Fallen Angel

I find the life cycle of a shop mannequin quite fascinating. These things are very expensive costing several hundred pounds for a good one.

This means that most of them start out being purchased for quite upmarket shops or big chain stores like M&S, New Look or Next.

They are used to display the latest high street fashions for a season of two until they start to get the odd chip or a collection of grubby fingerprints in inappropriate places. They are then left outside the stores back door for collection by the bin men.

This is when the not so well off but ever vigilant independent traders come sneaking through the dead of night like Burke and Hare style body snatchers, to rescue them from a sorry end in the local landfill.

They at this point, usually get a bit of a wash and touch up and can spend many happy years fulfilling their purpose and being well loved and well cared for.

But..... sadly the day eventually comes when they start to look a little too shabby and battered for polite society. Sadly at this point, they are usually cast aside and end up languishing in a skip somewhere. This is the point where most of then lose their arms.

The best they can hope for at this stage of their life, is that some alternative funky vintage clothing shop owner or a teenager looking for some exotic room decor will save them from this sad and sorry end.

When this happens, they are usually transformed with a lick of paint..... there is usually some form of masking or insulation tape involved (I have yet to work out why) and some exotic headgear is de rigeur.

And there they stand like some garish naked Venus de Milo in bondage. Stripped of all dignity and self respect, these poor mannequins spend the rest of their days probably thinking that the skip would be preferable.

The sad thing is....... I know some people like that. :)

16th February 2016 16th Feb 16