A STUDY OF SOME FACTORS AND BUYING PRAC- TICES IN THE SELECTION OF READY-MADE SKIRTS BY THE 10TH GRADE GIRLS IN THE CARVER HIGH SCHOOL, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA by Legertha W. Dobbins LIBRARY Michigan State University I] [j .1 iii}: ix 1_ H 3- ». .1, i {~.'l.:;,l1.3.‘ f" i i! -: l H Air] ii Li‘lyfl (11” fiLJHAAA A ain‘litir‘fl; - .A- ..?2’fi§$ A1? I) -_‘-.-————___————-———__ A'AJAAA iii‘w id. iRLAHIrA i (IL i.r1r'fi» E; i 113» iilkl l’ 546%.3 A1i113 AAWAmAN "TATE :JAuvmsnv (’01-... LISA), ‘Q'-’\ \I HtrthtNCLiibrAfiY mm. 1 r- v~-'.~ S‘JJ'LI'SX; C‘; i.) .i. 1;, r "‘ '5 ‘ - . v . . . . - Eif-"»i~’JA"~.o'.".;-\1’~it "AH {3 "‘ " u - . A ' an. ...;,,. EAST min-ATS. Aiiczmm o“;‘.‘,\ \u" ‘ If" ‘ ELL: Hf‘feb A STUDY OF SOME FACTORS AND BUYING PRACTICES IN THE SELECTION OF READY-MADE SKIRTS BY THE 10TH GRADE GIRLS IN THE CARVER HIGH SCHOOL MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA By Legertha W. Dobbins A PROBLEM Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE General Home Ecdnomdcs 1963 AWS the author is indebted to Dr. Jam Richer and m“ Wm: need for their guidance, suggestions and encouregemnt in this problem. I '11 TABLE OF CONTENTS AC mmcmms O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 LIST OF TABLES Chapter I. Introduction ObJeCtive' '. '0 O O O O O O O O O 0 Review of Literature . . . . . . . 11. Methods of Research Setting of the Study . . . . . TheInstrument........ Pretest . . . . . . . . . . . Execution of the Instrument . III. Findings A .General Description of the Sample Relationships of Homemaking . . . Background to Skirt Selection . . Summary 0 O O C I O O O O O O O 0 IV. Summary and Recommendations . . . . . BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX iii 0 O O O Page ii iv 10 12 13 14 30 3O 32 35 38 III 1‘! 'v‘I VII VIII IX XII XIII XIV x i.‘ I IAII M'III III M Girls sith and initilOlIt {awarding I Emu-moon . . . . Occupationof Fathers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ('Jccuwtion of I'lother's . o o . o a o o . o . . o . . . Girls Lilli] and LiLiIU’JL Part-Tile J0b3 o o o o o o o o .iourco of I-l-ouey for Parchment; of Lust. Skirt . . o o Shoppim; Companions for the Purchase of Last Shirt . Type of Store E'nxn «rich Last Skirt has Purc-‘hnaed . . i-‘.e:1~:iin.g, Labels in the Puz~clz::.:se US Loot. Skirt 0 . . o ljndcratazuiing Labels in the i’urcinso of erst Skirt. 0 Frequency of Examining éwrixnamszfip . o o o . . . . 0 Need for Alterations o o o o o o o o o c o o o o o 0 “me Source of Ideas fluted Ito-st. haportmt for {Mr-chase I83L Akirt o o o o o o o o o o a o o o o o o o o o I 'Die Source of Ideas Rated Seomd in Immrtanca for FUTCDQSO Of L33L Skirt 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o c Tue Source of Liens 2-2.;str3d 'fl‘iir‘d in Bipartmuco for PUFCMSSO 0f Lfifit Skirt 0 o o o o o c o o o o o o o o DOSCPIPLIOH 0f Last Shirt (:LVIBJ o o o o o o o o o 0 description of Last Skirt (Fabric Pattern) . . . o o JGSCTIPLiOfl 0f L85L Skirt (FabPiC) o o o o o o o o o Influmcing Factors Rated Host L'Awrtmt in IUPChaSO 0f Last Skirt 0 c o o o o o o o o o o o o o Influencing Factors Hated Seem-d in anrtmico in TUPCHMSO Of Last Skirt 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o c o Influcmcing Factors hated Third in Lapor‘czmca in FUFCDBSG 0f LfiSL Skirt 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 iv 33,451: 11. 15 16 .22 22 2‘) 30 ggggggg ........... m l W n. complexities oi todayi's ohmic; market and recent technological developnsnts in the unn- industry bring to .11 families puzzling prob- lems is the selection. use. and care of clothing itm. the amount of money spent by the teenage girl for clothing has increased in the last few years.1 Basic information is needed regarding features she considers desirable or uideairable, as well as her buying practices} Dissatisfaction vith a garment became of unwise selection or poor buying practices fre- Quantly leads to an economic loss through disuse or discard. This study was nade to determine some of the factors involved in the selection of ready-made skirts by the 10th grade girls at the Carver High School. Montgomery, Alabam. in attempt was made to compare the buying practices of girls who had studied mung or had a-n Club clothing experience, and those girls who had not studied [remaking nor had had h-H Club clothing experience. Importance of the Study W is an elective in every lure High School in motto-cry. Alabama except for two schools. the Alabama state laboratory High School and the George Washington nigh School. be girls at these two schools are required to take at least one year of mu... it is this author's belief that any principals. superintendents. and other school officials icelthathowakinaisnot memberequited. 12m tyres, Mary Ryan. Sand unit. Whitlock. "comm; “Itisiactioa with House's Blouses. Dart 1." Agricultural kpsrinsnt Station. Univers- ‘t’ Of M. hm. “.me 2Dorothy Dickins and Virginia Ferguson. "Practices and References of teen Age Girls in the Selection of Blouses. Skirts. Dresses and Busters". Mississippi Agricultural prsrinsnt Station. Mississippi State University. 1 The increased earning power of teen-agers has affected their cloth- ing buying practices. In a study for the Bureau of Advertising of the American Newspapers Publishers Association, Eugene Gilbert found that Teen—agers' income from jobs, allowances, and gifts amounted to approximately nine billion dollars during 1956, and that by 1965, this total will increase to fourteen billion dollars. The same author estimates that about 800,000 teen-agers have full-time jobs and that nearly 4,700,000 work part time.3 It is thought that many teen-agers are using the money which they earn from simple jobs in their home and community to buy their clothes. Homemaking teachers and others who work with consumers need to be aware of this trend in giving guidance in the selection of clothing. However, it is necessary to know more about consumer's preferences and buying prac- tices. It is hoped that the results of this study will substantiate the need to require at least one year of homemaking for 9th or 10th grade girls at the Carver High School, Montgomery, Alabama. Such a course will deal in part with consumer buymanship. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are: 1. To determine the importance of the following factors to teen-age girls in skirt selection: cost, style, fit, fabric, and color. 2. To determine whether cost rather than other factors is the primary consideration in selecting ready-made skirts by 10th grade girls in Carver High School, Montgomery, Alabama. 3Eugene Gilbert. "New $10 Billion Power. U.S. Teen-Age Consumer." Life, XXXVII (August 31, 1959) p.78. 