Almost live from New York: inside the beautiful, verisimilar world of Rootstein Display Mannequins.

In the middle of New York City's Chelsea neighborhood a sprawling hotel lobby brims with music and an intriguing array of celebrities. Model Pat Cleveland warms herself by the fireplace, Beyonce poses dramatically by the elevator, Jon Bon Jovi lingers by the bar. But if you walk by, you might miss it, hidden as it is behind a sleek, dark window. After all, not many people have reason to go in--unless they happen to be shopping for mannequins.

Welcome to Rootstein Display Mannequins, "the Rolls-Royce of mannequin manufacturers." The 50-year-old company makes eerily lifelike models for the international fashion trade, and the happening scene in its West 19th Street studio is just the latest display the company's creative team has dreamed up to showcase its extraordinary wares. Of the dozens of figures in the vast, dimly lit space, it's not immediately apparent which are the two actual humans: Michael Steward, executive vice president of Rootstein USA, and showroom manager Nicole McHenry.

"The beauty of our mannequins is that they start life as real people," says Steward, who is gay. And not just any real people: The company signed its first celebrity model, Twiggy, to pose in 1966. Other models have included Joan Collins, Joanna Lumley of Ab Fab fame, and Elaine Paige.

The Rootstein story began in late 1950s London, when window dresser Adel Rootstein was dissatisfied with the quality of mannequins available to her and began working with a sculptor to create more modern, realistic models. Rootstein found high demand for her product in London's booming fashion scene, and a cottage industry was born.

These mannequins are a far cry from the generic forms with blank faces and adjustable body parts you see in many stores. Rootstein mannequins are complete works of art, from exotic poses to carefully detailed muscles, hands, and faces. They boast wigs combed just so, hand-painted eyes and eyebrows, and sometimes even clothes designed by creative director Kevin Arpino, who is also gay.

Arpino oversees the creation process in London, where Rootstein mannequins are sculpted at "a secret location," Steward says, for fear that competitors--there are about a dozen elite mannequin makers in the world--will copy their figures.

Clients for their mannequins, priced from $1,000 up, range from boutique buyers to powerhouse retailers like Bloomingdale's, Banana Republic, and Neiman Marcus. Ralph Lauren loves Rootstein, as does Jean Paul Gaultier. "Name a store," says Steward. "We service them all: department stores, specialty stores, designers' studios, even morn-and-pop stores."

Carefully adjusting the pelvis of a handsome blond model, Steward adds, "What we work for is naturalness. Everyone has imperfections." Even so, judging from the chiseled features of the blond, it's difficult to see how Rootstein mannequins are anything but perfect.

Rovzar is a New York Daily News reporter.