The purpose of this study was to investigate satisfaction of current ready-to-wear garment sizing and fit, consumer knowledge of vanity sizing, and how these variables affect body image and/or purchase behavior at retail. Survey Monkey distributed the questionnaire to 485 registered female students attending a Midwestern regional state university. Seventyeight participants began the survey, with 63 students completing the entire questionnaire. Results indicated that consumers are mostly satisfied with garment sizing and fit. They are aware of vanity sizing usage within the apparel industry; however, this does not affect their purchase behavior at retail. Since consumers are aware vanity sizing is being used, this knowledge can be factored in when shopping. Results also indicated that the garment label sometimes affected personal body image perception. Body cathexis was measured with the use of the Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS) and indicated that participants on average are satisfied with their bodies.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this study was to investigate satisfaction of current ready-to-wear garment sizing and fit, consumer knowledge of vanity sizing, and how these variables affect body image and/or purchase behavior at retail. Survey Monkey distributed the questionnaire to 485 registered female students attending a Midwestern regional state university. Seventyeight participants began the survey, with 63 students completing the entire questionnaire. Results indicated that consumers are mostly satisfied with garment sizing and fit. They are aware of vanity sizing usage within the apparel industry; however, this does not affect their purchase behavior at retail. Since consumers are aware vanity sizing is being used, this knowledge can be factored in when shopping. Results also indicated that the garment label sometimes affected personal body image perception. Body cathexis was measured with the use of the Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS) and indicated that participants on average are satisfied with their bodies.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Weidner, Nicole Lynn"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Technology Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Subhas Ghosh, PhD., Chair","Julie Becker, MA","Dr. Sema Kalaian, PhD."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z","subjects":["inaccurate garment labels","vanity sizing","body image","purchase behavior","garment sizing","self-image","Sociology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/275","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Subhas Ghosh, PhD., Chair","Julie Becker, MA","Dr. Sema Kalaian, PhD."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Weidner, Nicole Lynn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2010-11-18T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Technology Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["inaccurate garment labels","vanity sizing","body image","purchase behavior","garment sizing","self-image","Sociology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/275"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study was to investigate satisfaction of current ready-to-wear garment sizing and fit, consumer knowledge of vanity sizing, and how these variables affect body image and/or purchase behavior at retail. Survey Monkey distributed the questionnaire to 485 registered female students attending a Midwestern regional state university. Seventyeight participants began the survey, with 63 students completing the entire questionnaire. Results indicated that consumers are mostly satisfied with garment sizing and fit. They are aware of vanity sizing usage within the apparel industry; however, this does not affect their purchase behavior at retail. Since consumers are aware vanity sizing is being used, this knowledge can be factored in when shopping. Results also indicated that the garment label sometimes affected personal body image perception. Body cathexis was measured with the use of the Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS) and indicated that participants on average are satisfied with their bodies.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Vanity sizing, body image, and purchase behavior: A closer look at the effects of inaccurate garment labeling"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Subhas Ghosh, PhD., Chair","Julie Becker, MA","Dr. Sema Kalaian, PhD."],"dc:creator":["Weidner, Nicole Lynn"],"dc:date.available":["2010-11-18T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study was to investigate satisfaction of current ready-to-wear garment sizing and fit, consumer knowledge of vanity sizing, and how these variables affect body image and/or purchase behavior at retail. Survey Monkey distributed the questionnaire to 485 registered female students attending a Midwestern regional state university. Seventyeight participants began the survey, with 63 students completing the entire questionnaire. Results indicated that consumers are mostly satisfied with garment sizing and fit. They are aware of vanity sizing usage within the apparel industry; however, this does not affect their purchase behavior at retail. Since consumers are aware vanity sizing is being used, this knowledge can be factored in when shopping. Results also indicated that the garment label sometimes affected personal body image perception. Body cathexis was measured with the use of the Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS) and indicated that participants on average are satisfied with their bodies.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/275"],"dc:subject":["inaccurate garment labels","vanity sizing","body image","purchase behavior","garment sizing","self-image","Sociology"],"dc:title":["Vanity sizing, body image, and purchase behavior: A closer look at the effects of inaccurate garment labeling"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Technology Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z"}