The impact of mannequin poses: how body language sells

Mannequins are an essential visual merchandising tool, not only for displaying clothes and accessories, but for influencing how your customers portray your brand. But, it’s not just what they wear that matters – how they stand, pose and hold themselves can make all the difference!

Body language plays an important role in how people interact with one another and interpret messages, and the same principles apply to mannequins. In this article, we will explore the art of body language in retail, how mannequin posing can influence purchase decisions, and give you handy mannequin pose tips to ensure you’re effectively using your mannequins.

The psychology of body language in retail

The BBC defines body language as non-verbal communication by movement or position, particularly facial expressions, gestures and poses. It is hugely important in building connections, as it enables us to use another layer to our communication, on top of simply the words we are saying. In fact, according to UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian, only 7% of messages are communicated verbally!

Body language is a powerful, non-verbal tool that shapes first impressions – and in retail, mannequins are able to use it to communicate with customers without saying a word. Quality visual merchandising should evoke emotions within the shopper, and an easy (albeit often overlooked) way of achieving these emotions is through the positioning of store mannequins. A strong, upright stance, for example, oozes confidence and authority, making an outfit feel aspirational. On the other hand, a relaxed pose with slightly bent limbs suggests a more casual, approachable style – perfect for athleisure wear. Even subtle cues, like the tilt of a head or the positioning of hands, can change how a display is perceived.

These small shifts in posture can also influence customer behavior. A mannequin posed as if it’s moving – such as walking or adjusting a jacket – adds energy to a display and encourages shoppers to picture themselves wearing the outfit in real life. By carefully positioning mannequins, visual merchandisers can shift the mood of their store, guide customer emotions, and subtly encourage engagement with the products on display.

How can mannequin poses influence shopping decisions?

The way a mannequin is posed can significantly impact how shoppers perceive a display and engage with the products. The right pose can make a display feel inviting, aspirational, or dynamic, while the wrong one can create distance or disinterest. Now you know about the importance of body language in the retail space, let’s explore how mannequin poses can influence your customers to buy something:

Open vs. closed poses

Mannequins with open poses, for example those with relaxed arms and shoulders and legs slightly apart, create a welcoming and approachable feel. These displays encourage customers to engage with the clothing, increasing the likelihood of a sale.

In contrast, mannequins with their arms crossed or shoulders hunched (known as closed poses) can appear distant and uninviting. While these positions can work for certain brands that want to showcase attitude or exclusivity, for many high-street brands, a more open, neutral pose will avoid alienating shoppers and making them feel unwelcome.

Dynamic vs. static poses

As we’ve mentioned, when mannequins appeal to be moving, they add energy to the display, creating a sense of realism. These movements can be anything from subtly interacting with an accessory to dramatic hand poses – depending on the products you are showcasing – but the idea of motions helps shoppers to envision themselves wearing the clothing or using the products in their everyday life.

Static doesn’t necessarily mean boring, however! Fixed, symmetrical poses, for example, can showcase balance and elegance, perfect for luxury or minimalist brands that want to focus purely on the products, rather than on crafting a narrative.

Showcasing confidence in poses

Regardless of the products you are displaying, your mannequins should showcase confidence and create a sense of empowerment. Your customers want to feel and look good in the clothes that they are wearing, so incorporating mannequin poses that subtly evoke these feelings in your target audience can influence shoppers to purchase these products.

A mannequin standing tall with their hands on their hips, blowing a kiss or other funny mannequin poses can convey strength, charisma and self-assurance, making the clothing feel more desirable.

By carefully selecting mannequin poses, retailers can shape the mood of their store, guide customer emotions, and enhance the overall shopping experience. Whether the goal is to create an inviting atmosphere, tell a story, or inspire confidence, body language plays a crucial role in influencing purchasing decisions.

How to choose the right mannequin poses for your store

Poseable mannequins are incredibly useful in showcasing your products to your customers. However, choosing the right mannequin pose is essential to make sure you’re demonstrating the appropriate emotion and displaying your products in the most visually pleasing way. Let’s run through some of our top tips for choosing mannequin poses that will work for you:

Consider your target audience: Understanding your audience is key to choosing the right mannequin poses. If you’re targeting a young, fashion-forward demographic, you might want to opt for dynamic, bold poses that evoke energy and confidence. For a more mature, professional audience, on the other hand, a poised, confident stance may resonate better, reflecting sophistication and elegance. Aligning your mannequin’s body language with the emotional response you want to create will help to improve customer engagement with your products and brand as a whole.

• Consider your target audience: Understanding your audience is key to choosing the right mannequin poses. If you’re targeting a young, fashion-forward demographic, you might want to opt for dynamic, bold poses that evoke energy and confidence. For a more mature, professional audience, on the other hand, a poised, confident stance may resonate better, reflecting sophistication and elegance. Aligning your mannequin’s body language with the emotional response you want to create will help to improve customer engagement with your products and brand as a whole.
• Think about the products you’re selling: Larger retail businesses have the ability to be more daring with their mannequin choices, as they often sell more products (and have a higher visual merchandising budget) than smaller stores. Smaller stores have to be more intentional with their mannequin choices, ensuring that they will work for their products. For example, a mannequin standing with their legs far apart might work brilliantly for sportswear, jeans or floaty skirts, but for a school-uniform or office-wear store that sells a lot of tight pencil skirts, it might not be the best option.
• Align with brand aesthetic: Make sure that your chosen mannequin poses complement your store’s identity and visual style. Mannequin poses should reflect the overall mood and values of your brand. For example, if your store is focused on luxury fashion, sleek, minimalistic poses will convey sophistication and exclusivity. Alternatively, if your brand is more relaxed and laid-back, poses that feel natural will help to reinforce that casual vibe. Consistency between your mannequin poses and brand aesthetic helps create a cohesive shopping experience that feels authentic to your customers.
• Think about store layout: Mannequins aren’t simply product displays, they are strategic merchandising tools that can guide your customers through your store, highlighting your most important merchandise. With this in mind, when choosing their positioning, use strategic mannequin posing to guide customers through the space. For example, a mannequin showcasing a full outfit without accessories can discreetly gesture towards a nearby accessories stand, full of jewellery, hats and scarves that would beautifully complement that outfit.

How Proportion London can help

If all this talk of poseable mannequins, dramatic hand poses and funny mannequin poses has you scratching your head and wondering how on earth you will choose appropriate mannequin poses for your store and products, don’t worry – Proportion London is here to help!

We have a range of mannequins available to both purchase or hire, tailored to your specific requirements. Browse our mannequin collections to find out how we can help you, or get in touch to discuss our bespoke mannequins.

And we don’t just offer mannequins. Our teams have decades of visual merchandising experience, and are more than capable of helping our retail and museum customers to create engaging displays that look great and encourage customers to return! Contact us today to discover how we can help you bring your vision to life.