3. To gain an understanding of some buying practices of 10th grade girls which might include type of store patronized, shopping companion. if any, and label reading. lb. To provide background information for the inv- portance of including clothing selection as s part of consurmr education in the Imemaking curricular: at the Carver High School, lbstgomry, Alabama. It is hypothesized that! High school 31:1. in hawking mass and those was 4-3 Club clothing experiences will show appreciable differences in the factors and buying practices considered in selection of skirts from those girls with a limited number of these experiences. ' A Review of Literature- In order to receive monetary,“ well as other kinds of satisfaction. in clothing selection. we met have an mderstanding of buymsnship prin- ciples. A lack of this understanding may result in a loss of time. effort, and money. Consequently, information on clothing selection is important to parents, educational leaders, manufacturers, as well as teen-age constants. According to one study, teenagers are not always aware of the many 5 Son of the important factors factors involved in clothing selection. are: fit, color, style and price. Today, there are new reasons for the wide-spread use of ready-made clothing. One source states attractive garments can easily be purchased in the market. An added “Vantage to the snares is that she can see how “Janice Larson. "A Study of Attitudes Regarding Blames and Sweaters." Unpublished meters menis, Michigan State university, 1960. a garment looks on her before investing any money. Enough different types can be tried on to judge which will be most suitable.5 Appearance can be observed immediately before buying, while the appearance of a home sewn garment can't be visualized until it has been finished. Cannon, Staples, and Carlson6 agree with the findings of other studies regarding factors affecting children's popularity in that there is a shifting of values attributed to these various factors as the child grows older. This change in the value pattern is more marked in girls than in boys. This investigatiOn also showed that personal appearance for girls bears a significant relationship to social acceptance during the junior and senior high school years. In a sociometric test which de- termined the importance of personal appearance as a factor in social ac- ceptability, the girls were rated higher than the boys in personal appear- ance at all grade levels and showed a definite improvement in dress and grooming with age. Hertzler7 surveyed 2,000 high school girIs in five California schools to determine the importance of appearance to the teen—agar. The greatest per- sonal concerns reported by these girls were clothes, health, money and boy/girl relationship. TWenty-one percent of the girls felt that their clothes were SMildred Tate, Oris Glisson, Family Clothing. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1961, p. 32. 6Kenneth Cannon, Ruth Staples, and Irene Carson. "Personal Appearance as a Factor in Social Acceptance." JOUrnal of Home Economics, 44 (November, 1952) p. 710. 7Alverda E. Hertzler, "Problems of the Normal Adolescent Girl," Cali- fornia Journal 9§_Secondary Education, Vol. 15, pp. 114-119, 1940 as re- ferred to in Sylvia Silverman's Clothing and Appearance, Their Psychological melications For Teen-Age Girls, New York: Bureau of Publication, Teachers College, Columbia University. not adequate for finals needs. they said cleanse gave rise to feelings of inferiority and kept theft-sebum a part of the arm ”which they wished to balm. suck“ surveyed 500 teenagers to determine the conflicts which 31:1. had with their parents. it was found that personal appearance, habits. and mars were the areas of matest conflict. fifty-ens percent of V the girls reported that their mothers named then shut first they were and have they dressed. fifty“!!! W said that their mothers refused to is: then buy the clothes they wanted. A In 1950 mu harsoug stuiied the following factors in relation to personality. intelligence and socio-ecomie status ;(1) primary character- isties of dress] (2) color utterance of dress; (3) line preference in. dress, and (A) color and line selection on personality. lssults indicated that personality has a reciprocal sshtimhip with color and line choice iadx'ess. humus pointed ”themed incandesceiahelpimgirls select colors and 1m beaming to than.” 1111961. thmastmyefm «:0inth the W of the following criteria in selection of shirts: style. suitability, comfort. «as of care, and wise. She toms that solar, style, and versatility were the three main characteristics assumed as mat in- portaat. is skirt selection. She also reported that appearance as s crie miss its very W throughout the study with its aspects of color 3v. 1.. slack, Conflicts of Adolescents ma: mi: Wes, m; .' ""‘L 4.... Pt! .1“ f “3“ vote 32. "a 193‘2116. 1937. 9101s remap."i'een-Agers Reference in Clothing,“ W Enemies (£8. Decanter i950) p. 802. 10mm, 9. are and fit. Store window, taehioo magazines, and "whet othere were" were found to he come sources of clothing ideas for these girls.u According to Dmthy Breast.12 very" few. if my problem ere found in etimletina intereet in e high echool clothing eelection eleee. She boll-we thet the teenager who ie enroll end vell-edjueted ie ectively end eerionely inter-ester! ie her appearance. In e study on clothing preference end buying erection of high rowel 31in, Grace hook” found that the group moietently ehowed con- fidence in their nother'e. judgment, or well u exhibiting conformity to the dreee of othere in their story. She {and that the relation of cloth- in; m influenced by edvertieenente in temporal end etore displeye. Foctore invariant in skirt eelectioe were etyle, ”ice, end color. In enothcr etudy Jolie levy“ reported on buying meticeo of rome 7th enclBth grade youth. Beeulte ehowed thet these hoye end girle con- tributed to the prelude; of clothes. elthonsh five percent of the hoye when of the girle indicated that ell of their elothie; Wee one free funds eerned by then. it one elee load then: eirtyceizht per.- cent of thehoyeend titty-niuperceneltheairleeenednoeeyvhich we need for pay-at of their elothiu. forty-urea percent of the tee ulhrgeretneed ,"A Study of the Influence Affecting the Selection of Winter Skirte by Certain l‘reehnee Home. " Wliehed heter'e heir. Michigan Stete Univereity. 1961. 12Dorothy stepet. "Before end After Iith e Cleaning Selection Clue " ' . -‘ 33. MI 1955. ’e 144. 13Grace meek. "A Survey of the Clothing Inference end Drying tru- ticee of 100 Girle of fleet Divieion High School in Pulmnkee, Wieconeio." Unpubliehcd meter'e theeie, Michigan State hivereity. “Julie u. my. "Reeponeihilitiee Around by sa- Mint nigh School Youth in the urethane end Cere oi heir Clothes." Unpublished meter'e Theeie, Prairie Viev Agricultural end Mechanical College, heirie View. rem, l956. apoudonto lndlcated that mod woo tho primary consideration in tho pur- chuo of clothing, whorooo forty-four perunt opoculod pononol wont: no a but: for buying. Moro romtly, Manon than” in hot otudy, "laying museum For Spoctflod Apparel Ito:- of fifty college Glrlo".mlyzod family procticoo 1n rogord to tho typo of otoroo patrontrod. mopping poetic". and who mgoo tn paranoia; clothlnu. w otudy ohowod that tho :1th otoro m tho popular typo of otoro for thou girls for buy-lag mu. lotto, drooooo, out jockoto. filo opoololty clothing ohopo voro ’roforrod for oktrto, motors. blown. out formula. Chou otoroo. ouch no tho .3. c. Bouncy Conway, voro nonttoood toot froquontly oo tho typo of. otoro for that: ploy-cloth”, taboo, pojmo and ollpo. two-thirdo of tho particl- panto raid that tho primary reason for thotr cholco of otoro for o opoclflc item of owl m that tho otoro offorod tho dulrod quality of merchan- dloo. Early on may sold tho otoro of their cholco “Mod tho dooirod Moo tango for a particular lton of opporol. Half of tho otudonto gavo vldo minty in tho solution of. otylo on thotr rouoo. Ont minty por- cent mttonod that they trtod on conto. outta, fomh, jackets. school drooooo, and skirts boforo parents“. Anothor concorn in clothing solution in tho W of reading labels. loom rumor:16 roportod on o otudy with in» Miocturoro of 153109130; Church Boson. "Burying button to: Spocttlod Am“). ltomo of Fifty Collego Girl..." “publish“: mm': mm, mchlgan Stato mint-31:1. 