Categorization of Forms of Dress

Similarities in the criteria for collective response patterns were examined, based upon the way respondents categorized ensembles of apparel. Ensembles of daywear, a basic category offemale dress, were selected to vary in a number of dimensions. The purpose was to determine how 52 female respondents, similar in age and occupation, would group apparel in four categorization tasks. Responses were examined to determine which dimensions were used within the daywear category at the subordinate level. Dominant criteria used by respondents in forming categories at this level were the character of the silhouette and internal shape, thepart-to-whole relation, and associated meanings. Responses indicated that the categorizing task was based more upon the form dimensions than on individual preferences.