Adolescence is a critical time for changes in self-concept and body-image awareness. Self-esteem, the evaluative component of self concept, has been found to be influenced by acceptance by peers. Appearance has been found to influence peer acceptance, and clothing is one tool which may modify appearance. Increasing competitiveness among adolescents with regard to clothing has been cited as one reason for encouraging uniforms or strict dress codes in schools. If an adolescent cannot afford the desired quality and quantity of clothing or is dissatisfied with clothing when compared to that of friends and classmates, high perceptions of clothing deprivation occurs. If an adolescent has high perceptions of clothing deprivation, she may experience low self-esteem. The purpose of the present study was to examine relationships between perceptions of clothing deprivation, perceptions of school climate, and self-esteem for a selected group of middle school females. / Master of Science

The purposes of this study were to determine if petite women have a positive or negative body cathexis, to see if petite women perceive themselves as having garment fit and style proportion problems, and to explore the relationships between these variables and selected demographic information. The sample was made up of 132 Spiegel catalog shoppers. The sample ranged in height from 4'9" to 5'6" with 670/0 being 5'2" and under. Results for the 5'2" and under were looked at separately. The total sample was satisfied with all the body cathexis variables except for thighs and stomach. The 5'2" and under petites were satisfied with all the variables except four, leg length, hips, stomach, and height. Most of the fit problems were associated with length. The majority of the sample 5'2" and under reported available clothing too long in the sleeves, skirts, pants, and crotch depth. Most of the style proportion problems reported in this research were associated with the length of garments and garment components. The miscellaneous items that created the most problems for this sample were pocket location and dart location. These problems were more predominate for the 5'2" and under sample. Over 50% of 5'2" and under sample reported problems with lengths and pocket location. And at least 25% of them reported problems in 22 other areas. There did not appear to be any relationship between the perceived garment fit variables and style proportion problems and the body cathexis variables, nor between the demographics and the perceived garment fit and the style proportion problems The majority of the sample shopped at mail order stores (catalogs) and department stores. The department most often shopped was the petite department. The majority of the women had their ready-to-wear clothing altered to achieve a better fit and solve their style proportion problems. The majority (74%) was not satisfied with the current petite clothing available. The most conclusive data in this study pertained to the implication of problems with dart location and pocket placement. The garment proportion in relation to darts and pocket placement were inappropriate for some of these petite subjects. / Master of Science

Garment doffing is recognized as an important element of safety, yet little information exists about doffing. The purpose of this research was to develop a method for kinematic analysis of the doffing process. The specific objectives were to 1) identify the basic critical movements involved in the doffing process of a selected garment style, 2) quantify the movement pattern. and 3) assess the validity of the method and the reliability of the data. To study the movements involved in doffing a nightgown, doffings were recorded by video and WATSMART® (electro-optical) cameras. Relative angular displacement vs. time data were generated from video recordings using the Posture Taxonomy instrument, and from WATSMART recordings using a computer program. The movement experienced by the shoulder and elbow joints were close to the maximum physiologically possible. Twelve critical movements were identified using Roebuck’s terminology. The construct validity of the method was shown to be satisfactory by the convergence of the WATSMART and video position vs. time data. The reliability of the data was assessed in terms of intra- and inter-trial consistency. WATSMART was found to be sensitive enough to discern the differences in consistency due to garment style, subject fatigue, and differing configurations of IREDs. Based on the satisfactory convergence of the data and consistency of the data, it was concluded that using the WATSMART system to kinematically analyze the doffing process was feasible. The degree of fidelity of the garments needs to be established before the method can be adopted for general use, however. / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

