London - Shops should use larger mannequins to help give women a more positive body image, a minister said recently.
While the dress size of the average British woman has increased from a 12 to a 16, the dummies used to display clothes are still usually a size ten.
Jo Swinson, the equalities minister, urged high street chains to follow the example of Debenhams, which is preparing to display a range of size 16 mannequins in its Oxford Street store.
Its summer magazine featured an amputee and three models over the age of 40.
Swinson is already an outspoken critic of the fashion industry over its use of super-skinny models, and the effect this has on the self-esteem of young girls.
She said: “Many customers want to see more realistic images in magazines, TV and on the high street, and having mannequins that reflect and celebrate our diverse society is a really positive way of helping to achieve this.
“The images we see in the world of fashion are all pretty much the same - it’s as if there’s only one way of being beautiful”
Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Beat, a charity which advises the government on eating disorders, welcomed the idea.
She said: “Retailers should show diversity in shapes and sizes to reflect the reality of women walking down the street.
“Showing real body shapes would only enhance people’s body confidence.”
John Munro, a spokesman for the British Retail Consortium, said the decision was up to individual stores, but said that retailers already work hard to promote body confidence.
He said: “This can involve using a diverse range of mannequins and models, but also covers practical examples such as ensuring clothing is available in a wide range of sizes and offering advice on figure- flattering clothes for customers that request it.” - Daily Mail