Following a study of the company's figures that revealed 42% of the garments sold were between sizes 14 and 16, Debenhams have decided to try a series of mannequins that would reflect their core customers. 

So instead of dressing size 10 mannequins in their window displays, Debenhams will be trailing size 16 equivalents. The models will be sporting clothing from the recent collaboration between hot designer Ben de Lisi and high street chain Principles.

Mark Stevens, Head of Creative at the company, remarked: “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.”

This is a commendable move by the high street department store but there is no guarantee that it will work. Indeed John Lewis tried a similar scheme a few years ago and introduced size 14 models in their Peterborough store but this did not go nationwide.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of charity Beat, which campaigns against eating disorders, told the Telegraph that she supported Debenham's idea: “Women often feel it is their fault that clothes don’t look as good on them as they do in the shop window.

"It's good to have mannequins that reflect the diversity of female shapes in Britain."