1957. 16Loom Mao run». "A Study of. tortilo tom-too and their Lobolo." ambushed Bostor'o than. ruckus: auto Mutiny, 1961. food and textile products. They gave suggestions which included a need to educate the consumer so that he will understand the meaning of the label, teach him to select the quality and type suitable for the desired performance, and encourage him to note service qualities of the product purchased for reference in future buying. Lois Korslund17 studied the clothing preferences and buying prac- tices of college women when they purchased white slips. When asked to check on the label for the most valuable information for the consumer, the women chose that label which gave information on fiber content and launderability. 17Lois Korslund, "Preferences and Buying Practices Among College Women for Selected White Slips." Unpublished Master's Thesis, Michigan State university, 1956. MR 11 3mm: (3' m STUDY Montgomery, tho capital city of‘Alabaxns, has s population of 169,210 according to the 1960 census. The city is located in the central part of the stats. liontgomry is a transportation center with very few industries located within its limits. M largo military installations which play an important part in the economy of the city,are located in Montgomery: Maxwell Air torso lass and Mter tield Air force Base. The negro population, which comprises flatly one-third of the popu- lation, contributes to the economy of the county through employment mainly as farm and domestic workers. Carver nigh School is the largest Hegro high school in Montgomery Cormty, Montgomery, Alabama. It has an enrollment of more than 3000 students from grade 1 - 12. M years ago the school was evaluated and accredited by the Rational Secondary School Association. Because large nunbers of students transfer from junior high schools in the city to Carver, the 10th grade is usually tho largest class in tho school. Many students are also transported to this school in county bosses from out-- lying districts of tho county. W113 is an elective in ovary Negro high School with the ex- ception of the George Washington High School and the Laboratory High School, which is an affiliate of tho Alabama State College. Both schools, are under the State Vocational Department. met-y girl is required to take at least one year of homuking which would include toads, Clothing, hrsonal Appearance, and lolflimhips. In the other high schools in the comty, Rams: High School, Booker Washington high School and 8t. Judas 10 Educational Institute, hommaking can be selected as an elective for one or two years. Homemaking 1 includes Foods, Clothing, Personal Appearance, and Relationships. Wing 11 includes Foods 11, Clothing 11, Child Growth and Development, and housing. In this author‘s opinion} girls with superior intelligence are not often encouraged into homemaking courses. more are several suburban shopping districts in liontgouery, the largest being located in the City of liontgomary. City bosses are access- ible to all of. these shopping districts, therefore asking it very con- violent for shopping. The area contains large department stores, small department stores, largo specialty shops, small specialty shops, and chain stores . g The Instrunant { The purpose of the questiomairo was to obtain information about some factors and buying practices in the selection of ready—made skirts by the 10th grade girls in Montgomery, Alabuna. A study relating to consmr satisfaction with women’s blouses was reported in tho lortheast legional hlletin, 1959. Interviews gave the data on buying practices relating to blouses; preferences of fabric, color, fiber content, style and price. Other data collected provided information on shopping practices as to whether the blouse was tried on before buying, and the individual's shopping companion. lieu! of these some factors in clothim selection were used in this study. fats and Glissonigfound thatthe four factors in selecting clothes which are most important to the teen-ago girl are: fit. ‘ color, style, . * muldred race me! am Glisson. W- law tors: John Wiley m m. We. 1963. PI 30. 11 end price, Studies sons to differ as to which of these factors is the moat immut- Specific terms used in, this study have been defined in the following “a”. a ' ~ - l. nor-making sspsrisncs: A fiirl hsving cowletsd one you . of W, lO-12 weeks clothing, or on peer of s-n Club clothing experience is believed to have ma skins experience; girls with neither experience have ' ‘ had no mm; mm... I N Department Store: A retailstors that handles my on“... kinds oz notch-noise in one business house. heedydnsds garments), secessoriss of sll kinds , piece goods, trudge, end notions are {mo in this type of store.19 specialty Shop: A mail shop that sells united types of userclusndise.2° Chan Stores A deportnsnt store or specislty shop. Because the goods ere pnrehsssd in large quantities, goods any cost less.“ ' Label: 1 statement attached to Miss that usually gives information “settling the fiber content, yarn end 1m construction, behavior of the fabric in m, and the core required.22 "lacy hsthbons. llissbsth torplsy. and um I. Ilood, m salmon, low York: nominee Niftlin Co... 1948, p. 83. 10mm p. 87 111nm. p. 87 2211,“. '0 8i 12 .Ready-made Clothing: Apparel made in factories and sold in stores. The research design for this study was descriptive in order to de- termine the factors and buying practices of 10th grade girls in the selection of ready-made skirts. The procedures to be used in a descrip- tive study must be carefully planned.23 Because the aim is to obtain com- plete and accurate information, the research design must make much more provision for protection against bias than is required in some other studies.24 Pretest The general purpose of pretesting a schedule is to determine its reliability and validity. “A schedule questionnaire or another instrument is reliable if it gives the same or highly similar results when applied to the same or highly similar phenomena."25 The validity of the results of a questionnaire refers to the extent to which these results are cor- rectly derived from the premises and to the extent to which they correspond to the criterion which is in agreement with the given questionnaire. Phrmission to use the questionnaire in a pretest was granted by the principal of the Booker washington High School, Mentgomery, Alabama. The questionnaire was administered to twenty-four 10th grade girls and then 23c1a1re Selltiz g£_gl, Research Methods in Social Relations, New York: Henry Holt Company, Inc., 1959, p. 67. 24Ib1d, p. 67. 25George A. Lundberg, Social Research, New York: Henry Holt Company, Inc., 1951, p. 198. 261bid, p. 201. 