Victorian corsets 'too small for modern mannequins'
March 23, 2009 
A corset expert is seeking out antique mannequins to use in a new exhibition.
Mary Dutson from the Dean Heritage Centre in Gloucestershire is planning a display of delicate Victorian corsets but is struggling to find models to wear the clothes.
The former policewoman has a host of lace and velvet corsets to include in a fashion exhibition at the centre next month.
However, modern mannequins are too big to display the clothes, with even size-zero models struggling to fit inside the pieces.
"We've had some size-zero shop models but they are too big," Ms Dutson told the Citizen.
"I did ask around for some teenage mannequins but I've been told that even they are rather broad around the middle."
Explaining why the delicate corsets are difficult to fit on modern figures, she added: "Better nutrition means our skeletons are much bigger these days and in Victorian times they would have worn corsets to take even more inches off their waist."
