Although mannequins have been around for thousands of years, they have only been used in storefront windows during the past century. Originally, mannequins were used as dress forms so clothing could be fit to royalty without having to continuously take body measurements. With the advent of street lights and storefront windows, however, mannequins took on new lives as a way to showcase clothing to the public.

There are a variety of different mannequin types available. There are female mannequins, mannequin heads, male mannequins, torsos and separate mannequin parts. While a shoe store may just need a pair of legs to display their footwear, a bridal shop would need a female mannequin with a head of hair to display veils and a pair of legs to display footwear. A lingerie department may just want a torso to display undergarments.

For those looking for space-saving techniques, inflatable mannequins are also an option. These blow-up mannequins are convenient for temporary clothing displays, exhibitions, home displays and small retail environments. The inflatable mannequins are just as effective as the permanent models and can be packed away easily after deflation.

Although the early mannequins were made of wood, wax or a heavy fabric, today's mannequins are usually made from a reinforced fiberglass material. If you're looking for a storefront mannequin, sturdy fiberglass is probably the best option. Most mannequins are easily posed, though this is not always the case. You may want to keep flexibility in mind before purchasing--a mannequin that can be posed in several different ways allows many more options and stretches your investment.