13 the date were tabulated. The following revisions were made: tart I, qmstioe mm: 3, was changed to "slits tailored" instead of "slim tailored with pleats." Question umber 9, "me long do you plan to wear itl’w deleted since it involved sskim several additional emotions. Question amber 13, "Appearance" as e general term was omitted sim "Pit," "Color." and "Style" are all considered pert of appearance. In Question lumber 12, "Fabric rattern" and "Fabric Type" were added as other possibilities to "when you were deciding to buy your last skirt, what influenced you most? (See appendix tor revised instance). Execution of. the instrument . The writer secured on appointment with the principal of the Carver High School to discuss her study and ask permission to administer the text to ell 10th grade girls in the high school. remission was granted and the cafeteria was made available for the “ministering oi the test on March 12. 1963. The students were summed from their first period classes . 8:30 to 9:23 am. One hundred sud ninety-seven 10th grade girls completed the questionnaires 3 this number “presented ell 10th. grade girls assent on the day. be midsnceooeuselos cooperated in distributiu the test. The following directions were given to the group by this author: "All of you have skirts in your snrdmbe. I so interested in what you consider man you select s skirt. 1 am particularly mamas in the last skirt‘hichyoupurchesed. toumyhm manned this skirt alone orwiththehelpoisrslstivsorfriend. Thinkbscktothis lastskirt which you purchased, or purchased with the help of someone, and answer this qustiomsire." The questionnaires were convicted within the 50 minute class period. After the qmstiomsires were administered. the results were then tabulated. m 111 mm General Description of the Sample The total sample for this study was mind of 19? teeth grads girls whose sveragn age was fifteen and one-hall years. Approximtely two-thirds (64.4 permt) of the girls had studied homemaking for one year or more 3. over one-third percent had no mashing experience in high school. nor in 4-H Club clothing work (m Table l). tour girls had both Ml Club clothing experience and hooomakllg; in school. The majority of these girls had studied homemakiug in the as: grade. Ill-o: year hawking in the liontgomery county School D’steu consists of 10-12 weeks of nothing, 10-12 weeks of Food hepsration. .34 weeks of Personal Appearance, and H weeks on Interpersonal Islationships. TABLE I can run no VIM mum summers Total Exec-ml: .: riencc WW Sample; lhlmber o- - I Hlmber of i _. ls c nt 1 . rls Egcent o ! 197 j 127 64.4 70 35.5 Table II compares the occupations of the fathers of the girls with hammking experience with the occupation of the fathers of the group compared with no homemkislg mmrience. Nearly one-third (30.5 percent) of the entire sample had fathers who were unskilled workers and 24.6 per- cent were semi-skilled with jobn,such ss truck drivers, laborers and farm workers. Thirty-seven percent of the fathers of the girls with hommaking l4 15 esperissne rsrs unskilled es sneesred'eith 18.8 percent of the tsthsrs e! the girls'sith.no hose-shisu espetissee. .A.sss11er posse-tsgs of tethers e! girls1eith.hesssshisa erseriseee (13.5 essesst) were seei- shillsd ss eels-red with 08.5 ssrcest at the tethers a! the girls eithont WWW. Muumocmumummn *Ieth.hose-shisILesrssiseee‘sers skilled. trusty-res rereest e! the girls 'eith so hens-skins experiesse indieeted the: their tsthsrs were not sees. set is the‘hess. the Esther's shes-es res sceoestshls stuns: senslly to snritsl se’srstiee or desth. less the: tee reels-t e! the tsthsrs e! the girls or heth.¢ros|s were seeisssiessls or sleleietees. till! 11 OGGIIIIIDIIOU'IIIIIII nbasnnkins l lb Bale-skins 33.1 ' 21:. .1 .1 1.,“- - Entire lumber o lbnber o WM . *2 ~ .2 .« M Skilled 37 18.8 29 22.8 8 11.4 leIi-skilled 48 24.4 17 13.5 31 64.3 unskilled 60 30.5 47 37.0 13 18.6 Iropristory l .5 1 .8 trofsssionsl l .5 l 1.4 tether not present in the hoes 43 21.8 28 22.0 15 21.4 unknown 7 3.5 5 3.9 2 2.9 total 197 100.0 127 1 ‘ 70 100.0 - .8 forty-see sercsnt ol’ths girlslzssthers eels tell tile hoses-hers. end 60.6 percent were ssplq'sd ss dossstic workers. As sheeeginflihhle m. s lsrger m (30.0 must) at the eothsrs a: the 31:1. with no‘hssssshis' experience were full ties hoses-hers ease-red to 31.0 per- .eest of the enthsrs oi the girls'lith.heseeshin..experts-es. A.hijher 16 mtspotthseotheuefthegirlsvithmsnsrieeosm do-sstieesrhers (44.1mmt)sscospsrsdtes4.5psrceeteithseethsrs oithsgirlsvithuhu-skisgesrsriuce. Averysnllysresstsaset the-ethersteretescherseedelsrieslrerhers. tenures-escape! mmmu 0.9m)ms.3mummuuun wwwimtfltmunthsrsrsrsnotmh thshneehscsueoldesthordireeee. runs :11 W a m 1 -‘ 7 ' b m 17:2- 1. y.--..-, .~ ”49:: Entire ; ‘1 ~ .. 0 Her e Whig; .11..-- -1. 1. 1:- :- 1;. 1 M' Full time Wear 82 41.6 3 47 37.0 35 50. 1 Domestic ’ workers 80 40.6 56 44.1 24 34.3 tactical . ' . mess 14 7.1 g 9 7.1 5 7.1 ‘I‘eschers 7 3.6 i s 3.9 2 2.9 Clericsl i workers 1 5 1 1.4 lbthers not present in ‘ hone 13 6.6 f 10 7.9 3 4.3 i totsls 197 100.0 s 127 100.0 70 100.0 11m 0! the 31:1- 60.; went) «11:1 netheve pert-tiss Jobs con- send ”41.6 pro-nub manna thtt thsyhsld psrt-tils Jobs. rm;- smureutdthsurhrithmmhsdjohsmd tosupereeetelthsgirlsvithssho-s-shiuenerieeee. trout-1s l7 uithhen-skingexperieneehedjohsthsngirlsvithsohe—nskingsr- perieeoe (seetshlsfl). taut! mmmmmrmm ' loam-mung m... “ I 91.5.12 MM.“ .2. :1: E - . .mt ,1 with jobs 82 41.6 60 47.2 22 31.4 Without Jobs 115 58.4 67 52.8 48 68.6 Totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 m hutioes threatenrethslsinsoeroeolmuntionsdnsteftuhythe entire sample thsnsnyothersonrce otsnnsytorthe "chsssolthsir lest mu. um then 696.6111“. 0! the entire “6.1- (69.5 percent) receivedtheirmyironpsrents for purchsseof the lest skirt (see tshleV). My 18.3pere-xtofthegroepcsed theirmess'oingsor savings. threats of girls rith hens-thing mime (70.1 percent) eon. tributedmeyaoreoftnthenthepereats ofthegirlsrithnehoneo mu. experience (66.6 mt). nasty percent 61 the .121. with hols-skin erperims end 13.7 percent 6: :1. 31:1- without nan-61:16. experience used their seeings or settings. Islstives. snowshoes,“ gifts were other sources untitled by s snsll tuber of girls. 18 TABLE V SOURCE OF MONEY FOR PURCHASE 0? LAST SKIRT Source of Entire money Sample Percen Parent 137 69.5 Relatives 13 6.6 Allowance and gifts 10 5.1 Earnings and savings 36 18.3 Other Sources 1 0.5 Totals 197 100.0 Homemaking No Homemaking Lence (Emperience Number of Number of Girls Percent girls Percent 89 70.1 48 68.6 6 4.7 7 10. 6 4.7 4 5. 25 19.5 11 15.7 .8 127 100.0 70 100.0 Forty percent of the tenth grade girls shopped with their mothers and 27.4 percent shopped alone. Only 38.6 percent of the girls with homemaking experience, as compared with 42.9 percent of the girls with no homemnking experience, shopped with their mothers (see Thble VI). Slightly more girls with honemsking experience (29.9 percent) shopped alone compared to the girls with no homemaking experience (22.9 percent). The larger percentage of the girls with homemaking experience who shopped alone may indicate that this group felt more confident shopping alone. Seventeen percent of the homemaking girls and 19 percent of the girls with no homemaking experience shopped with their sisters. of both groups shopped with friends. nearly 10 percent 19 IABLE VI SHOPPING COMPANIONS POR.THE PURCHASE OF LAST SKIRT Homemaking no Homemaking n..