Dress fit and body image: A thematic analysis of women's accounts during and after trying on dresses

Sarah Grogan; Simeon Gill; Kathryn Brownbridge; Sarah Kilgariff; Amanda Whalley

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.03.003

Dress fit and body image: A thematic analysis of women's accounts during and after trying on dresses

Sarah Grogan, Simeon Gill, Kathryn Brownbridge, Sarah Kilgariff, Amanda Whalley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate women's experiences of dress fit and body image. Spontaneous speech of 20 women aged 18-45 years was audio-recorded while they tried on a number of dresses. They were also body-scanned and photographed in their chosen dress and discussed both the scan and the photograph in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and four key themes were found: the slim hourglass ideal, functional aspects of clothes fit, body confidence and clothes fit, and clothes dimensions and size coding. All themes and component sub-themes were ratified in follow-up sessions six months after the original interviews. It was concluded that these women had a complicated relationship with clothes fit and sizing and used well-fitting clothes to increase body confidence, cover perceived flaws, and to try to attain a slender hourglass look. Ideas for future directions for research in these areas are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	380-388
Number of pages	8
Journal	Body Image
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.03.003
Publication status	Published - Jun 2013

Keywords

Body confidence
Body image
Body size
Clothes
Dress fit
Ideal body

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10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.03.003

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title = "Dress fit and body image: A thematic analysis of women's accounts during and after trying on dresses",

abstract = "This study was designed to investigate women's experiences of dress fit and body image. Spontaneous speech of 20 women aged 18-45 years was audio-recorded while they tried on a number of dresses. They were also body-scanned and photographed in their chosen dress and discussed both the scan and the photograph in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and four key themes were found: the slim hourglass ideal, functional aspects of clothes fit, body confidence and clothes fit, and clothes dimensions and size coding. All themes and component sub-themes were ratified in follow-up sessions six months after the original interviews. It was concluded that these women had a complicated relationship with clothes fit and sizing and used well-fitting clothes to increase body confidence, cover perceived flaws, and to try to attain a slender hourglass look. Ideas for future directions for research in these areas are discussed. {\textcopyright} 2013 Elsevier Ltd.",

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T1 - Dress fit and body image: A thematic analysis of women's accounts during and after trying on dresses

AU - Grogan, Sarah

AU - Gill, Simeon

AU - Brownbridge, Kathryn

AU - Kilgariff, Sarah

AU - Whalley, Amanda

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

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AB - This study was designed to investigate women's experiences of dress fit and body image. Spontaneous speech of 20 women aged 18-45 years was audio-recorded while they tried on a number of dresses. They were also body-scanned and photographed in their chosen dress and discussed both the scan and the photograph in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and four key themes were found: the slim hourglass ideal, functional aspects of clothes fit, body confidence and clothes fit, and clothes dimensions and size coding. All themes and component sub-themes were ratified in follow-up sessions six months after the original interviews. It was concluded that these women had a complicated relationship with clothes fit and sizing and used well-fitting clothes to increase body confidence, cover perceived flaws, and to try to attain a slender hourglass look. Ideas for future directions for research in these areas are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

KW - Body confidence

KW - Body image

KW - Body size

KW - Clothes

KW - Dress fit

KW - Ideal body

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DO - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.03.003

M3 - Article

SN - 1740-1445

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SP - 380

EP - 388

JO - Body Image

JF - Body Image

IS - 3

ER -

Dress fit and body image: A thematic analysis of women's accounts during and after trying on dresses

Abstract

Keywords

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