The late 19th century saw the manufacturing of life-size dummies on a commercial level so that goods could be presented in the shop windows and retail areas – at the time considered enormous – of the department stores that were emerging everywhere. The form of those shop mannequins varied according to the fashion laws and body ideals at the time. During the 1920s, for instance, she exhibited a boyish waist, whereas the 1950s showcased the wasp waist with feminine curves.
