Skinny Mannequins Get Healthier
Images in store windows are getting a makeover
Too skinny mannequins are said to contribute to the rate of eating disorders
When you walk by a storefront display of clothing, thin mannequins stare back at you blankly in their fashionable clothing. For people with body image issues, this can lead to feelings of not being skinny enough; for others, they’re just shapes that show off stylish outfits.
For people with eating disorders, the size of these mannequins is usually the size these individuals want to emulate. They yearn for the angular form and bony limbs. They want the clothes to hang on them like they do on the mannequins.
Lately, there has been a lot of media coverage about underweight models, anorexic models who have died, celebrities speaking out about eating disorders, and the recent ban in various countries to ban runway models whose BMI (body mass index) is not over 18.5.
Spain has played a large role in this controversy, spearheading the ban and speaking out strongly and publicly about their decision. The country has also started a program where thousands of women have undergone body scans to help create more realistic mannequin shapes.
It is now reported that they’re getting rid of the waif-like mannequins altogether. No longer will skeletal forms be representative of women’s bodies; healthier images are set to grace the window displays.
Announced this January, 4 of the largest retailers will exchange their typical mannequins for ones that aren’t under a size 38: in the United States, this is comparable to a size 6. They will also be standardizing women’s sizes, which means that the dimensions of different styles from different stores will fit the same way.
This is the opposite of vanity sizing, where clothing lines are dropping the measurements so that people who used to be a size 8 can now fit into a size 6. With all of the latest styles fitting differently from store to store, this can be a headache and a self-esteem roller coaster.
Not all fashion designers are taking part in this program, but over 80% of them are. This is a huge step in the right direction and an important step for other counties to follow. The plan is being carried out presently and is expected to be finished later this year.
