Several retailers are switching from traditional skinny mannequins to versions more representative of the average American, extra pounds and all.
Mannequins are evolving just like real humans.
Several retailers are switching from traditional skinny mannequins to versions more representative of the average American, extra pounds and all.
JC Penney and QVC have been using them for years, but more businesses are planning to join them.
David’s Bridal recently showed the public its new version, sporting sagging breasts, a protruding belly and back fat.
A spokesperson for the company said, “This will give a shopper a better idea of what the dress will look like on her.”
The unspoken sentiment that follows that sentence for most making the switch is ‘and then they’ll buy it’.
Research shows that their logic is sound. In one study, 42 percent of shoppers said how something looks on a mannequin is a big influence in purchasing decisions, trumped only by family and friends.
However, when a picture of a weight-enhanced dummy showed up on Reddit, the comments were quite conflicting.
Some questioned the wisdom of normalizing obesity, while others applauded retailers for finally acknowledging what contemporary humans really look like.
Injecting a bit of humor into the debate, one poster quipped, "It's not fat, it's just big foamed."
