DTD rigidity, use, purpose, and dressing problem

After persevering through a fair amount of trouble, my DTD is almost done... and now I've just encountered another project-halting problem I had never considered beforehand, and I don't know what to do. Just for fun, I tried to dress it in a vest, something with large armholes that should be easy to put on (in comparison to a long-sleeved shirt), but I could not get it on. I can get the vest on halfway, one arm through one armhole, but that's it. Can't reach the other arm to put it through the hole. The partially raised rigid arms are the problem. My DTD is packed tight, and I don't think the arms are going to bend down or back without damage to the shoulders. I really don't feel I should try to force them down.



All you who have successfully made and used duct tape mannequins, what is the flexibilty of the finished DTD supposed to be like? Should it be squishy like a plushie, or rigid, like mine is now? Those of yours having outstretched arms, how do you dress them?

Now I understand why department store mannequins have removable arms. Grasping at straws for a solution, I thought about somehow making my DTD's arms detachable, but I cringe at that thought, after all the hard frustrating work I've put into this thing. Appearance-wise, it is looking quite good and has accurately reproduced my body shape.

You do eventually dress the DTD in the costume you are making, for tailoring the fit, right? Isn't that the purpose of the DTD? If not, then I've seriously misunderstood something along the way. In any case, I can't dress my mannequin the way it is now.

Thank you all for any helpful thoughts or suggestions.