It started simply enough. Five days ago a Reddit user posted a photo of an overweight mannequin asking 鈥淎nyone else horrified that they make obese mannequins too now?鈥�
The photo was far from flattering. On top of pasty, white skin of a male mannequin was an even whiter wifebeater and boy shorts. Its head and hands appeared freakishly small. Meantime, its arms, legs and stomach looked inflated and marshmallow-like.
touched off an online debate that garnered more than 1,400 comments鈥攎any of which were strongly in favor or against the notion.
And it touched off some interesting questions as Colorado and other states combat obesity. In a world where the average American woman is a size 14, why is the typical mannequin a size 4 or 6? Should mannequins reflect reality鈥攊.e. the 鈥攐r the small shapes that many aspire to?
Mannequin makers including Broomfield-based Fusion Specialties have discussed the importance of mannequins capturing part of a customer鈥檚 imagination. Brand Manager Peter Huston explained to KUNC:
A well-designed mannequin will always be far more aspirational than it is realistic. And so you walk a fine line there.
But President of the mannequin company Alvanon, Ed Gribbin, said retailers are warming to the idea of plus-sized mannequins.
They certainly don't want to be seen as passing judgment on anyone and plus sizes are now the majority of sales for many.
While stores are open to the idea, don鈥檛 expect things to change overnight. Mannequin Maddess, a company that buys used items from retail shops, wrote in its blog last March that only a . In its blog the company wrote:
There is still not public acceptance of plus sizes. This is why plus size mannequins are rarely seen in store windows or on the main floor where the glamour mannequins are.聽They are typically relegated to the second or third floor of major department stores. Only in stores that specifically cater to plus size women do you see plus size mannequins prominently displayed.
And here鈥檚 another dose of bizarre mannequin-style reality.
Mannequin Madness鈥� blog goes on to point out that 鈥減lus size鈥� in the mannequin world is women鈥檚 size 10鈥攆ar from what many see as 鈥渙bese鈥�.
