It's far better than the one my mom used for decades...
...and, I, after her. Let me start by getting these facts out of the way: • It arrived in perfect condition days earlier than expected • All parts were received in pristine condition, packaged carefully • Assembly was A Breeze...taking under 3 minutes. The mostly wooden frame has solid components that look and feel like professional price points. • This Mannequin is So Sturdy, I simply lift it by the waist move it around...which does not disengage the stand, nor, cause it to wobble afterwards, or, while using it. •All in all: you can't beat the price/value for having what amounts to a Very Proper Mannequin that's suitable for both sewing AND display. The BONUS here is that the styrofoam form definitely allows for it to be decorated/adorned...should that be your purpose. Now, back to my mom's old mannequin from the '50s. Although her stand was metal, by the time I got it its surface had pitted and rusted badly; it also wobbled. The wooden frame on this one is so eye-pleasing, wherever you put it looks more like a work of art than a utilitarian object. While that might sound a bit over the top, trust me on this...get it in black and it promises to be 'statuesque' Anywhere. As for my moms, its torso was a hollow frame that looked and felt like compressed cardboard...which 'wrinkled' a bit, forming creases/indents through time. Though it was still manageable, no way did it ever leave the sewing room to be displayed elsewhere. During prolonged humid weather, it would 'soften' enough to feel pliable. I've only added that because some of the mannequins I've seen for sale appear to have torsos of similar construction...which might be good points to take into account for the long-term when choosing to purchase a mannequin. As for its size, well, although it's not one of those uber-expensive adjustable ones...here's a few tricks for those using it as dress forms that might be useful: • Pad it...to make it more similar to the body shape you're working on • Placing a small, somewhat tight-fitting stretchy sleeveless shirt over it will allow you to 'tweek' the areas that need adjusting as you 'fill in' waist/hips/bust/shoulders under it. To expand upon that, old shoulder pads and bra paddings will quickly 'widen' some areas, while thicker items like sweaters 'dressed' under a tight sleeveless shirt will help transform this basic mannequin into a seamstress' dream. Personally, I've dressed mine in similar layers...then bound them with 6" x 15' medical bandages to 'reform' it to a suitable size, before placing an old black spandex-blend tank top over it... which now mimics the mannequin's original covering. Let me finish by reiterating all that in a nutshell: for decades to come, I'm pretty certain you won't be disappointed having purchased this mannequin! Enjoy! Read more
