For years women have had to deal with store mannequins and runway models that where six inches smaller and six sizes smaller than average. Its pretty safe to say that mannequins reflect an underweight look which has manipulated the minds of millions of ladies into thinking that in order to look good they have to be a size six.

If you have been a reader of Full Figure Plus for any amount of time you know that I don’t believe this and neither do most of you. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that between 1960 and 2002 the average person in America was 25-pounds heavier. Yet when we got to stores we see mannequins that don’t reflect the changes in many waistlines.

The Health Ministry in Spain started the trend toward real and plus sizes with there ban on emaciated models last year. This lead to models like Velvet D’Amour and plus size modeling in general gaining ground. Now the trend is making its way to the high fashion houses which in turn are making it to the retail chains and the mannequins that they display there merchandise on.

Larger stores like Express, Dillard’s and Nordstrom have started to order larger mannequins. Big name designers Donna Karan and Ellen Tracy have started designing clothes for size 12 and up. Sooner or later the stores will have to catch up to the demand from the plus size clothing community.

Pucci International a large name in mannequin making introduced the Birdie mannequin five years ago. With measurements of: Height: 5’10″ Bust: 38″ Waist: 32″ Hips: 44″ a design like this is more in line with the average woman on the street today. Much better than the image pushed with a mannequin that is a 5’10″ and a size 6.

Not every store is jumping on the bandwagon to with larger mannequins. Many stores still haven’t crossed the threshold to even carry sizes above a size 12. Progress has been made in every area of plus size fashion over the past two years and there will be even more to come as time goes on.

When it comes to shopping would you prefer that the models and the mannequins look more like you?