Dress form

A dress form is a three-dimensional model of the torso used for fitting clothing that is being designed or sewed. When making a piece of clothing, it can be put on the dress form so one can see the fit and drape of the garment as it would appear on a body, and make adjustments or alterations. Dress forms come in all sizes and shapes for almost every article of clothing that can be made. Dress forms in standard clothing sizes are used to make patterns, while adjustable dress forms allow garments to be tailored to fit a specific individual.

Dress forms of 1893

This is often colloquially referred to as a Judy for the female form and a James for the male.

History

Dress forms were created to show outfits as they would appear on a human, as hangers show the outfit in 2D and not how it would look on a human. Later on, dress forms were designed to look ‘more realistic’, a modification that gave them arms, legs, and sometimes heads. When a dress form has a full body like this (even without a head) they are known as manikins or mannequins. The retail stores began shedding dress forms and getting mannequins in favor of showing off hats, leggings, and other wear that would be unseen on simply a torso. 2D dress forms that appear on hangers, or 2D Mannequins, are used to show how clothes would fit on a human but due to their 2D nature they are not used to show how things would look on people.

Dress forms now are discontinued in store display windows in favor to mannequins, though ‘2D Mannequins’ are often used.

See also
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