How to dress a display mannequin

You have ordered one or more display mannequins, they have arrived and you are ready to dress up the mannequins. Usually it is best to dress the models from bottom to top. Here we provide directions for dressing our most common mannequins.

Note:
Our museum mannequins with specific features are often anything but standard. We combine fibreglass, silicone and bendable parts. If you have purchased one of our museum mannequins and are unsure about how to assemble or dress the mannequin, please contact us .

How to dress a fibreglass/polyester display mannequin

The standard configuration of a fibreglass mannequin

The standard fibreglass mannequin has detachable legs, torso, arms and hands. Depending on the model, the head can be taken off. Usually the left leg can be removed separately. The feet are attached to the legs and can not be taken of. To prevent the display mannequin from falling over, usually the fibreglass mannequin stands with its right leg on a metal or glass base with an upright pin. The metal pin can be inserted in a corresponding hole in the foot or in the calf.

Fibreglass display mannequin with detachable legs, arms and hands.

Expert tip:
Some of our mannequins have hinged joints. Position the elbows and knees in the right angle before you put on the garments. You can fill the space between the joints. If the torso is adjustable in height, you can also fill this space.

How to put on pants with a fibreglass mannequin

To start, detach one or more legs from the torso of the mannequin and add any necessary undergarments, such as socks and underwear. Pull pants or shorts over each leg and reattach the legs to the torso.

What to do if the legs are too wide apart or in another awkward position?
Fully or partially loosen the left leg so that the pants fit over the feet and legs. After the pants are pulled past the pinch point, replace the leg before continuing.

How to put on a shirt, sweater, dress or jacket with a fibreglass mannequin

Start with removing the hands from the arms. This prevents damage to the fingers by falling and it works a lot easier. If it has a silicone head with styled haircut, wait to attach or remove it first. Remove the arms from the torso and then pass each arm through the shirt / sweater / dress / jacket and hold them in place as you place the garment over the torso and reattach the arms. If necessary, place the head on the torso. Do not attach the hands to the arms until the torso is placed on the lower body.

How to put on overalls with a fibreglass mannequin

Start by putting on the overalls like pants. If the torso is not already on the lower body, place it on top of the legs. Remove the arms from the torso and put the arms through the sleeves. Carefully reposition the arms, taking care not to put too much stress on the clothing. Finally, attach the hands.

How to put on shoes and boots with a fibreglass mannequin

The feet of fibreglass mannequins are almost always perpendicular to the legs and are not bendable. Low shoes and ankle boots are often easy to put on. By using the calf pin instead of the foot pin, it is not necessary to make holes in the footwear. This is not possible with higher boots and we recommend the use of a stand with a strap around the waist. Because the feet are not bendable, high boots can be difficult to put on. We advise to use flexible mannequins.

How to dress a flexible/bendable display mannequin

The standard configuration of a flexible mannequin

With the standard flexible mannequin, the torso and legs consist of one piece. The arms and head are detachable. The hands are attached to the arms. To prevent the display body from falling over, the flexible mannequin has a hole in the back, in which a long pin fits. The long pin is attached to a metal or glass base. It is possible to make the display body stand with the help of a belt stand. Because the flexible mannequins are bendable, dressing is often easy.

Expert tip:
Slightly bend the body and limbs into position before putting on the garments. Make sure that the bend does not hinder the putting on of the clothes. Once the garments are properly donned, you can continue to bend the limbs to the final position. Do this carefully if you have put on delicate garments to the display mannequin.

How to put on pants with a flexible mannequin

Lay the display body horizontally and put on necessary undergarments first, such as socks and underwear. Then put the legs through the trouser legs and pull the pants evenly up to the right place.

How to put on a shirt, sweater, dress or jacket with a flexible mannequin

If the head is detachable, you must remove it first. Remove the arms from the torso and then pass each arm through the shirt / sweater / dress / jacket and hold them in place as you put the garment over the torso and reattach the arms. Put the flexible display mannequin upright and slide gently the back pin under the clothing into the correct slot. The belt stand can be used as an alternative to the back pin. Finally put the head on the body.

Expert tip:
Flexible arms have silicone or pvc rubber hands which cannot be removed. Pull a sandwich bag over the hands to make it easier to put on the sleeves.

How to put on shoes and boots with a flexible mannequin

The feet of flexible mannequins are almost always perpendicular to the legs and are bendable. This makes it easy to put on all types of shoes, from low shoes to high boots. No holes need to be made in the footwear because the flexible mannequins remain standing by means of a back pin or a stand with strap connection around the waist.

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    • Call us at +31 229 202 207 (office) or +31 6 534 831 69 (mobile)

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