Mannequin facts for kids

Mannequins in a clothing shop in Canada

A mannequin is like a life-sized doll! People use them to show off clothes in shops. They also help designers create new outfits. Artists sometimes use them to practice drawing people. You might also hear them called a manikin, dummy, lay figure, or dress form.

What is a Mannequin?

Mannequins are special models that look like humans. They come in different sizes, from babies to adults. Their main job is to display clothing in stores. This helps shoppers imagine how the clothes will look on them.

Different Kinds of Mannequins

Mannequins are not all the same! There are many types, each with a special use:

• Full-body mannequins: These look like a complete person. They show off whole outfits.
• Torso forms: These show only the upper body. They are great for shirts, jackets, and sweaters.
• Leg forms: These display pants, skirts, or shorts.
• Head forms: These are used for hats, wigs, or scarves.
• Realistic mannequins: Some look very much like real people. They have faces, hair, and even makeup.
• Abstract mannequins: Others are more artistic. They might not have faces or detailed features.

Mannequins Beyond Fashion

Mannequins are not just for clothes shops! They have other important jobs too:

• Artists: Artists use "lay figures" to study human shapes. This helps them draw or paint people more accurately.
• Tailors and dressmakers: These experts use "dress forms." These forms help them fit clothes perfectly. They can adjust the size of the form to match a person's measurements.
• Medical training: Some mannequins are very advanced. They are used to teach doctors and nurses. Students can practice medical procedures on them safely. This helps them learn how to care for real patients.
• Safety tests: In the 1950s, mannequins were even used in nuclear tests. Scientists wanted to see how strong explosions affected human-like figures. This helped them understand safety better.

Images for kids

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  Mannequins in Chanel store, 31 Rue Cambon, Paris

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  A lay figure by Albrecht Dürer in the Prado Museum.

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  A mannequin outside a shop in North India.

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  A medical student performs eye examination on a mannequin in Mauritius.

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  A baby medical simulation mannequin

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  A wooden mannequin

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  Mannequins in a clothing shop in Indonesia

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  A family of mannequins posed for a photograph

See also

In Spanish: Maniquí para niños