'Shockingly thin Topshop mannequin sparks outrage over unrealistic body image'

Shanotheslayer

Was reading this article today and was just curious of peoples thoughts on it,

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shockingly-thin-topshop-mannequin-sparks-4533843?ICID=FB_mirror_main

Basically the mannequin is smaller then a size 8.

''Becky told us: "We are trying to say let's embrace everybody's shape, we don't want to get rid of the mannequins, we want a more diverse portrayal of the female body.

"Every single mannequin upstairs and downstairs was the same size as this one."

Topshops response was “The mannequin in question has been used in stores the past four years and is based on a standard UK size 10.

"The overall height, at 187cm, is taller than the average girl and the form is a stylised one to have more impact in store and create a visual focus.

"Mannequins are made from solid fibreglass, so in order for clothing to fit, the form of the mannequins needs to be of certain dimensions to allow clothing to be put on and removed; this is therefore not meant to be a representation of the average female body.”

Now to me it seems fairly silly to be moaning about such a thing.

1)Do people really not buy clothes based on a mannequin?
2)Would size 20+ women be giving out if the mannequin was a size 14?

Fair enough wanting more 'diverse' mannequins, but to me it comes across that it's a big thing because it was skinny. No issue would of been made of 'diverse' mannequins had they all been size 12.

*Queue comments based on paper that reported it*

Brussels Sprout

"Shockingly white Topshop mannequin sparks outrage over unrealistic skin tone"

The_Valeyard

How does the mannequin feel about this?

Riddle101

Woman has too much time on her hands if she's complaining about the size of a mannequin.

diomed

Buy these leggings and you will look thin.

Zillah

I'm all for not pandering to fat people, but the mannequin in that first image looks like an underfed 13 year old girl.

foggy_lad

It's a lump of moulded plastic for displaying clothes of all sizes on, do mannequins come in every available size or do larger sizes get put on smaller mannequins if no larger size doll is available?

phasers

Oh my god who cares, a mannequin is basically a clothes hanger with tits. Anyone who looks to a mannequin as a picture of healthy body image needs their head examined. Most of them don't have heads!

ThinkAboutIt

Its a f**king mannequin. Someone tell them it isn't important to find something interesting to do with their lives.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Fcuk that,if she was real it would be like riding a bag of chisels.

blaze1

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

"Shockingly white Topshop mannequin sparks outrage over unrealistic skin tone"

True representation of the Irish skin complexion, just missing a few hundred freckles.

fleet_admiral

Sir Osis of Liver. wrote: »

Fcuk that,if she was real it would be like riding a bag of chisels.

Bet you her tits are as flat as a plate of piss too

Jagdtiger

The_Valeyard wrote: »

How does the mannequin feel about this?

Andrew McCarthy wasn't best pleased when I called to ask.

Areyouwell

The overall height, at 187cm, is taller than the average girl

And the average guy.

Karl Stein

Well I'm a festively plump man and even I can see that almost the entire fashion industry likes to hang its clothes on the figures of what appear to be skinny pubescent frames.

To imagine this does not create an unachievable 'ideal type' in the consciousness of the consuming public would be to ignore the psychology of the human animal.

So, well poisoning aside, would you agree or disagree with the above?

MOD
Quoted uncivil post removed

happywithlife

I saw this and I know AH isn't probably the forum for a genuine debate but yes it should be complained against. I work with teems and you cannot believe the pressure they put themselves under to reach these unrealistic fashion "ideals" it's totally pointless trying to explain to them that such images are "artistic statements" and not meant to reflect actual body sizes
...All they see is a skinny form - human or not - and think this is what they're supposed to strive for
It's the same with airbrushing - editors have been asked to voluntarily denote with a simple logo images that have been airbrushed --- not a surprise that none of them have followed through on it and one editor aimed specifically at preteens came out and said point blank she wouldn't agree to such a measure.
Mannaquin or not it dies send out a message and that message is even a size 8 is too fat these days. Is that the message you want your sister/daughter/loved one to hear?

nokia69

Karl Stein wrote: »

Well I'm a festively plump man and even I can see that almost the entire fashion industry likes to hang its clothes on the figures of what appear to be skinny pubescent frames.

