Thursday 10 March 2011

History of mannequins in fashion design - a look back shows are something more than just Dummies


Walk through any store by Department, and will go to countless mannequins modeling the latest fashion. While those who have come to these staples of visualization for granted, mannequins have a rich and storied past that dates back to Egypt. Looking at how mannequins have evolved over the years, we can see that it has been reflected not only the ideal of how we should look, but how we should live. It is not surprising historians, retailers and school of fashion students alike have been fascinated by these real numbers for so long.

The ancient and medieval eras. When opened the tomb of King Tutankhamen in 1922, one of the found treasures was a realistic torso believes that the first form of dress around the world. In fact, the dummy continued its role as a way of dressing over the centuries. Realistic facsimiles of Kings and Queens were created for tailors and dressmakers could create clothing without that he wore to the Kings with fittings endless, or worse, threatening his modesty touching their bodies.

French aristocracy. In the 18th century, France was considered the capital of fashion, and "dolls" were created to show the design of French fashion in the world. These principles mannequins, representing the ideal of courtly fashion, ranged about 12 inches in real size. They were sent abroad so people could see what had been the French and copying styles. Marie Antoinette was known to send dolls to their mothers and sisters in Austria to stay updated with what was in vogue in Versailles.

The Industrial Revolution and window shopping. Mannequins made a huge leap forward with the development of the electrically lit streets and large glass windows. Suddenly, walking avenues and looking at the worlds of fantasy appeared in store windows retail became a favorite pastime. The first mannequins created for this purpose were made of wax and wood. They were very strong, with a weight of between 200 and 300 pounds, with the legs of reinforced iron so remain upright. With eyes of glass, false teeth and real hair, Dummies adopted the feminine ideal of large breasts and small waists, in gentle life situations, and give a toast at a dinner. The art of fashion marketing was born.

Influence in Hollywood. Until the 1920s, mannequins were expressions of wood, reason by which were called "beginners". In the era of silent films, however, there was more emphasis on the face as the body. With the popularity of Hollywood movies, mannequins acquired more realistic features and animated facial expressions that duplicate those of stars such as Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino. To complement his star of the film is seen, that are in situations of aspiration, imagination like having cocktails on the country club.

The Gaba girls. In the 1930s, mannequins began to be produced with plaster, reducing his weight to nearly 25 pounds. And thanks to a so-called former SOAP sculptor Gaba Lester, they reached a new level of realism. His actual figures were dubbed "The Gaba girls," the most famous of whom was named Cynthia. GABA expected Cynthia as the last woman in New York, and the dummy became a pop culture sensation. It led to nightclubs and the Opera, and Cartier and Tiffany even gave their jewels.

World War II. With the advent of World War II, changed the life, and the same thing happened with mannequins. People without concerns like mannequins were replaced by the serious, without complications. But when the troops returned, mannequins are the public service to encourage the public to be happy again. The female mannequins wore radiant smile, while the men were relaxed and comfortable; both show domestic happiness, suburban.

Fiberglass and plastic. By the 1950s, mannequins away fragile, breakable resistant gypsum fiber of glass and plastic. Because the manufacture and the sculpture has not been refined, the new figures were less realistic and took an abstract quality. They actually held surrealism, with anatomical inaccuracies and spray on hair styles. The mannequin had become pop art.

Revolution of women. When the role of women began to change in the ' 60s, mannequins represent change. On the one hand, there was the mistress of House (or aspiring housewife) mannequins with bouffants and looks promising. At the other end was active and energetic, women casually and with confidence. The Decade also gave us the Mod look - skinny figures, leggy embodied by the Twiggy mannequin.

The real life. The 1970s were Latino, Asian and black Dummies, which reflects the growing ethnic mix in the country. Espejado also the turbulent decade, mannequins began to have facial expressions of pain, the worry and stress. In the 1980s, the country got "physical" and mannequins followed suit, taking in run and jump poses.

Today. When it's mannequins today, leave the old rules, and anything goes. Mannequins are different, clear colours without head, seating and any form of abstraction. In fact, realistic figures of previous decades now seem decidedly creepy. It is not no "ideal" way, probably because there is no consensus on an ideal vision of beauty.

Although we know that the fashion design and mannequins have always been intertwined, it's fascinating to see how much these "dummies" shown on the civilization, history and culture.








If mannequins and visual sample for a long time has captured the imagination, could be a career in fashion design or fashion merchandising for you. Visit FIDM/fashion Institute of design & Merchandising for more information.


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