt and jumper in a 16, the petite range on a short mannequin, and so on. It would give a bit of variety to the display.

[ArbitraryUsername]

Some of the mannequins in debenhams were shiny silver the last time I was in. Those clearly weren't chosen with realism in mind.

Clothes look quite crap on silver mannequins though.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Agree that in order to look realistic the dolls need to have some pot belly and fat sausage thighs/arm tops going on. Perhaps some back rolls too. Very few size 16 women and taut, tight, flat and toned.

[calamitygin]

leave it out property I see enough of that in the mirror

[madammecholet]

Wow, i'm size 16 & 5'9, am toned, go to the gym, have a healthy BMI & feel bloody great about my curves.

Good job too on this thread, else i'd be in the pit of despair. Seriously, re read some of your comments ladies... you're going completely over the top. Size 16 is not generally obese, your BMI is FAR more important than your bloody dress size.

littletulip I'm looking at you...

Yes some size 16s are healthy however in reality the majority are not and are obese.

[BobaFetaCheese]

I don't think I'm being short sighted or unresonable ti expect mannequins to be of average height if they're going to roll them out in average dress size.
Mens and childrens are, thinking of childrens ones, the ones in John Lewis are in all manner of poses.
Yet in other stores, the only womens in different poses are the underwear ones.

Show me a lady mannequin, with large bust, without being able to see her bra or one bending over without her knickers showing over her jeans and then I'll be happy

[polyhymnia]

Not at all true that size 16 must equal obese. A gross over statement.
Implying all 16s are necessarily less healthy is another non evidence based statement.

I'm tall (5'9'') and broad shouldered and, when at my 'ideal' weight, was still a size 16.

[SundaySimmons]

www.mybodygallery.com/search.html?gender=female&height=168&age=50&weight=54&pantSize=38&shirtSize=any&bodytype=

Thats a website for seeing what real women look like with same size clothes but different shapes.

[OneLittleLady]

To be honest, I don't think the mannequins will make all that much difference right now. it's a start but there still needs to be more variety in the shapes, sizes and heights. Not everyone can be a six foot, size six supermodel and that's ok, the media needs to be held responsible for their part in creating this ideal that to be happy you have to be thin. Of course, it's fine, more than fine, if you are naturally thin but some people are naturally bigger in build than others, it's just luck of the draw in what genetic make up you get. Once people can see through that, there will be a lot more people happy just to be themselves.

[MillyRules]

I work in the fashion industry and size 16 is the average size in the UK and always the first to sell out.

[Strumpetron]

Just because it's the average doesn't mean it's right though. Most size 16 people (myself included) are overweight, should we really be normalising it?

I'm all for getting rid of the silly skinny -only models look like this- mannequins, but ones showing a healthy body shape would be better.

[MillyRules]

Depends on your height. How tall ate you ?