Index of Mannequin trade related vocabulary
Are you a new retailer who is bogged down retail jargon used by visual Merchandisers or other industry experts? Here is a mannequin vocabulary which will help you learn the mannequin lingo in no time.
Abstract Mannequin: As the name suggest abstract mannequin has no facial features. It is devoid of facial, makeup or any other elements associated with realistic mannequin. Although its measurements confirms to normal model heights and other statistics it does not have a face. Most popular abstract mannequins have an egg shaped face.
Ankle Rod: It is a short angled metal rod which connects the base plate to the ankle of a mannequin. An ankle rod attachment provides stability to mannequin and allows wearing of footwear.
Base Plate or Base Flange: It is a plate made of metal of thick glass which works as a base for keeping mannequin stable. Base plate connects to mannequin via some metal attachment such as ankle rod.
Blouse/ Bra Form: It is an armless and headless form of mannequin used for display of ladies blouse, sweater and other upper body garments. It normally has a decorative stand attached to the end part which generally is waist line.
Bespoke Mannequin: A bespoke mannequin is generally made from scratch as per design or other requirement given by the customer. A bespoke or custom mannequin takes few months to produce and involves creation of special head or body form.
Dress form: also known as display dummy, a tailor’s dummy or dress maker’s form are primarily used by tailors and designers to try out design/patterns or to check the fit of the garment. They are made as per standard fitting size. Normally a dress form come in multiple size and some of them may have an adjustable bust size. Size 8 and 10 are most common dress form size. The US dress form size may differ from UK or EU dress form size. Please see the dress form chart here.
Egg Head Mannequin: see abstract mannequin.
Ethnic Mannequin: A mannequin that portrays skin tone, body form and facial features in a realistic way of a particular ethnic group. They are popular for displaying garments used by a specific target group such as a mannequin for draping a saree.
Fuller Figure Mannequin: see plus size mannequin.
Glass Base Plate: see Base plate
Glove Hand: are special attachment that replaces normal hand at the wrist and designed for wearing glove. There are also stand alone glove display hands.
Headless Mannequin: as the name suggest these mannequins are full body mannequin minus the head. These mannequins are used in hypermarkets and value format stores where non personalized, generic display is preferred.
Junior or Petite Mannequin: a slightly smaller mannequin representing a teenaged girl of size 6 or 7 is used by stores targeting teenage customers. These mannequins are generally smaller in height and display a playful mood. Another variant of size 8 representing slightly older college going girls is known as Missy mannequin.
Matt Finish refers to textured skin tone mannequin with realistic face.
Pant or Leg Form: are mannequin starting at the waist and ends at the feet. They are generally used for display of Jeans. The common size is 30 and 32 for a men’s leg form.
Petite Mannequin: see Junior mannequin
Porcelain Finish refers to mannequin has shiny white, high gloss finish similar to porcelain products.
Pose refers to body form, movement and attitude of a mannequin. It plays an important role in composing mannequin grouping.
Realistic Mannequin is opposite of abstract mannequin. A realistic mannequin has life size body proportion, real looking face with makeup. A realistic mannequin cost much more than a abstract mannequin. They are favorite of high end boutique stores. A good realistic mannequin can cost anything upwards of $1000
Rigging a mannequin refers to a process by which cloths are made to look and fit better by pinning, padding or plumping it.
Shirt Form is a half size mannequin used for display of men’s shirt. Simply put, it is the male version of blouse form
Three Quarter Form: A mannequin with head and arms with legs ending just below the knee. It is used to create a high point normally on a high shelf or ledge. The height of mannequin is kept low to allow it to fit between top shelf and store ceiling.
Torso Form is similar to Three Quarter except that it does not have a head. It is a headless three quarter form.
Wigs: are an artificial hair arrangement made of synthetic material to be placed on the head to give mannequin realistic look. The wigs are detachable, comes in a variety of colors and hair style. Wigs are sold separately as accessory to a mannequin.
Abstract Mannequin: As the name suggest abstract mannequin has no facial features. It is devoid of facial, makeup or any other elements associated with realistic mannequin. Although its measurements confirms to normal model heights and other statistics it does not have a face. Most popular abstract mannequins have an egg shaped face.
Ankle Rod: It is a short angled metal rod which connects the base plate to the ankle of a mannequin. An ankle rod attachment provides stability to mannequin and allows wearing of footwear.
Base Plate or Base Flange: It is a plate made of metal of thick glass which works as a base for keeping mannequin stable. Base plate connects to mannequin via some metal attachment such as ankle rod.
Blouse/ Bra Form: It is an armless and headless form of mannequin used for display of ladies blouse, sweater and other upper body garments. It normally has a decorative stand attached to the end part which generally is waist line.
Bespoke Mannequin: A bespoke mannequin is generally made from scratch as per design or other requirement given by the customer. A bespoke or custom mannequin takes few months to produce and involves creation of special head or body form.
Dress form: also known as display dummy, a tailor’s dummy or dress maker’s form are primarily used by tailors and designers to try out design/patterns or to check the fit of the garment. They are made as per standard fitting size. Normally a dress form come in multiple size and some of them may have an adjustable bust size. Size 8 and 10 are most common dress form size. The US dress form size may differ from UK or EU dress form size. Please see the dress form chart here.
Egg Head Mannequin: see abstract mannequin.
Ethnic Mannequin: A mannequin that portrays skin tone, body form and facial features in a realistic way of a particular ethnic group. They are popular for displaying garments used by a specific target group such as a mannequin for draping a saree.
Fuller Figure Mannequin: see plus size mannequin.
Glass Base Plate: see Base plate
Glove Hand: are special attachment that replaces normal hand at the wrist and designed for wearing glove. There are also stand alone glove display hands.
Headless Mannequin: as the name suggest these mannequins are full body mannequin minus the head. These mannequins are used in hypermarkets and value format stores where non personalized, generic display is preferred.
Junior or Petite Mannequin: a slightly smaller mannequin representing a teenaged girl of size 6 or 7 is used by stores targeting teenage customers. These mannequins are generally smaller in height and display a playful mood. Another variant of size 8 representing slightly older college going girls is known as Missy mannequin.
Matt Finish refers to textured skin tone mannequin with realistic face.
Pant or Leg Form: are mannequin starting at the waist and ends at the feet. They are generally used for display of Jeans. The common size is 30 and 32 for a men’s leg form.
Petite Mannequin: see Junior mannequin
Porcelain Finish refers to mannequin has shiny white, high gloss finish similar to porcelain products.
Pose refers to body form, movement and attitude of a mannequin. It plays an important role in composing mannequin grouping.
Realistic Mannequin is opposite of abstract mannequin. A realistic mannequin has life size body proportion, real looking face with makeup. A realistic mannequin cost much more than a abstract mannequin. They are favorite of high end boutique stores. A good realistic mannequin can cost anything upwards of $1000
Rigging a mannequin refers to a process by which cloths are made to look and fit better by pinning, padding or plumping it.
Shirt Form is a half size mannequin used for display of men’s shirt. Simply put, it is the male version of blouse form
Three Quarter Form: A mannequin with head and arms with legs ending just below the knee. It is used to create a high point normally on a high shelf or ledge. The height of mannequin is kept low to allow it to fit between top shelf and store ceiling.
Torso Form is similar to Three Quarter except that it does not have a head. It is a headless three quarter form.
Wigs: are an artificial hair arrangement made of synthetic material to be placed on the head to give mannequin realistic look. The wigs are detachable, comes in a variety of colors and hair style. Wigs are sold separately as accessory to a mannequin.