~ ence Ex~ r nee Shopping Entire number of number of ngpgnion Sample Percent Girls Percent Girls Percent Mother 79 40.1 49 38.6 30 42.9 Father 2 1.0 l 0.8 1 1.4 Sister 34 17.3 21 16.5 13 18.6 Aunt or other relative , 10 5.1 5 3.9 5 7.1 Friend 17 8.6 12 9.5 5 7.1 Other 0 0 0 No one. 54 27.4 38 29.9 16 22.9 th valid 1 .5 l 0.8 0 Totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 According to this study, these teen-age girls shopped in small special- ty shops. in large specialty shops. in.small department stores, in large department stores,,as well as chain stores. As shown in Table VII. the preferred choice of the entire group (61.9 percent) was the specialty shop. The large department store was the choice for 18.3 percent; the small department store for 12.7 percent. Two-thirds of the girls with homemaking experience (66.9 percent) and one-half of the girls with no homemaking (52.9 percent) shopped at small specialty shops. The large department store was named by the next largest group of girls :- 16.5 per- cent of the homemaking girls and 21.4 percent of the girls with no home- making experience. A smaller numberof girls shopped in small department stores, large specialty shops and chain stores. . e a . a a a e e < . . . , e ‘ . u s , ‘ e I . . a I . . e 1 20 EAIII'VII IIIIIGI SIUII Plfllhflllfll LII! IKII!”WAS PUIEIASID In. of 1m 811111 Ipecialty 122 M large Specialty 12 M 8‘11 Departmemi 25 Store Large Department 36 Deere Chain store 1 let n1“ 1 focus 197 01.9 0.1 12.1 10.3 0.5 0.5 1 100.0 127 11.8 16.5 0.0 100.0 3 l ."1 . '. . 37 31.9 7 10.0 10 10.3 15 21.4 0 1 1.4 10 100.0 A “majority e! then-askingiris (91.6 percent)“ thsgirls withaoheuaakiquperteeem.6pereeat)saidthettheyreadthe1abe1 eslahsheatheskistfiiehthsyhedasstreceatlym. Leessdisgte 0H! wmbzummuuumummmmumm unummoumnnn). umvm mmmnmmwmum Donot read labels 19 Totals 197 Entire 92L me. Read labels 178 9.6 100.0 32.21.; -1ij lumber of a» . ." ~§ 116 11 127 it a. 91.4 8.6 100.0 1 i I E i 1 I i i , In .. ;L, w '- -a.--- Huber of (3* 62 7O 88.6 11.4 100.0 81 AmmmdthspsquSApue-at)uidmphu “mun-eat. WWhachgrwpiniicatedMM mmmummmm. henchmen-subduction www.motmmummmummmmmum WMW.sise.-deaudimtieas. ‘ mu ' mmmmmawm. 1:. I w ‘ ‘m at Muses-II ; 111.1. 130 93.1 3 110 00.3 01 91.0 m not under i‘ stand up. 11 5.5 g 0 0.1 s 7.1 in response 2 1.0 i 1 .s 1 1.0 l m1. 107 100.0 E 111 100.0 70 100.0 emuuosboesWonuwema-yw-cmm- mmmwmmeam. 1amitarmoem girhfiu’mww.3m)dum1eskaem- meow-schaemumumunumm- custodians-deem. museum-saddens- «Wmumwmmmuum mwsmefseusiw.hswfasuasssmsswaeaeadasatie- menus-01.x). ‘ m. m 1413’ f" ‘ ' 53v - mum Looked. at workmanship 114 62.9 81 63.8 43 61.4 Md not look ’ at workman- g .111, 73 37.1 g 1.0 30.2 21 38.6 10011. 197 100.0L 127 100.0 I! 70 100.0 surge-wtyetthegirlswitthMAper- cast)sadthgir1s withnsheuaakilgeaperieace (80.0 percent) said that the last skirt purchased did not seed any alterations. About twenty Melmmwwmthsurthaeded altering (see Ihble II). 2119. mammal: Ben-akin Intire Deeded alterations Did not need alterations huh 39 158 197 m 19.0 80.2 100.0 1m“ 25 19. 6 102 80.4 127 100.0 .3511... 14 56 W ms. 20.0 80.0 70 100.0 Msmmrstedsethsasstinsrtaatsmseetidessia thepuehaeeettheirlastskirttyflApereeatettheeatirem 23 (see Table in). luhioangasimavereratedlost inortutbyZB.’ percentaad'hlhattheothergirlsarewauiu"by14.2 percent. lath grasp-ratedwindwsheppiuaearlytheseasiailpermlthirty-aine percent etthegirh withh—makiuuperiencsaadflJ pereeatefthe girhwithnohs—nakineaperinca. hehieangasiaeswereratedhighw asthsasstinertsatseeresbygirlswithheasnakiuerpeflemea9.9 percent)ascesparedtegir1s withaeheasuekiageaperienee (27.1 percent). WWetthegirlswithaomWedmlu Mumwuunmwnm'uuommn stewsariag“asiqertsateeareesetideas. ' nun: mmamummm armaments Wing ' lo been-hing ; - ~- 0.: 1.22;. “arse of 'I-ber 02 m: .1. 151.1: i ’3 . I M Window shopping 77 39.1 50 39.4 27 38.6 Fashion magasine 57 38.9 38 29.9 19 27.1 that other girls . are wearing 28 14.2 16 12.6 12 17.1 )bther 17 8.6 13 10.2 4 5.7 Iriead 6 3.0 4 3.1 ' 2 2.9 Newspaper 7 3.6 3 2.4 4 5.7 Aunt 1 5. 1 8. Other 3 1.5 1 8. 2 2.9 n - . .. .. .. .. Salesperson - - - - - - hm: a. c Q as a a I: response 1 .5 1 .8 - - i totals 197 100.0 . 127 100.0 ' 70 100.0 As shown 10mm 1111. swarm-third (35.3 percent) or thegirls is bothgscupsratedwiadeweheppiagasseeeadisimpertanceasaswrceei 24 “as relating to the purchase of their/last skirt. Fashion magazines and "Ihstettsrsirlsarssearisg"wsrsretedes «conflict-worms byless theatweetyperesatsttethgroeps. bregirlswithbaa-sskiag eapsrisass (20psresat)rstsd"shstothsrgir1ssrewesr1ng"asasrsia- port-at than the girls with no hem-skiag saperisaes (14.3 percent). less thump-rotatefbethgrowpsiadioatsdasseeendiaiapertaeoathsse sources: triad. est—paper, mt, television, salesperson. and lather. mun mmam'mmnm armament: Source of tire - .- mf _. .15: -11: .111. '11-. - ’ .1 1.154.)- ’31 1; m: window shopping 70 35.5 : 44 34.6 26 37.2 Fashion magazine 37 18.8 26 20.5 11 15.7 What other gir1s are wearing 32 16.3 18 14.3 14 20.0 Mother 20 10.1 13 10.2 7 10.0 Priced 12 6.1 8 6.3 4 5.7 Inspaper 16 8.1 g 10 2.8 6 8.6 Aunt - - p - - - - Other - - - -- - - 2.9. 1 .5 ‘ - ~ 1 1.4 Salesperson 8 4.1 7 5.5 1 1.4 Father - ~ - - - - lo response 1 .5 l .8 - - totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 thhsothsrgirleatewearinfiwasrstsdthirdiaimasasoerse ofidsasbpthseatirssqle."lhstothergir1sarswssrisg" sass-ulna mummwuamosnnwumumupmmzza psrcentbythsgirlswithaohsasaskiagmsrisaeebsstablem). fashion Insists. windswshsppiu. nether. triead.eadnswspspsrwerssschse1eeted bylassthsau.0pereeatolbethgroapsotgir1sastaetsrsthirdiaiqort- sass. Amt. television, salesperson. father and other sources were seldom 25 WuWWMMmummerh-tskm. Bares o2 htire “or a a a m: jumps-m ark—em my...“ Eli-dew shopping 23 11.7 18 14.3 5 7.1 fashion asgesi. 28 14.2 17 13.4 11 15. 31st other girls are wearing 48 24.4 32. 25.2 16 22.9 nether 23 11.7 11 8.6 12 1 17.1 tries! 27 13.7 18 16.2 9 18.8 ”paper 20 10.1 13 10.2 7 10. Int 1 5. 0 - 1 1.4 Other 9 4.6 5 3.9 4 5.7 'e'e U 3.0 4 3e1 2 2e, Islespsrsoa 9 4.6 6 4.7 3 4.3 ’Ith 2 1.0 2 10‘ . . ” mm. 1 5.5 1 e8 . . heals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 mun-11.1mm Askinwithpsesssdplssrswssthsmmhymthsa zucymosmmmm. MM (masses-1t)"- Mali-tailored statumplsetd shitty-sew. ”MMumW(ss.6m)Wp~sed Mmmwnmmw (66.5m).1s shania'hblsll.eaehmeuseseedsid1srpsehreassslses1h cum skirts (20.0 pee-t). Very Mcirculdfsflm. gen-end shirts. uthkirtswueWhpsithsrm. Characteristics Entire m... m - 811n.tsilorsd 40 Pressed pleats 100 Unpresssd pleats 20 wrap around 23 :Cir nular 1 leathered 9 Flared 2 Other 2 totals 197 26 lb Elliilal£!._._. o lhsher or Jams. 26 20.5 14 20.0 59 46.5 41 58.6 11 8.7 9 12.8 19 14.9 4 5.7 1 7 0 - 7 5.5 2 2.9 2 1.5 O - 2 le‘ 0 ' 127 100.0 70 100.0 91stn.snd plaid fabric patterns were the Issorite choices .1 1.0.1. desiga.fier the entire seapls. 9iity-oas percenttof'the entire sespds selected plain.skirts and 24.9 peresat selected plaid skirts. .As shown in table “1. our :50 parent (52.7 M) of the girls whim sapsrissee and 48.4 percent et’the girls‘sithlanrhssesstisg asserts-es selected plain.sklrts. Ihlrly‘ensclolrth of both.gresps selected plaid sktrts. ‘llead skirts. striped skirts. and print skirts were selected by sadp'a.6ss'sl the .2110. Illflllllifiltfll‘lll IAII'IIII! Characteristi~ Entire 21.15111 my. Fabric letters 11.1. 