How to Decorate Mannequins

Clothe a mannequin for retail window displays.

Take a cue from the famous Old Navy commercial mannequins and decorate these statues to showcase your newest trends and fashions. Mannequins are essential to eye-catching store displays and product sales, because both men and women want to see what the clothing looks like on a body, not a hanger. Therefore, decorate mannequins to reflect the latest in designer wear, show off the newest looks or sell items that may be otherwise slow moving.

Things You'll Need

• Clothing
• Jewelry
• Watch
• Belt
• Shoes

Instructions

1. Look through your stores policies. Find if there are decoration specifications for mannequins. Store headquarters may send a look-book for each season to showcase the fashions that mannequins need to wear to promote sales. Stores that do not have a look-book can either choose their own outfits from new merchandise, or place older merchandise on mannequins to help it sell quickly.

2. Take the mannequin apart to dress it accordingly. Depending on the season and outfit, you may need to take the dummy apart. Dressing a mannequin usually requires you to disassemble it, place the article of clothing on the body and then reassemble.

3. Remove the arms of the mannequin to dress it in a shirt or dress. The hard arms do not move; therefore, to insert an article of clothing with sleeves, you need to remove the arms, place the article on the torso, insert the arms into the sleeves, if any, and reattach.

4. Set the mannequin where you want to display it so shoppers can get a clear view. Mannequins should be highly visible so shoppers can gather ideas about what to purchase.

5. Accessorize the mannequin with jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. Male mannequins can include watches and belts as accessories.

6. Place shoes on the feet or next to the mannequin's feet to give shoppers an idea of shoe styles.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for help decorating a mannequin. Mannequins are very expensive, so seek instructions on how to disassemble and reassemble if you are unfamiliar with the process.

• Get creative with your mannequin decorating.

References

• Las Vegas Mannequins: How to Dress Your Mannequin
• PBS "NewsHour Extra"; New Mannequins Impact How Shoppers See, Buy Clothes; Nov. 22, 2004

Resources

• Fashion Windows: Mannequins in Store Windows