My love affair with mannequins happed after watching the “After Hours” episode of the Twilight Zone when I was seven. I’ve been taking notice of these life-size dolls for years and wondering what stories they have to tell as they stare down at me.
Merchants are replacing mannequins with headless, plastic displays. Old style mannequins are harder and harder to find. Like us, these creatures age, and store owners “retire” them. Chipped noses, faded paint, and worn out hair make them all the more interesting to me. So I sought them out all over the Bay Area capturing their stories with the click of my camera.
I hope you take a moment and really look at them. What stories do they share with you?
This was the first mannequin that I photographed. She lived in a store window near my college in Chico, California. I went back some years later and the store owner said they sold her to a company in New Jersey. They were sad to see her go, but were closing up the store. It was time to retire. I hope this vintage Lady is doing well in her new home.