To imagine this does not create an unachievable 'ideal type' in the consciousness of the consuming public would be to ignore the psychology of the human animal.

So, well poisoning aside, would you agree or disagree with the above?

I agree we can't all be models

thats life

Jagdtiger

Jagdtiger wrote: »

Andrew McCarthy wasn't best pleased when I called to ask.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j46N_aMlXH8

nokia69

happywithlife wrote: »

I saw this and I know AH isn't probably the forum for a genuine debate but yes it should be complained against. I work with teems and you cannot believe the pressure they put themselves under to reach these unrealistic fashion "ideals" it's totally pointless trying to explain to them that such images are "artistic statements" and not meant to reflect actual body sizes
...All they see is a skinny form - human or not - and think this is what they're supposed to strive for
It's the same with airbrushing - editors have been asked to voluntarily denote with a simple logo images that have been airbrushed --- not a surprise that none of them have followed through on it and one editor aimed specifically at preteens came out and said point blank she wouldn't agree to such a measure.
Mannaquin or not it dies send out a message and that message is even a size 8 is too fat these days. Is that the message you want your sister/daughter/loved one to hear?

if so many teens are striving for the skinny form why is obesity on the rise

we have a problem with too many fat kids not skinny ones

Summer wind

My niece and her best friend are both size eight and think they are obese. It's crazy they look at clothes displayed on the models on the shop floor and say they won't bother trying them on cos they won't look the same on them.

Frigga_92

I think the problem people have with using a mannequin of this size is that it does not represent the average woman. Yes, there are women who are that skinny naturally and there is nothing they can do about it but they are in the minority. Using mannequins of this size makes it seem as though this size is the norm and therefore that the vast majority of people are not normal. That's what messes with impressionable people.

Holsten

Newsflash: Mannequins are not representative of real life humans.

Shanotheslayer

26sdrawkcab wrote: »

I think the problem people have with using a mannequin of this size is that it does not represent the average woman. Yes, there are women who are that skinny naturally and there is nothing they can do about it but they are in the minority. Using mannequins of this size makes it seem as though this size is the norm and therefore that the vast majority of people are not normal. That's what messes with impressionable people.

If the mannequins were size 20+ nobody would be complaining...

Standman

26sdrawkcab wrote: »

I think the problem people have with using a mannequin of this size is that it does not represent the average woman. Yes, there are women who are that skinny naturally and there is nothing they can do about it but they are in the minority. Using mannequins of this size makes it seem as though this size is the norm and therefore that the vast majority of people are not normal. That's what messes with impressionable people.

But then you'll be "shaming" the poor minority of women who are naturally that skinny. Do their feelings just not matter? What's the solution, having one mannequin on display for each possible body size & skin colour?

Or what about this - people could just get on with their lives and see mannequins for what they are; glorified clothes hangers.

Karl Stein

Karl Stein wrote: »

Well I'm a festively plump man and even I can see that almost the entire fashion industry likes to hang its clothes on the figures of what appear to be skinny pubescent frames.

To imagine this does not create an unachievable 'ideal type' in the consciousness of the consuming public would be to ignore the psychology of the human animal.

So, well poisoning aside, would you agree or disagree with the above?

I love this description.

All the unrealistic ideals surround us like white noise, after a while you stop noticing how pervading it is and only when it stops do you realise how it was affecting you.

Frigga_92

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

If the mannequins were size 20+ nobody would be complaining...

Yes they would because that also wouldn't represent your average woman.

catallus

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

If the mannequins were size 20+ nobody would be complaining...

I would.

Standman

Standman wrote: »

Or what about this - people could just get on with their lives and see mannequins for what they are; glorified clothes hangers.

Problem is, Topshop is a mecca for teenage girls and their body image is so fluid and malleable that this kind of thing does have an impact. Probably for boys too, if the situation was in a male context. When every 'ideal' image is of a seriously underweight figure, underweight starts to look normal and desirable.

Size ten dummies would be fine, but the shop wouldn't be able to display it's wares with the subliminal message that if you wear this outfit, you'll look this thin.

I'm guilty of this stuff myself, I love fashion magazines and do think clothes look better on tall, very thin girls. I don't think the girls look better though, but not everyone makes that distinction if they're young and insecure as most teenagers are.

