Abstract
For this study, information on garment design images and general perception, including with regard to self-consciousness, was extracted from among elderly women. In the first survey, 16 garment design images using the evaluations of 130 women (average age : 67.3 years old) were extracted by principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The four design image groups were categorized, revealing the three most popular (DG4) and six least popular (DG1) outdoor garments from the Lady & Feminine & Elegant & Chic and Modern & Sharp image style classifications, as well as the four most popular (DG2) and three least popular (DG3) everyday garments from the Casual or Basic & Retro image style classifications. The second survey captured information from 243 women (average age : 69.23 years old) on the actual usage of fashion garments and image features reflecting a sense of value (DG1 : hated garments, DG2 : close to what the women regularly wear/seemingly easy to wear, DG3 : easy to wear, DG4 : nice garments that the women want to try). Average trends in the general perception of garments, taking into account elderly women’s self-consciousness and features by age, show that there is stronger demand for comfort in an aging society. However, the study showed that aging women experience little change in their sense of satisfaction in buying garments, in the social roles of garments, and in garment maintenance.
