Looks like we shouldn't get too excited over those awesome JC Penney mannequins just yet.
In a move that at this point surprises no one, yet another retailer has come under fire for using super skinny mannequins, complete with jutted out rib cages and concave stomachs in their storefront. A disgruntled customer of Irish retailer Primark tweeted this photo, calling on the store to explain themselves:
Dear @Primark, is it really necessary that these new mannequins have protruding ribs?? pic.twitter.com/xEWSBrsZWw
— Mel Fraser (@Melfyx) July 21, 2014
Primark has since removed the window display, however, the whole controversy raises a couple of questions. Why are these mannequins being produced in the first place? Why do retailers find it necessary to showcase their collections on such thin bodies? When you consider Primark and its large range of products and sizes, the whole idea becomes even more perplexing.
This issue, of course, is nothing new. In fact, as recently as this year another retailer, La Perla, faced criticism over a "dangerously thin" mannequin. They too removed it from stores after a shopper tweeted a complaint.
So, while we have certainly come a long way as far as realistic mannequins go, it looks like there are still more strides to be made.