Display Mannequins for Clothing Stores: Choosing Type, Material and Finish

A display mannequin for a clothing store is chosen according to what it's meant to display. Swimwear and lingerie are shown on a slim-cut full torso, an upper torso or a display hip form. Shirts, jackets and knitwear need a torso with arms. Once you've chosen a type, you decide on material, finish and size, and check that the clothes sold in the store actually fit it. This guide goes through those decisions in order.

Start with the Merchandise, Not the Mannequin

The most common mistake is choosing a mannequin by how it looks in the catalog. A mannequin that doesn't suit the merchandise will display it poorly: a bra on a torso without a defined bust looks flat, and a jacket on an armless torso loses the line of the sleeve. So the first question is what you'll be hanging on the mannequin most days.

• Swimwear, lingerie and bodysuits: a full torso from the neck to the hips, an upper torso for bras and tops, and a hip or lower-body form for underwear and bikinis.

• Dresses and fitted clothing: a slim-cut torso, like the Lady Lean, on which the garment stretches smoothly without folds.

• Men's shirts, jackets and knitwear: a men's torso with arms, so the sleeve falls as it would on a body.

• Men's underwear, swimwear and shorts: a men's lower torso, which stands on its own on a shelf or counter.

• A boutique with a studio look: a cream fabric display mannequin with articulated wooden arms, which conveys handcraft rather than mass retail.

Types of Display Mannequins

Full Torso

From the neck to the hips, without legs. This is the most versatile mannequin for a fashion store: it displays both tops and bottoms, takes up less space than a mannequin with legs, and can stand on a stand in the window or on a surface inside the store. The women's torso in matte white is 83 cm tall.

Upper Torso and Half-Body

Bust, shoulders and neck. Designed for bras, tops and swim tops, usually with a flat base that stands on a counter or shelf. The women's upper torso is 46 cm tall, so it also fits an eye-level display on a shelf.

Hip and Lower-Body Form

From the waist to mid-thigh. Displays underwear, bikinis, short leggings and sportswear. Because it's small and light, you can line up several on one shelf, each in a different color. You'll find it in a natural skin tone and also in matte pink.

Fabric Display Mannequin

A fabric-covered body on a tripod, sometimes with articulated arms. It looks like a tailor's form, suits boutiques, bridal salons and designer displays, and you can stick pins into it to adjust the garment in place.

Fiberglass, Rigid Plastic or Fabric

• Fiberglass: rigid and strong, with a smooth, clean finish. Heavier, and therefore more stable on a stand. Suits shop windows and stores where the mannequin is dressed and undressed every day.

• Rigid plastic: lighter and easy to move. Suits small torsos, hip forms and shelf displays, especially for stores that change their displays often.

• Fabric: soft to the touch with a studio look. You can stick pins into it, but it absorbs dust and dirt faster and needs a cover when the store is closed.

Choosing a Finish and Color

The finish determines how the garment will look on the mannequin, and just as much, the character of the store.

• Matte white: clean and neutral. Every garment color stands out on it. The safe choice for most stores.

• Matte black: creates strong contrast with light-colored clothes and conveys luxury. Especially suited to menswear and stores with a dark design.

• Natural skin tone: looks like skin, so it suits lingerie, lace and swimwear, where the customer wants to see how the item sits on the body.

• Color: matte pink or other shades, for a branded display of lingerie or sportswear.

One rule saves a lot of trouble: one finish for the whole store, or for each area of the store. Mannequins in three different colors in one window look like a random collection.

Size: The Garment Should Fit Without Pins

Check the mannequin's measurements against your store's best-selling size. For example, the Lady Lean torso measures bust 85, waist 65 and hips 89 cm, and the full women's torso measures bust 88, waist 68 and hips 97 cm. A garment that's too big for the mannequin can be pinned or clipped at the back so it looks smooth and neat from the front. A garment that's too small won't fit, so a slightly smaller mannequin is better than a slightly larger one.

Where and at What Height to Place Them

• Torso on a surface: a short torso looks good on a surface 90 to 110 cm high, so the bust is roughly at the customer's eye level.

• In a shop window: place 2 or 3 mannequins at different heights, not in a straight row. That way the eye moves between the items.

• Near the entrance: one mannequin with the season's look, so the customer immediately sees what's new.

• Next to the shelf with the same item: a customer who liked what's on the mannequin should find it without searching.

Children's Display Mannequins

Choose according to the age range your store sells, not one mannequin for all ages. Babies, children and teens have different proportions, and a 10-year-old's garment won't look good on a 4-year-old's mannequin. The options are in Children's Display Mannequins.

Maintenance

• Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Don't use solvents, which damage the matte finish.

• Dress and undress gently, over the neck or after removing the arms, without pulling hard.

• Cover a fabric mannequin when the store is closed, with a non-woven cover from our dress and garment covers.

• Wrap a mannequin stored in a stockroom so the finish doesn't get scratched.

For Stores, Chains and Wholesale

When equipping several branches, choose the same model and finish for all of them, so the display is consistent. We're direct importers of display mannequins, and for bulk orders we match the models and sizes to your store. You'll find all the models in Display Mannequins, Women's Display Mannequins and Men's Display Mannequins. You can see them at our showroom in Tel Aviv, or contact us for a quote.