How to dress a mannequin in 10 easy steps

In the world of retail clothing, dressing mannequins and displays are an integral part of promoting clothing ranges and accessories. Wearing a garment with a mannequin and putting it on display has been shown to increase sales by up to 70% in some cases – a great idea for promoting poor sales lines! But the sales boost cannot be simply attributed to better visibility within the store, that is, dressing in 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. It can sometimes be seen as an endorsement to the buyer that if the store has selected these garments for display, they must be credible, elegant, or on-trend, so I will have one too!

When dressed with a mannequin, the garment is presented immaculately (ironed without a crease in sight!) And draped over with a perfectly figure mannequin, then suddenly it becomes more than just visibility and seeing more of the garment, it is about provoking the suggestion to the client: ‘that looks very good in those models, I want one of those’.

The average customer is physically shopping when in a store, yet few of them are really committed to the shopping mentality – their minds are on many other things, like thinking about what they need for dinner, remembering to pay a bill … . etc etc. most are browsers simply because most are not mentally shopping. For this reason, it’s the power of the screen that makes them stop in their tracks and think: wow, that looks fantastic! A dress mannequin or display will always catch the attention of customers before any garment on a hanger.

Now that we have established the importance of mannequins and busts or tailor mannequins, here are ten important tips for a successful display.

Tip: Always dress mannequins from the bottom up and the finish should always be from the top down.

1 – Carefully select the garments and outfits to be displayed. It is important that dressings are coordinated especially if there is more than one manikin on display. Accessories that complement selected garments can also add ‘finish’ and ‘attention to detail’ to a display. Take the time to select the outfits because what might seem like a small garment choice mistake when dressing the mannequin in the back area will be a noticeable big mistake on display.

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 picture of fit, drape and style.

2 – Thoroughly iron or steam all the garments and outfits that will be included in the exhibition. If you iron, remember to iron on the reverse of all garments, as there will be glitter on the opposite side, making your garment look cheap and worn under screen lighting. 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 arms, legs and torso. Always start in the area of ​​the legs and feet. Adjust the socks and shoes that have been chosen to complement the outfit, put them on the mannequin first before attempting to dress in clothes. The last garment to be worn should always be the one that is most visible on the screen (eg jacket or blouse, dress, etc.); if put at the end, it will ensure a minimum of wrinkles during dressing.

Note for point 3: This means that you may have to turn your legs face down so that the foot area is closer to you to get dressed. Then flip him on his feet again to add torso and continue dressing.

4 – Dress from the bottom up, the next item must be the ‘pants’: skirt, dress or pants. Note: for pants, these should be placed on both feet just before putting on the shoes, placing them in an upright position again and securing the torso. For a skirt or dress, the torso would have to be secured at the top of the leg / hip section first before placing the skirt or dress on the head of the mannequin.

5 – To allow a soft bandage of the upper section (the most visible section) it is necessary to first insert and secure one of the arms of the manikin in the shoulder socket on the torso (make sure it is the correct arm! 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 fall from the shoulder while securing the other arm in place.

Note for point 5: If the garment does not open, such as a T-shirt, then it must be placed on the torso before inserting and securing either arm. Once overhead, slide the mannequin’s arms through the short sleeve if arm width allows, and secure them to the shoulder socket. Otherwise, slide the arm around the neck and up to the shoulder to secure it in the shoulder socket.

6 – The other arm should slide down the sleeve (insert from the neckline down the length of the sleeve with the hand facing down. Then, once it is fully inside the sleeve, the arm can be secured.

7 – Once the tops are on and all the components are in place, the main dressing can begin. But check first to make sure the entire mannequin is firm and secure to the base (usually through a hole in the calf or foot to accommodate the twig). Once dressed and in style, the mannequin must be handled very little to avoid wrinkles, so it is advantageous to position it precisely beforehand.

8 – Dress and hairstyle should start at the top and work down to the feet. Starting at the neckline and collars, make sure they are straight and the buttons are aligned symmetrically on each side. For style purposes, the collars can be raised, or just a single collar is raised at the ends. Whether the neckline is straight or sleek, it will instantly make a good impression.

9 – Continuing through the dressing up to the waist and hips. The style of the garment will depend on its length and if 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 crucial part of the dressing. If the auction is not sharp, the viewer is left with clutter and carelessness, so spending a little more time on the auction could reap rewards.

The finale starts with moving away from the bandage and identifying areas that are unsightly or messy, such as: unexpected pleats in items, off-center necklines, internal seams on arms outward rather than toward the body, accessories that are not straight or mismatched or maybe more required.

Ultimately dressing a mannequin is like dressing yourself. I wouldn’t go to work with a collar in and a collar out or with the buttons off-line, etc. This how-to guide and tips is simple but crucial to the customer’s perception of your display, brand, and rank: if you display yourself well and dress smartly, this will increase the perceived value of the item and the customer may be willing to pay more. for it!