Size 16 mannequins dressed by store

The store placed the mannequins in its Oxford Street branch in London and wants customer feedback before extending the trial.

Debenhams currently uses standard size 10 mannequins in all its window displays even though the majority of women in Britain measure in at either a size 14 or 16.

Signs next to the mannequins, which will be wearing the recently-launched Principles by Ben de Lisi range, will ask customers: "I'm a size 16. Do you want to see more of me?"

Debenhams stocks up to size 26 in its womenswear department, with 42 per cent of sales coming from size 14 and 16 garments.

Debenhams spokesman Mark Stevens said yester-

day: "We are proud to

offer a broad and varied choice for women of all ages, shapes and sizes in store.

"So we thought we should reflect this in our window displays.

"If it's popular with customers we would love to roll it out," he added.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of eating disorders charity Beat, said: "Women often feel it is their fault that clothes don't look as good on them as they do in the shop window.

"So we congratulate Debenhams on taking this initiative."