Moss Street Mannequin
Last year I posted images of a black velvet covered dress form on Pandora Street. I never thought I would be posting another series of pictures of vintage clothing on a mannequin on the streets of Victoria, but here you go. I could have asked for much better lighting than the lovely warm and bright sunlight that we had on Saturday, but I was not complaining as it was a great day, best of the year.
This totally outrageous mannequin is being used to advertise a sale of vintage stuff in a church hall across the street from the Moss Street Market. Someone with a good eye for grabbing one’s attention dressed it in a suitably vibrant colour to match the yellow skin. I spotted this display from the other side of the street and down a ways. How could one miss it?
Might this be from the 1980’s, with that wild sculpted hair, or could it be as early as the 60’s? I think it has a David Bowie feel to it, of the early 80’s variety. However, I have no good reference point to judge, and my internet searching skills are letting me down on this one. Perhaps someone will pipe up with an authoritative voice in the comments below. In any case, I like it in all its tacky cockiness.
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- 5 head from the side
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- 4 head and shoulders from the side
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- 3 from the front
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- 2 from the corner
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- 1 from afar
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Canon 5dii, Nikkor-N 24mm f2.8 (pre-ai) lens, ISO 100, ca f8, various exposures.
burnt embers 
What a nice little series, I know the stunning model would have certainly caught my eye! 😉 I am with Danita, at first I thought it was a male.
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Thank you! It is a true period piece. I bet you would have taken a very different shot of it. It was pretty hard to shoot, the light was awful.
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I have to say that’s a curious looking mannequin, I’ve never seen one like it. I’ll bet her boyfriend is that plastic guy that used to hang out at the Big Boy. I love the shots, especially #2.
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Thanks Ken. It is curious. I have to wonder how it stands up at all, it looks very top heavy.
I had never seen the Big Boy guy before, but having seen this link I totally agree with you.
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Lovely. The sunny shots are wonderful. All that yellow warmth is perfect against the mannequin’s cool ‘hair’ and green dress. Great shots – I feel summer coming on.
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The sun was wonderful this weekend (and today) – actually was warm enough for a t-shirt. I processed that top shot with a filter that replicates the feel of faded slides or film from the 60’s, though I did not really crank it up. I kind of like the way that it goes with the mannequin.
The word mannequin has been bothering me – its a strange one. I just looked it up and it means “little man”. It also means “dummy”. And so I thought I knew why it was bothering me, until I found the words/concepts agalmatophilia and pediophobia. Now I don’t know what to think of this mannequin.
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Such fun! Love the unexpected juxtaposition – yes, very David Bowie in a dress.
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Thanks Lynn! It is fun. Hard to remember these things in the stores, but probably I saw them and didn’t think twice about it. Sure stands out now though. So would David Bowie in one of those outfits and hairstyles from the mid 80’s.
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From the headshot, I thought the figure was a man, until I saw the wider angle shots and he/she is wearing a dress!
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That is an interesting observation – androgeny was part of the fashion of the early 80’s, perhaps that is why I find it reminiscent of Bowie.
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It looks like 80s hair but what do I know, I was too young to remember the crazy fashion of that decade! 😛
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It was kind of a wasteland, the early 80’s. I remember it especially for the lousy music.
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