This research was focused on increasing the efficiency of upland cotton production in the northern cotton belt through the use of new fertilizer formulations, placement, and timings. The objectives of the experiments reported in this thesis were to: 1) evaluate the effects of side-dress potassium (K), sulfur (S), and boron (B) formulation and application timing on tissue nutrient levels during the bloom period; 2) evaluate lint yield response of cotton to different formulations of nitrogen (N), K, S and B applied at side-dress; and 3) compare 5x5 banding (5 cm beside and 5cm below the seed) and deep placement of complete N-P-K-S blends to current nutrient management strategies on early season plant growth, nodes above white flower, total nodes, petiole nutrient concentrations during bloom, and lint yield. Tissue S and B concentrations were increased more often than K concentrations when the nutrients were applied with side-dress N. When evaluating P and K placement, petiole P levels were found to be significantly higher in unfertilized plots when no side-dress N was applied. Phosphorus and K placement and/or rate had no effect on lint yield when N was applied at side-dress during the study. Environmental conditions potentially influenced the response to P and K placement as 5x5 placement produced yields significantly higher during 2013 growing season at location 1, while deep placement produced significantly higher yields in 2014 at location 3. As a result, Virginia nutrient management recommendations for cotton have been updated to incorporate management strategies to maximize lint yields. / Master of Science

Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between clothing satisfaction and self-concept of a select group of women age 65 and older. An increase in the number of elderly women in the population with special clothing needs led to the development of this research. Past research indicates that elderly women are dissatisfied with purchased clothing, yet prior to this study it was not known if or how the dissatisfactions were related to their self-concepts. The sample consisted of 81 female residents of a retirement community in Salem, Virginia, and members of senior centers located in Floyd, Christiansburg, and Radford, Virginia. A questionnaire was developed for this research because a suitable one did not exist. It consisted of demographic variables, clothing satisfaction statements, and self-concept statements. Demographic data were collected to describe the sample and to compare it to the elderly population. Clothing satisfaction statements assessed satisfaction with clothing styles, fit, color, acquisition, cost, and care. An adaptation of Fitts' Tennessee Self Concept Scale was utilized to measure physical, personal, and social components of the self. A frequency distribution was used to tabulate the data. A correlation analysis determined the relationships between clothing satisfaction variables and self-concept variables. The results of this study indicated that elderly women are dissatisfied with clothing on the mass market. Significant relationships were found between total self-concept and satisfaction with clothing styles, between social self and satisfaction with clothing cost, and between physical self and overall clothing satisfaction. It was found that no relationship existed between overall clothing satisfaction and total self-concept, but the researcher concluded that because of the significant relationships clothing satisfaction indirectly influences self-concept. / M.S.

No / X-radiography of textile objects reveals hidden features as well as unexpected components and materials. This non-destructive technique throws light on construction, manufacturing techniques, use, wear, repair, patterns of decay and dating. X-radiography improves artefact documentation and interpretation as well as guiding conservation approaches by enhancing understanding. This book explores techniques for X-raying textiles. It describes approaches to image interpretation and explains how, through digitisation and digital image manipulation, maximum information can be realised. Case studies include archaeological, ecclesiastical and ethnographic textiles, items of dress and accessories, upholstery, quilts, embroideries, dolls and toys. Museum professionals will find this stimulating book an essential guide for developing their own practice or commissioning textile X-radiographs.

Clothing can be used as a tool to adjust one’s image in society. Western society’s infatuation with the slim body type has caused great discomfort for the large-size female. Hence, the effective use of the clothing "tool" is most important for the large-size female. This study was designed to determine if the place of purchase of clothing limited or enhanced the effectiveness of the clothing "tool". The objectives of this study were to determine if large-size women who shopped in department stores differed in self-esteem, body satisfaction, and design line preference from large-size women who shopped in specialty stores and to determine if relationships existed among these variables. Data were collected using a modified version of the Baggs Scale. The Likert type instrument was comprised of 10 self-esteem, 7 body satisfaction, and 14 design line preference items. The remainder of the instrument was composed of demographic information. The instrument was pre-tested twice using the female employees of The College of Human Resources at Virginia Tech. The final sample of 59 large-size females was derived from a random sample of female employees at Virginia Tech. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Pearson Product Moment Correlations. The sample exhibited a high positive self-esteem, low body satisfaction, and a preference for clothing with vertical orientations. Significant correlations were found to exist among the variables. / Master of Science

The purpose of the present study is to determine what per cent of dresses manufactured by Dallas dress manufacturers is produced to meet the needs of tall women.