Mannequin springs to life> Bangor store using live window model

You never know who may be watching.

Walking down the street, you peer up at blank-faced mannequins who stare out of a shop window, off into space, bored.

But then one winks at you. And it startles you. Fortunately, you’re not driving.

“I’m surprised there haven’t been any accidents,” said Lori Howard, owner of Bloomers, a downtown Bangor lingerie shop, who dreamed up the promotion.

Her “mannequin” is Tammi Pearson, a petite young woman with flashing blue eyes, who doubles as a sales associate at the store when she’s not in the window modeling silk pajamas and robes.

“We were standing here one day and I said, `We should have a live mannequin,’ ” Howard recounted, laughing. “And Tammi said, `You’re right.’ And I said, `Do you want to do it?’ ”

She did.

A month later, the two women stand in the quiet, elegant, dark green interior of the store, surrounded by maroon silk pajamas, pastel negligees and robes, and paisley boxers. While several other models have appeared, Pearson continues to pose in the window, Thursdays through Saturdays, to the delight of the neighboring businesses, pedestrians, and drivers.

“The Ames Corporation, across the street, kept peeking out the first afternoon she was out there — men and women,” Howard said, relating one of the stories her displays have generated. “They actually called after a while and said they enjoyed the live mannequin, but could she change her clothes.”

Pearson, who never anticipated becoming a mannequin when she applied for the sales-associate job, doesn’t seem to mind the attention.

“I wasn’t expecting this when I applied for the job, but, hey, it’s fun.” Pearson giggled, girlishly. “I like watching people drive by and do double-takes.”

Pearson is a novice mannequin, although she’s a natural, according to a beaming Howard.

“I didn’t know how to stand at first. I was real nervous,” Pearson admitted about her early days on the catwalk. “I try to get the attention of the kids if there are any.”

“The kids see Tammi and say, `Mommy, she moved,’ ” Howard said, cutting in. “The parents will say, `No, she didn’t, that’s a dummy.’ I love it when they say she’s a dummy.”

Pearson’s double life as a mannequin has supplied the two women with a fair share of entertainment.

“I don’t know who’s having more fun — the people watching Tammi or Tammi,” Howard laughed, while recounting several tales of startled people.

And from her pedestal, Pearson can check out those who are noticing her.

“She’s done it to me,” Howard gasped. “I’ll walk by, and she’ll follow me with her eyes. It’s scary.”