How to dress a mannequin in 10 easy steps
In the world of retail clothing, dress mannequins and display stands are an integral part of promoting clothing and accessory ranges. Wearing a garment on a mannequin and placing it inside a display has been shown to increase sales by up to 70% in some cases – a great idea for promoting poor sales lines! But the increase in sales cannot simply be attributed to better in-store visibility, ie, dressed on a mannequin; it also has a lot to do with the lifestyle they create, the way they make the customer feel, think and act when they see the garments displayed on mannequins. Sometimes it can be seen as an endorsement to the shopper that if the store has selected these items for display, they need to be believable, fancy, or on-trend, so I’ll have one too!
When dressed on a mannequin, the garment is immaculately presented (pressed with no wrinkles in sight!) and wrapped on a perfectly figured mannequin; then all of a sudden it becomes about more than just visibility and seeing more of the garment: it’s about prompting the suggestion to the customer: ‘that looks great on those styles, I want one of those’.
The average customer is physically shopping when they’re in a store, yet few of them are truly engaged in the buying mindset: their minds are on so many other things, like thinking about what they need for dinner, remembering to pay a bill… . etc. etc. most are browsers simply because most aren’t mentally buying. For this reason, it’s the power of the screen that makes them stop dead and think: wow, that looks fantastic! A dressed mannequin or a display will always attract the customer’s attention before any garment on a hanger.
Now that we’ve established the importance of mannequins and bust forms or tailor’s mannequins, here are ten top tips for a successful display.
Top Tip: Always dress mannequins from the bottom up and finish should always be from the top down.
1 – Carefully select the garments and outfits to display. It is important that the dressings are coordinated, especially if there is more than one manikin on display. Accessories that complement selected garments can also add ‘finishing’ and ‘attention to detail’ to a display. Take your time selecting outfits because what may seem like a small mistake in clothing choice when dressing the mannequin in the back will be a big noticeable mistake on screen.
Note for point 1: Always select the garment size that fits your mannequin perfectly. Do not wear oversized garments, as they will give an inaccurate image of fit, drape, and style.
2 – Thoroughly iron or steam all the garments and outfits that will be included in the exhibition. If you are going to iron, remember to iron on the reverse side of all garments as a shine will remain on the opposite side, making your garment look cheap and worn under screen lighting. The screens will amplify the good but also the bad.
3 – Make sure that the mannequin to be dressed has been separated into its separate components in the arms, legs and torso. Always start with the area of the legs and feet. Fit the socks and shoes that have been chosen to complement the outfit, place them on the mannequin first before attempting to dress in the clothing. The last item to be worn should always be the one that is most visible on display (eg jacket or top, dress, etc.) – wearing it last will ensure minimal wrinkling during preparation.
Note to point 3: This will mean that you may have to turn your legs upside down so that the foot area is closer to you for dressing. Then flip him back onto his feet to add the torso and continue dressing him.
4 – Dress from the bottom up, the next garment must be the ‘bottom’: skirt, dress or pants. Note that for pants, these should be placed on both feet just before putting on shoes: it should be brought back upright and the torso secured. In the case of a skirt or dress, the torso must first be secured over the upper legs/hip before the skirt or dress is placed on the mannequin head.
5 – In order to seamlessly dress the upper section (the most visible section), it is first necessary to insert and secure one of the arms of the mannequin into the shoulder socket on the torso (make sure it is the right arm! right on the right side left on the left side). After securing one of the arms, open the blouse, shirt, etc. and place it on the secured arm, letting the excess fabric hang over the shoulder while you secure the other arm in place.
Note to item 5: If the garment does not open, such as a T-shirt, it should be pulled over the torso before inserting and securing either arm. Once over the head, slide the mannequin’s arms into the short sleeve if arm width allows, and secure into the shoulder socket. If not, slide the arm through the neck and across the shoulder to secure it in the shoulder socket.
6 – The other arm should slide into the sleeve (insert from the neck line along the sleeve with the hand facing down). Then, once it is completely inside the sleeve, the arm can be secured.
7 – Once the upper garments are on and all the components are in place, the main dressing can begin. But check first to make sure the completed dummy is firmly and securely on the base (usually through a hole in the calf or foot for the dowel to fit into). Once fully dressed and styled, the mannequin needs very little handling to prevent wrinkling, so it is advantageous to accurately position it beforehand.
8 – Clothing and styling must begin at the top and continue to the feet. Starting with the neckline and collars, make sure they are straight and the buttons are aligned symmetrically on each side. For styling purposes, the collars can be flipped up, or just a single collar turned up at the ends. If the neckline is straight or slim, it will instantly make an impression.
9 – Continue lowering the dressing to the waist and hips. The style of the garment will depend on its length and whether it has a fitted waist or not.
10 – Finishing and attention to detail are the things that are done last but they are the most important part of the wardrobe. If the finish isn’t sharp, the impression given to the viewer is one of clutter and sloppiness, so spending a little more time on finishing could pay off.
To top it off, start by stepping back from the closet and identifying unsightly or cluttered areas such as: clothes with unexpected folds, off-center necklines, underarm seams facing out instead of toward the body, accessories that aren’t straight or not straight. t match or perhaps more required.
Ultimately, dressing a mannequin is like dressing yourself! You would not go to work with one collar on and one off, or with the buttons misaligned, etc. This how-to guide and tips are simple but crucial to the customer’s perception of your display, brand and range: if it’s displayed well and the dressing is elegant, the perceived value of the item will increase and the customer may be willing to pay more . for it!
