>>2884196Well, distortion is going to exist to some degree at every focal point. See pic related. (I fucking hate that girl's face, but the chart has been around forever and makes the point well.) And remember that distortion isn't just wide angle. Longer focal lengths are going to stretch stuff out and widen your subject, so you'll get some form of distortion or another the further in either direction you go.
As far as lighting advice, for product photography you want things to be lit evenly and smoothly. That doesn't necessarily mean flat lighting, but you probably don't want crazy harsh, dramatic lighting. That YouTube video I linked to really is a good intro to some basic concepts. I'd start with the softboxes and try to get as even of a light as you can get. Perhaps one on either side with a bare reflector behind and below to outline the mannequin. Or try one softbox over your head and pointed down and one right below you pointed up.
Clothing isn't the time to get crazy creative. It's the time to show balance and technical precision.