101 Stripe 16 tweed 8 Plaid 49 triat 9 Other 14 101.1. 197 m: '°""'"‘""' ’L*L-im I ~‘ pum— 67 52.7 3‘ 48.6 11 8.7 5 7.1 3 2.3 5 7.1 33 25.2 16 22.9 5 3.9 4 5.7 8 6.2 6 8.8 127 100.0 70 100.0 27 Wool was the fiber of the nsjority of the shirts nos-t recently put- dused by this group. fifty-three percent purchased wsol skirts. and 35.0 percent ”chased cotton skirts (see table 1911). 9001 skirts were bought lore may by girls with no Wiring W (62.9 per- . r5 ' cent)... A very stall percentage 0: the girls Maw» synthetic 01.1.1. .11.... 11.. 11.3.2117,“ us. .1121. were been: between 0.1.1... ”anemones. mmmmmmuywmau reasonwhysonegirlsbonghtwool-dsouhonghtoettonskirts. m XVII W W 23 new man) 8!!!! .szl‘...' V“: ’ h 51.. ,.«, 1‘ Characteristics Entire Isobar of “as of 21.12111 8m.“ ms...am__. 2w. 2 .. m Fabric Unknown 4 2.0 O - 4 5.7 Cotton 69 35.0 53 4 .8 16 22.8 Wool 103 52.3 59 46.4 44 62.9 Linen 5 2.5 3 2.4 2 2.9 Synthetic blend 9 4.6 6 4.7 3 3.3 Other 7 3.6 6 4.7 l 1.4 totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 factors Influencing Moe titaadstylewerethsnostiqortant teeters tethis grouper tenth grade girls in the purchase of their last skirt. lsarly ens-third (30.5 percent) eased style and 29.6 percent nsnsd fit as the nest W eon- .14...c1.. in 11. um... .1 111.1: 1... .111»... u-m (25.7 percent.) oithsgirhwithnoWWI-sdfituthshetcrwhich M then the most. m of the girls (25.9 mt) with WWndmethlrdstmglrlsvltheshue-shhg aperture (30.6 sex-cut) wasted thst styles-east W. [it eeensdtohenstthothosegtrlsvlthheee-sungmsrleue detylseesthortesttsthoseglrhvltheshn—euegensrtsees. lssethsstenssreeutothethgroepu-edeolar. test. tebrletne, sud mm, es en W tutor in their selestlas (see table mm. mm Influenc -a W— Ilt Style Color Cost Fibrin return Psbrlc totsls tn- 11 Hhrknenshlg‘ 13 1 mmrmmmmn mans!“ Butt 'I.- h“. . , 59 60 18 16 22 97 29.9 30.5 9 7 11. 5 6 0 0‘0 N HI!" 100. Met 0 um... 41 33 12 12 11 10 8 127 W .g’" - 0.2:.‘A: .4 f' 3. NH 0“! Q POM” .- O U0 ‘1 UlU‘OU fé I Iona-sushi." 18 25.7 27 38.6 6 8.6 2 2.9 11 15.7 1 1.4 S 7.1 70 100.0 eslaudstylevsrsrstedhythessttrsgrseeesmmseeeeed uwnmmssfithetr lastsktrt (seemlem).lsre then see-tact}: o! the girls vith m muses (28.3 preset). sedsllost see-third eithegtrls fluummm (32.0 gem)retedcolarssofseeeudsryl-ortseee. Stylessslsetorvss second 1.- W to 26.8 percent of the W g1‘rls,snd 22.9 mt of the girls flthwmw. lass thea'tvslve percent a! the girls sued cost. tshrtc pettern. We type, work-e- shinerbreednsnessteetorsseoeedtswmthee. AIM 29 east as eeetieeed by only s e-s11 percentage. the everege price peid hythegirlsvithhms-skugexperi-eens 83.23.” farthegirlsvith so hen-sting Wths sversge cost of e skirt ves ”.38. Although this teeter esp not hove been reted inane-fitness prices sunset thst eostseseteeter. lieepereeetotthegroepeseshole iedicstedvork- “hipeeseeoedhiqerteeee. ltisleterestirgtoeotethettvioe u.a.i'“"°"§{;{:éruh we... experience, es W to those with so hens-skin experience. and Whip es helm eeeeed is importante. mu m murmummnm amazement ‘flulensking ‘lo Bone-skins M m...— Influencing Entire ‘Iunber of Ibuber 0 Wm M .. m- .. “.mflmc fit 44 22.3 24 18.9 20 28.6 Style 50 25.4 34 26.8 16 22.9 Color 59 30.0 36 28.3 23 32.8 Coot 13 6.6 11 8.6 2 2.9 rubric petts 7 3.6 3 2.3 4 5.7 Iabric type 4 2.0 3 2.3 1 1.4 Whrklsnship 18 9.1 14 11.2 4 5.7 W m 2 loo ' 2 1s6 0 ‘ totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 Oeecthird “the hens-skieggirls (33.9 preset)“ essrly eeeothird ocmuxuuauu—kuwnmummdumm nemfiiehisllmoedtheliethsmottheirlestskirt. sax-1y m-mu-one-um :1an (23.6 W). est! less thseeeeoiiftholtbgirlsvitheohs-ushisgezperlsece,(1l.6 perseet)retedstyleese¢eetorthir§iniqsrtseestothse. costs—s Mmzuwunummauum (nut-bun). nonsmoking f 110 Remaking 23' -. ~ 6 1.: Influencing Entire )hnber of 1 lumber oi gactgzg m ’ 1 cent arls ’gr . r». s m Fit 35 17.8 20 15.8 15 21.4 Style 43 21.8 30 23.6 13 18.6 Color 66 33.5 43 33.9 23 32.9 Coat 24 12.2 16 12.6 8 11.4 i’ebric pettern 7 3.5 5 3.9 2 2.9 Fabric type 11 5.6 7 3.5 4 5.7 Worknnnahip 10 5.1 5 3.9 5 7.1 Brand none 1 5 1 .8 O .. Totals 197 100.0 127 100.0 70 100.0 hopping Rectiees hreetsserethemeeeineeyhyuusetiregroupeigirls. flat- ever.eslightly lsrger peroeetegeoigirls vithhes’enskiegsaperieeoe (70.1mm)reeeivedeeeeytreetheirpereetsthsethegirlsvith wWWMJW). WMMmud byeslightlyhigherperoeetegeeithegirlsvithhu-ekiegelperieeoe (19.5peroeefltheabythsgir1s'ithuomwah7 pereeet). floreoithsgiru witheohns-skisguperme (42.9 per-set) shapped with can: nothsrstheegirls «thine—unwm.‘ peroeet)inthepurohsse of their net skirt. Girls within-sting uperinufl9.9pem)we1oee—reefteethuthegir1svith uhueeskiegeaperieeoe (22.9 percent). Ioregirls vith hone-skis. experience (66.9 percent) shoppedihspscielty shops thsegirls vitheo 31 hanumking experience (52.9 percent). More girls with no homunking experience (21.4 percent) than girls with hamstring experience (16.5 percent) shopped in the large depertnent stores for their last skirt put-u chose. 111s chain store. smell depnrtnent store, and large specislty shops were need by sinilsr smell percentages of. both groups of girls. A very urge mjority of girls in both groups said flat they tend the label or labels on the skirt which they pnrcheud. High percentages of both groups sold they understood labels. Girls with Wiring experience (63.8 percent) end girls with no nonsmoking experience (61.4 percent) said that they looked et the com-- ship. Only slightly male honeneking girls looked st unrkmsnehip than girls with no honemsking experience. Eighty percent of both groups of girls ssid thst the lest skirt did not need my slterstions. It is interesting to note that window shopping nee reted elmst iden- ticslly by both grasps oi girls es the met inportsnt sauce of ideas in the purehue of the last skirt (39.1 percent). end (38.6 percent). lin- ilerly fashion maniacs were reted by 29.9 percent oi the honensking girls. end 27.1 percent by the girls with no hon-sting experience. Windoe shopping, isshioe negation. and “whet other girls ere veering" was ratedeethirdininportsneessssmeeoiidessbybothgroups. Chenefiteristlcs of lest Skirt [outclassed titty-nine percent of the girls with honeneking experience purchased skirts with pressed plate: of the girls vith no honsnskieg experience 46.3 percent mehued skirts with pressed pleats. Twenty percent of both 32 groups wrchssed slim tailored skirts. A very small percentage of the girls purchssed circular, gathered, or flered skirts .fi‘tfirls with no , banishing experience bought wool skirts (62.9 percent) the girls with no hmking experience (46.4 percent). More girls with honensking experience‘purchssed cotton skirts (41.8 percent) then. girls with no mung experience. Cotton skirts were the choice of the 31:13 with hammking experience end wool skirts were the choice of the 31:1. with no homemsking experience (48.6 percent). A slightly larger percentage of the homemaking girls purchased pleid (skirts (23.2 percent) then did the girls with no homnking experience (22.9 percent). Factors Influencing Choice Pit was the met importsnt factor to the girls with honneking ex- perience (32.3 percent),snd style we the no“: important teeter to the girls with no honennking experience (38.6 percent). color