The passing of costume designer Bob Mackie brought back a memory.the time our Oakland mannequin warehouse had an encounter with the legendary designer’s work.
Back in 2012, a private collector came to Mannequin Madness because he needed a mannequin to display a gown Cher wore to the 1998 Academy Awards. He was planning to display the Bob Mackie gown at a charity event in Napa, and he needed exactly the right mannequin to do it justice.
We were already accustomed to helping collectors find mannequins to display celebrity clothing for auctions and private collections. Mannequins purchased or rented from us had been used to display clothing worn by Whitney Houston, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana, and Janet Jackson.
But there was one thing that had never happened before: we had never actually had one of the celebrity gowns brought into our warehouse.
Until Cher.
The collector owned several Cher gowns, and he brought this one to our warehouse in an airtight case, carefully wrapped in special tissue paper. He handled the gown wearing white gloves the entire time.
We watched as he slowly and painstakingly worked the delicate gown over the mannequin, limb by limb. The fabric was so sheer and fragile that we were almost afraid to get near it — it reminded me of a spider’s web.
And yes, the gown was every bit as daring as you’d expect from a Bob Mackie design made for Cher. Strategically placed fabric provided just enough coverage while creating the illusion that very little was there at all.
Finding the Right Mannequin for a Bob Mackie Gown
The collector didn’t want just any mannequin.
He wanted one with a head, because he needed to display Cher’s headpiece. But he didn’t want the mannequin’s face competing with Cher or the gown, so he specifically asked for a mannequin with minimal facial features — something that would hold the shape of the piece without pulling focus.
Since we did not have the right material to secure the hat to the mannequin head which is a little slippery, we gave him a styrofoam head until he could get the right type of adhesive tape.
This is exactly the kind of problem-solving we do every day at Mannequin Madness. When you’re displaying an important piece of clothing, the mannequin shouldn’t become the star. Its job is to give the garment the shape and presence it needs while letting the clothing remain the focus.
If you own celebrity-worn clothing, a concert costume, movie or television wardrobe, a vintage designer gown, sports memorabilia, or another collectible garment, finding the right mannequin is an essential part of displaying it properly.
Body proportions matter. Pose matters. A head may or may not be appropriate. Some garments look best on a realistic mannequin, while others need an abstract mannequin or dress form that virtually disappears underneath the clothing.
Mannequin Madness sells new, used, and collectible mannequins in a wide range of body types, poses, and styles, and we also specialize in collectible designer mannequin brands including Adel Rootstein, Schlappi, Patina V, and Silvestri. Our Oakland warehouse and online shop serve collectors, museums, retailers, and event planners nationwide.
After all, owning a piece of fashion history is only half the story. The other half is how you display it.
Visit our website to shop for mannequins and dress forms, rent display pieces, or recycle your old mannequins.
