The Simply Elegant Simplicity Ladies By Bernice Millman Photographs by Sheri Kaplan These advertising icons were created in the Nilsen studio. Margit Nilsen ads the final touch to her advertising mannequins. 58 FALL 2017 T his pair of tabletop mannequins are remarkable for the unique impact these fashion models made on the world of home sewn fashion. Created to enhance the sale of Simplicity patterns as well as yard goods stocked on the shelves of fabric departments of many prestigious emporiums across the United States, the ladies reigned over this domain from the 1920s through the 1940s. Highly stylized Deco-era advertising models with exaggerated poses found their origins in the Manhattan studio of Margit Nilsen. She was also the prolific designer and creator of many other iconic advertising figures of that era. Nilsen was called upon by Simplicity and the McCall Company, two major dress pattern makers, to design these mannequins. Recorded on Nilsen's original factory master molds, on page three, dated December 5, 1940, are printed, "SIMPLICITY PATTERN #187A and #189" as well as "McCall Doll #82." The numbers obviously are meant to identify the unique style and mold numbers of each mannequin. These modish composition figures were then sold by Simplicity Pattern Company to eager department store