Pwindedd

Topshop clothing - for the most part poorly made and hideously overpriced - the mannequins are the least shocking thing in there IMO.

Deenie123

Candie wrote: »

Problem is, Topshop is a mecca for teenage girls and their body image is so fluid and malleable that this kind of thing does have an impact.

This is part of the problem. If it was Wallis or somewhere... I'd say no biggie. But 12 year olds love to traipse around in Topshop. A 12 year old who's adjusting to new curves and a new body shape is in no position to be saying "Oh well that's clearly not a realistic body shape". They're just thinking "I'm not that thin..."

I love how they claim the mannequin is based on a size 10... As in.. Taller and thinner and looking nothing like a size 10...

Duff

What a time to be alive.

Tasden

Deenie123 wrote: »

This is part of the problem. If it was Wallis or somewhere... I'd say no biggie. But 12 year olds love to traipse around in Topshop. A 12 year old who's adjusting to new curves and a new body shape is in no position to be saying "Oh well that's clearly not a realistic body shape". They're just thinking "I'm not that thin..."

I love how they claim the mannequin is based on a size 10... As in.. Taller and thinner and looking nothing like a size 10...

That mannequin looks more curvy than I did at 12. Same with most of my friends tbh.

And most teenagers I would have any interactions with nowadays would actually be more interested in a figure like niki minaj, beyonce, katy perry, iggy whatsername, all pretty curvy healthy looking women. Not to mention the endless atrocious songs about men preferring bigger girls and not "skinny bitches".

Fashion has long been associated with ridiculous skinny women. And there will always be people complaining about it. Its not going to change any time soon though.

happywithlife

nokia69 wrote: »

if so many teens are striving for the skinny form why is obesity on the rise

we have a problem with too many fat kids not skinny ones

Actually we are turning into a nation of super fit vs super fat. The 'average medium' is getting lost in the battle IMO

--LOS--

So she's trying to say that the mannequin is not based on an 8/10 because she is a size 8/10, but she's quite short! The mannequin is over 6 foot so of course different sizes will look different on different frames. I also wear a size 8 and what that looks like on me is probably closer to the mannequin or something in between because I'm taller than the girl on the left. So would she be happier with shorter mannequins.

steddyeddy

Riddle101 wrote: »

Woman has too much time on her hands if she's complaining about the size of a mannequin.

Well I agree with her tbh. The standards to which some young women are expected to aspire to are extremely unhealthy.

Simonigs1.0

What if it was a ****ing land whale of a mannequin? Would people complain then? Doubt it.

Cookie_Monster

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

What if it was a ****ing land whale of a mannequin? Would people complain then? Doubt it.

I would and I hope others would too. Nothing healthy, desirable or nice about being a fatty.

looking_around

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

What if it was a ****ing land whale of a mannequin? Would people complain then? Doubt it.

You're like the 4th poster to go "but if it was fat?????"

Why can't they just be average?

And the real issue to me, is that topshop are claiming it's a "size 10 UK", my ass. Waaaay too small for a uk 10
At least if they said 10 China, it be plausible.

It's blatant lying to excuse their choice.

One eyed Jack

Simonigs1.0 wrote: »

What if it was a ****ing land whale of a mannequin? Would people complain then? Doubt it.

The "Size 16" Debenhams mannequins immediately spring to mind. The story that was going around about them last year, claiming to reflect the 'average woman' too as it happens -

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/06/debenhams-first-department-store-size-16-models


They can't all be representative of 'the average woman'...

Is it really "unrealistic" though? That's like saying that nobody can be like that.

Anyway any time I go into a men's clothes shop, the mannequins are always extremely well-built. I never get annoyed about it - the shops want to show you how their clothes look ideally on people.

looking_around

One eyed Jack wrote: »

The "Size 16" Debenhams mannequins immediately spring to mind. The story that was going around about them last year, claiming to reflect the 'average woman' too as it happens -

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/06/debenhams-first-department-store-size-16-models


They can't all be representative of 'the average woman'...

Size 16 is hardly the average either.

Isn't 12-14 the average?

To be honest, I'd be happy if they were anywhere between 10 and 14. More than 14, is also encourage an unhealthy size, since that's overweight for most women.
Also would like to see mannequins that aren't super tall.

