The Agyness Deyn Mannequin Hits the Scene

(Photos by Susan M. Kirschbaum)

“Ever since Pymaglion first made eyes at Galatea, mannequins have been the refuge of men who prefer their women silent and submissive, dummies by name and nature.” So said London’s Daily Telegraph in February when the first Rootstein dummies of model Agyness Deyn were unveiled for Zara in Spain.

Last night, the silent version of Agyness made her way to New York. Although the real Agyness cancelled last minute, the party at a Chelsea location, attracted mostly men, but not straight guys with fetishes for submissive ladies as indicated above. Instead, the divas and dandies of the city — some in drag, several in sequins — held court. I would offer that many of them would give their tits on a plate to be immortalized by Rootstein, the British company that made Twiggy a store icon in the Sixties. For almost fifty years, the company has made dummies of famous British models like Jodie Kidd and Yasmin Le Bon. Some of them, on display, gave a hard edge. After all, they are not made of flesh and blood. Agyness, however, possesses a sweet demeanor and world curious air, even in molded plastic. 

Several of my gay fashion friends have revealed a gay boy’s coming of age nightmare regarding heterosexual sex: to be swallowed whole by a vagina, like the motion of a Venus Flytrap. Here, at Agyness’ opening, all the nether regions remain closed, sealed off. So, I offer a new theory. Mannequins represent the refuge of men who prefer women who are not women at all. Bring on the fake eyelashes, red lips, and sequins baby! No traps, just glamour!

Written by Susan K