wee reted as second end third met influencing factors in the pln'chsse oi the lost skirt. Color was reted ss second choice by both groups: 28.3 percent by the girls with limiting experience end 32.8 percentby the girls with no honemsking experience. color wee else rsted es the third nest influenc- ing teeter in the purchase of the lest skirt; 33.9 percent by the girls with honensking experience. end 32.9 percent by the girls with no hone- making experience. W More than two-thirds of the entire group received my (man their perents for the We of the last skirt. Less than one-fourth of both groups of girls used their savings end eernings. ‘l‘he average cost of the 33 skirts most recently purchased was $5.23 for the homemaking girls and $5.58 for the girls with no homemaking experience. Even though mothers generally accompanied their daughters in shopping for a skirt, more girls with no homemaking experience shopped with their mothers than the girls with homemaking experience. The small specialty shops were patronized most frequently by the entire sample; however, more girls with no homemaking experience shopped in small specialty shops than those with homemaking experience. More than 80 percent of the entire sample said that they read the label or labels on the last skirt purchased and they understood what the labeling meant. More girls with homemaking experience than without home- making experience said that they looked for workmanship in the skirt which they had most recently purchased. Eighty percent of the entire sample said that their skirts did not need any alterations at the time of purchase. "Window shopping" and "fashion magazines" were rated almost identically by both groups of girls as the most important source of ideas in the pur- chase of the last skirt. "What other girls are wearing" was rated third in' importance as source of ideas by the entire sample. More girls with no homemaking experience purchased skirts with pressed pleats than girls with no homemaking experience. Slim tailored, unpressed, and wrap around skirts were bought by about 20 percent of the group. Fifty percent of the entire sample purchased a plain skirt and nearly 25 percent purchased a plaid skirt. Stripes, tweeds and prints were bought by only a small percentage of both groups. Cotton and wool skirts were the main choice of fabric by the entire sample. Both groups of girls bought more wool skirts than cotton ones. 34 Forty percent of the 31:18 with mung exportenco purchased wool skirts. god 62.9 percent of the xirlc with no hawking exponents. pur- chased wool skirts. 11: m the most Morton: influencing factor to the 31:11 with limiting oxportenco. and otylo m the most important factor to tho 31th with no homemaktng experience. Color was rated on a factor second in importance by both groups of 31:15. 35 cam * IV SIENARY m WEEKS In this study no attempt was made to determine come of the tectotl and buying practices in the selection of randy-made skirts by the 10th grade-girls in the Carver High School, Montgomery, Alabama. the date was obtained from 197 subjects who empleted questiomeireo in the first clue period on lurch 12, 1963. The sample consisted of all 10th grade girls in the school. thirty-one percent of the fathers of both groups of girls were un- skilled. Minty-two percent of the girls reported that their fathers were not present in the home because of doeth or eeperetion. Pour-two percent of the mthere were full time nowhere end 40.6 percent roro domatie workers. A very emell percentage o! the mothers was not present in the home because at death or reparation. Approrknetely 70.0 percent of the entire oamplo indicated that perente were the main source of. money. foo study eleo showed that mothers senor- » ally accompanied their daughtero in the purchase of their lost ekirt. The null specialty shops were shopped in more frequently than other dtypos of stereo. The girls mponeee indicated'that they read labels and looked for certain information on clothing labels. A lerze nejority seid they looked st workmanship. Eighty percent of the entire sample reported that the skirts did not need eny alteretions ot the tins of purcheu. hurls retodossoureoofideee inthoeoloetionotthelast skirt pm'chasod, window shopping firet in importance] fashion magazines 36 second in importance, and "what other girls are wearing" as third in im- portance. Pressed pleats, slim tailored, and wrap arounds were the choices of most of the girls. Wool was the fabric choice for both groups of girls; however, a larger percentage of no homemaking girls (62.9 percent) bought wool skirts than the girls with homemaking experience (46.4 percent). Plain and plaid were the choice of fabric by both groups. Nearly 50 per- cent of both groups bought a plain skirt, and about 25 percent of both groups bought a plaid skirt. Fit, fabric pattern, style, and color were the four main character- istics mentioned in skirt selection. Fit was most important for the home- making girls (32.3 percent) and style was most important for the girls with no homemaking experience (38.6 percent). It was hypothesized that high school girls with experience in home- making or in 4-H Club clothing experience would show appreciable differ- ences in the factors and buying practices considered in selection of skirts from those girls with a limited number of these experiences. Although statistical methods were not used in this study, evidence points to the similarities between the two groups in their shopping practices, the characteristics they prefer in a skirt, and the factors which influenced their choices. This study does have implications in developing s curriculum for high school home economics. The findings have provided background information relative to the economic status of this high school class. Other findings concerning shopping practices, such as the type of store patronized, shop- ping companion, if any, and price paid for skirts have provided other in- formation for a unit. The characteristics desired in a skirt, such as fit, 37 style, color suggest possible areas of study in a unit on buymanship. There is an evening class in clothing construction at the Carver High School each year. It is taught by one of the homemaking teachers. The writer is of the opinion that these mothers should be taught buy- manship also since many of them helped their girls in the selection of their skirts. Fit was rated as a very important characteristic in skirt selection. It, therefore, seems important that components of fit need to be empha- sized in the clothing unit. The increased spending power of teen-agers suggests that consumer education should be required for high school students. Such a study as this one which investigates some of the teenage girls buying practices serves as background data on which to base consumer education. The need for additional research is evidenced by the findings of this study. A similar investigation among other consumer groups might reveal pertinent data that would be extremely helpful to consumers, educators, and retailers. W Ayres, Ruth, Ryan, Mary, and Whitlock, Mary c.. "Ooesuer Satisfaction .With Women's Blouses" Part 1. Agricultural Experiment station. University of Rhode Island, Kingston. Black. 