Corruptedmorals

Mannequins are shockingly expensive, several thousand. It would be an expensive pain in the arse to have a crowd pleasing variety of sizes, especially if they had to start over.

Mannequins display outfit ideas, or to draw the eye to stock they are looking to offload quickly. I'd never look to them as any other kind of inspiration, even to guide what the clothes look like on...they are always pinned on them anyway.

Tasden

looking_around wrote: »

Size 16 is hardly the average either.

Isn't 12-14 the average?

To be honest, I'd be happy if they were anywhere between 10 and 14. More than 14, is also encourage an unhealthy size, since that's overweight for most women.
Also would like to see mannequins that aren't super tall.

But I'd want my mannequins to be somewhere between size 6-10 and average height. Can't win.

I think the most annoying thing about mannequins is actually how they clip the clothing at the back to make it fit better and then when you try it on it wont sit the same way obviously because its not clipped in at the right areas.

Corruptedmorals: great minds :pac:

looking_around

Tasden wrote: »

But I'd want my mannequins to be somewhere between size 6-10 and average height. Can't win.

I think the most annoying thing about mannequins is actually how they clip the clothing at the back to make it fit better and then when you try it on it wont sit the same way obviously because its not clipped in at the right areas.

6 and 8 aren't average sizes, how hard is it to stick with "average", if you're in the minority tough luck.

I say this as someone who wears 6/8.
__
Also they make it clip because their mannequins are smaller than their smallest size........ that is a problem no?

I understand the mannequin has to be a little smaller than the clothes size, but smaller than the smallest size?

And why so bleedin tall? the average woman is far from 5'8'

bodice ripper

If she feels strongly about it, perhaps she should consider not giving them her money...

One eyed Jack

looking_around wrote: »

Size 16 is hardly the average either.

Isn't 12-14 the average?

To be honest, I'd be happy if they were anywhere between 10 and 14. More than 14, is also encourage an unhealthy size, since that's overweight for most women.
Also would like to see mannequins that aren't super tall.

I'll be honest, I don't have a clue about women's sizes (well, I can make a guesstimate, but that's all it would be), so I couldn't tell you what is or isn't average. The only thing I do know however is that no matter what a woman's size or height or whatever, she can always find something to flatter her figure, and I don't think too many women base their opinions on clothing on how the mannequin looks wearing them.

I don't know where this idea that mannequins were ever meant to represent women has come from as most designers mannequins simply consist of a torso!

Macavity.

I wish I looked like a mannequin.

Tasden

looking_around wrote: »

6 and 8 aren't average sizes, how hard is it to stick with "average", if you're in the minority tough luck.

I say this as someone who wears 6/8.
__
Also they make it clip because their mannequins are smaller than their smallest size........ that is a problem no?

I understand the mannequin has to be a little smaller than the clothes size, but smaller than the smallest size?

And why so bleedin tall? the average woman is far from 5'8'

But that was my point, even if they use average sizes, the people who are a different size will still complain.

Nah no matter what size the mannequin or the clothes they still clip to make it sit right, in most cases its clipped in a way it'd never naturally sit on a human regardless of size.

I'm a 4 -6 and I'm a shortarse. When will there be a mannequin representing me that isn't a 'child'? Never, I'm in the minority.

You have to pick a happy medium, and that medium should be medium, not an extreme at either end.

dellas1979

Clothes shops/designers/cosmetics sell an ideal.

"You buy this, youll look like this". "You put this on your face, youll look like that".

Perception of how you see yourself is a bit wacky in human beings. And how you project your "idea" of yourself on others (and things, including this mannequin issue).

I go to an exercise class. The other day talking to one of the girls there, she said something about an item of clothes of hers. I said "oh no-I wont try it on-shur it wouldnt fit me". Genuinely, she is about 4 inches shorter than me and at least 1 size smaller/smaller frame.

And she was like "No way, you are smaller than me".

I remember watching a Gok Wan show once, and it had people pick out of a line up of women, what size they "thought" they were. And nearly every time, the woman would pick someone who was at least 2 sizes bigger.

Tasden

I'm convinced those people in the gok wan line up thing were just being polite and didn't want to insult the women doing the line up so tried to be as modest as possible if that makes sense