Mannequins bagged

By Jade Lawton
NUDE mannequins placed outside a Beaconsfield fashion outlet have caused a stir, with Cardinia Shire Council ordering their owner to cover up.
Colette Mitchell, owner of the recently opened Cebu Fashion and Home, said she was ‘perplexed’ by the council order to dress the mannequins.
“I’ve only opened store fairly recently, in October, and it’s a little set back so I bought three extra mannequins to put on the front lawn. I was going to dress them but the weather was bad, and even if it was sunny, the clothes (would) fade,” she said.
“A man from council came and he said he had a complaint so he photographed them and said he would take it back to the council. Then he said the decision was that they were to be removed immediately.”
Ms Mitchell said the mannequins were ‘sort of androgynous looking’ with no visible genitals.
“They have sort of a lump as a nipple but it’s not a coloured nipple or anything,” she said.
“I’m not upset, just a bit perplexed.”
Ms Mitchell said the mannequins were an important tool in promoting her business.
“I had three new customers (on Wednesday) that came in after seeing the mannequins.”
Cardinia Shire Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council acted after receiving anonymous complaints that the mannequins were obscene.
“Council investigated the resident’s complaint and responded to the issue accordingly,” he said.
“The retailer was told that some people had found the unclothed mannequins offensive and was encouraged to dress them at the front of her shop.
“In accordance with council local laws the owner or occupier of any property must not allow or permit the property to be kept in a manner which is unsightly.”
Mr Dunlop said that ‘unsightly’ land meant any land including a building or other structure or thing which is detrimental to the amenity of the area.
But Ms Mitchell has found a way of complying with the local law while still promoting her shop.
“I still don’t want to put clothes on them so I’ve covered them with white plastic bin bags,” she said.