7. I... "Conflicts of Adolescents With their lbthers," W Abml and Social Psychomz, 32, 1937. Cannon, Kenneth, Staples. Ruth and Carlson. Irene, Ehrsonal Appearance As a Factor In Social Acapulco", m; of m Economics. 44: lovember. 1952. ' Carson, Byrte" M 103 19215 and as New York! John fiiley and Sons, Inc., 1958. Chambers , Mien, molten, Verna. gloghigg gelecgig Ilse York: Linincott 60., 1961. Eugen. Blossom c. "Buying treatises Ior Specified Appeal Items of Fifty College Girls. 'Wnpublished Master's Thesis. Michigan State Miners- ‘t’. 19570 ‘ Evans, Mary. Ester Clothes P93 m thug. Rev York: J. I. Lippincott Fisher, Leona, "A Study of Textile Fabrics and their Labels. mlished water's Basis. Hichigaa Irate university. 1961. Gilbert. Mane. "law 310 Billion lower. 0.8. tees Consumer." Life m1. August 1959. Xorslund. leis. "inferences and laying hectic" Among College Women for Selected White Slip." mashed Master's lhesis, Michigan State “varsity, 1956. Larson, Janice. "A study of Attitudes Regarding Bloues and masters." Unpublished Eater‘s Intesie, Michigan State ”varsity, 1960. Leash, times. "A Survey of the Clothing Preferences and Buying traction of One hundred Girls of West Division High School in liilweuhee, ’¢*scmsin." Unpublished Buster's mesis, Michigan state University, 1953. Levy, Julia. "lesponsibilities Assumed by 8m Mes High Ochoel Youth in their Mchases and care of their Clothing." Unpublished Master's thesis, hairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College, Prairie View. has, 1956. 38 39 Lmdberg, George A. Social Research _ New York: longmans Green and Company, 1951. HcDermtt, Florence, Nichols, Irene. Romakigg {or gees-53ers, look 2, Charles A. Bennett Company, Inc., 1962. A . 7 A Pearson, Lois Holman. "Teen-Agate Preferences in Clothing.” W Bane Economics, 42, December, 1950. _ Rathbone, Lucy, Tarpley, Elizabeth and Blood, Alice. {slag c and mes. 38V ‘Orkl Wton “11:11“ cae. 1948s ' ~ Read, Katherine, "Clothing hips Build Persmality." A W Economics 62, my 1950. Reed, liargaret. "A Study of the influences Affecting the Selection of Winter Skirts by Certain College Freshen Women," unpublished water's Thesis, Michigan State University, 1961. . Ryan, 11.8. Psychlogical Effects of Clothing, Part 111, Departs of Interview With a Selected Sample of. College Women, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station Mlletin, I). 900, August 1953. Ryans', 14.8. "Effects on College Girls of feeling Hell-Dressed,“ I[ournsl of Home Economics, 43, 1950. wens, Velma ’hillipo. Clothes :9; m, New York: Appleton Century Crofts, Inc., 1934. Silverman, Sylvia I. Clem and moraines. 224; {Exchologicsl m1;- cation F25 Teen-Age Girls. law York: Mean oi Dublicstions, teachers College, Coltmbis University. “spot, Dorothy. "Before and After With Clothing Selection Class." gauges; m Emmi“, 33, April 1955. rate, Mildred and Clisson, om. 1 lothi ~ . sow rumba-n Wiley and Sons, Inc., In! lurks 196 . road, sums. and McCullough, llelen s. gigs»; tor gun. sew torkx o. c. heath and Co., 1952. l‘roelstrup, Arch w. W. lee York: Hearse Hill Book Co. Inc., 1952. Mar, .4... "Adolescent Orientations to Clothing." A Social-Psychological Interpretation, Unpublished nub. Dissertation, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Michigan State University, Harsh, 1957. 40 Wolff, Janet 1.. "What Makes Watson Buy?" New York: McCraw-Hill Book , Inc. , 1958. Wood, I. W. 'Teaching lbney lineagement", gonna; of Rome goonomics, 27, January, 1935. , _ All of you have skirts in your wardrobe. I am interested in what you consider when you select a skirt. I am particularly interested in the LAST SKIRT which you purchased. You may have purchased this skirt alone or with the help of a relative or friends I. Think back to this LAST SKIRT which you purchased or purchased with the help of someone. 1. When was this? (month andwyear) 2. Where did you purchase your skirt? (Name 31‘ storef Please describe this LAST SKIRT by answering these questions. Be sure to answer ALL questions. 3. Style (Check one) i Slim tailored Circular Pressed pleats Gathered‘ Unpressed pleats L. Flared wrap around Other 4. Describe the color 5. Pattern of fabric (Check one) Plain Plaid Stripe Print Tweed Other 6. Fabric (Check one) Unknown Linen Cotton Synthetic blend WOol Other 7. How did you know the kind of fabric? 8. Name of brand if known Check if unknown r - . ‘ Q 7 _ . 5 A * u v s . . s -- ~ - . y...- ..-.-. ‘ ._.. . ~. . ‘ V _ .‘ y . a. - , u . ' , , v ‘ n ' . . . v . —.- .. «"h. ~—- , . __ _..... ... , . ~ n.-. ,..,- .- 1, -—- _,,, . u _ V. a — . - . . ... _. ... ,_ .., .__. a. .n u.-. - i . <~ .-., . ,. . -. -. a... ,.. .. a on. vv ‘ ~.-. n..-.-,- . , ._ ,. ..v o. - . - . .- -ar m‘e. .- .-. ....-‘ . e.—r.4s-.,.~. V. --....- .. n, . ‘ ‘ n - -.. ‘ .n . '— -. , _. a .. , ' . r- . -... ... -. .,-_.. . u - a ‘ . ‘ 'V . r. ‘ '. I ~ ‘ ‘, . n . ,- ‘ ‘ t ‘ V ' , . . ' ' . . - > o . . . , A s . . . a- -» ‘ -. .. . .- 7. . ,.., - , ..~ . . I \.‘4 -~ — Ives ' . -n .D~..v‘:'-“~ o-« - e a ' . . . . . ‘, » 4 ». , - .. .-_~. . - e .1 ‘w’- ~ - I e . _ t - . ‘ 3 . . 6' ,.,.,. . .... .‘ a. . . -ae v . ., - s- . .7 ,. ~'.e’ ,. .. . . .- n a . . . a . . i . . . x. . ' . _.. a... .ur.~.-..~.-..-. . , ...--~— . .u . - s , . ”A: )«.l-._'——....<.- m s! e - ‘ l . . i ... . . r, - m .. 1- - 9. 10. ll. 12. 13. 14. 15. What was the cost of the skirt? From what source did you receive money to buy this skirt? Who went with you when you bought your LAST SKIRT? (You may check more than one if necessary) Mother Aunt or other relative Father Friend Sister Other No one When you were deciding to buy your LAST SKIRT what influenced you the most? Place a number "1" before the most important to you, a number "2" before the next in importance, and a "3" before the one that is third in importance. Rate only three items. Fabric pattern Color Fabric type Cost Fit Style WOrkmanship Brand name Did you try the skirt on before you bought it? Did you feel it needed any alterations? NO YES If yes, what alterations? Did you look at the workmanship? NO YES If yes, what were you looking for? III. III. 1. 2. 3. In thinking back to some of the other skirts you have purchased, which of the following gave you ideas on the type of skirt to buy? Please place "1" before the most important one, "2" before the next in importance, and "3" before the one that is third in importance to you. Rate only 3 items. Fashion Magazines ' Mother Newspapers . Father Aunt Friend Other Do you generally read labels? What kind of help do they give you? Please complete the following statements. You need not sign your name. 1. 2. 3. h. 5. 6. 7. 8. Your age Father's occupation Mother's occupation Have you had any homemaking courses in high school? YES NO No. of years Have you had any clothing projects in u-H Club work? YES N0 N0. of years Do you have a part-time job? YES NO Do you use your earnings to help buy your clothes? Do you have a clothing allowance? V'. " \ “ I . \fi! (I? ‘1 :- xl"~lg.'ia “- ‘1'.) Kiwi. yjr‘wy 5: - .. I 4 Ln. L- .2 .. EAST Lil 1 fl 4..) I a l 'u‘ &l H 5 l'h‘ ‘lks $‘i("l’l""f}‘f’ff> c e, ' ‘ §‘~ 'z. ‘-.~-¥.:.:.’co G. khaki—W Problem--M.S. 1963 Dobbins, Legertha Y. a study of Some Factors and buy- ing Practices in the Selection of heady-Meme Skirts by the 10th ur.ce dirls in the Carver High School, Montgomery, Alabama W? 7293 , ,w / .{// M), 3 w ///////////////////W