New Mannequin Design Reflects Changes In Beauty

by Andrea Algar
Contributing Author

A recent story about South American mannequins that have been redesigned to reflect the new beauty standards as seen by Venezuelan women caused me to wonder if this is a trend that is occurring here in the United States.

Venezuelan Mannequin Manufacturer

According to the retailers blog, "A local mannequin manufacturer has taken advantage of the trend for Venezuelan women to resort to plastic surgery as a way to boost his sales significantly. Eliezer Álvarez noticed that even though women were happy to go under the knife to change how they looked, the mannequins in clothing stores did not reflect this new body type. He has since created the kind of woman he thought the public wanted — one with a huge and a firm behind, a tiny waist and long legs." (And I might add large breasts.)

This has apparently been extremely successful, as the new mannequins are now seen all over Venezuela in tiny shops and elaborate boutiques. It seems to emphasize the fact that cosmetic plastic surgery is becoming more common and more accepted not only in Venezuela, but all around the world.

Here in the United States, plastic surgery was once only for the rich and famous. In the 1950's and 60's, Hollywood actors and actresses who relied on good looks (and what society saw as beauty) were justified in getting cosmetic procedures, even though they fueled the gossip-mills in the process. Jump forward to the 1990's and plastic surgery was on the rise in middle America. Now in 2013, cosmetic surgery is no longer offensive or taboo, and people are pretty open about their surgeries. All ages of men and women are having cosmetic procedures at increasing rates.

In my opinion, vanity may have little to do with its acceptance as more and more people see the benefits. So far, I haven't noticed the drastic changes in mannequins here in the U.S. Maybe it's just a matter of time.

REFERENCE:
psfk.com - Mannequins Reflect Plastic Surgery's Impact on Beauty Standards

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea Algar is an author who writes on topics that interest her. Over the last 30 years she has written articles on a variety of topics including psychology, health, dentistry, fashion and beauty, music, cosmetic surgery, antiques and restoration, as well as performance racing and classic cars. Prior to the Internet, she published a national subscription newsletter, edited two books, and produced works in photography and video. She currently contributes to several blogs on a regular basis.