The effect of clothing preferences based on body characteristics on women's body perception

This study aims to examine the clothing experiences of women who experience body dissatisfaction in relation to dressing appropriately for their body shape and to reveal the effect of the provided informational intervention on clothing selection and body perception. The research was designed using a mixed-methods approach. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 women aged 40–50 living in central İzmir within a phenomenological research design. The obtained data were analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis and content analysis using MAXQDA Pro 2024 software. At this stage, the body areas where women experienced dissatisfaction, their clothing preferences, body-concealment strategies, and their experiences related to body perception were examined in depth. In the second phase of the study, a single-group pretest–posttest experimental design without a control group was implemented with five female participants who reported dissatisfaction particularly with their abdominal and hip regions and who were selected through purposive sampling. A product set was prepared by purchasing five different pants styles with varying cuts but made from the same fabric and in black color from a ready-to-wear brand specializing in lower-body clothing. The pants selection choices before and after the informational module were then compared. Following the informational session, evaluations were gathered using a Likert-type scale developed to assess the trouser experience. The findings indicated that after the informational intervention, participants tended to make more conscious and body-balanced trousers choices, with positive tendencies observed in comfort, fit, and feelings of well-being. However, changes in body satisfaction remained limited. The results suggest that awareness of dressing in accordance with body shape supports women's relationship with clothing and fosters a more positive orientation toward body perception. By highlighting the relationship between body image and clothing preferences among middle-aged women, this study contributes to the existing literature.