Abstract

According to several pilot tests, petite women have their own body proportion which is not simply an overall diminutive reflection of the proportion of Misses sizes. Apparel manufacturers and pattern companies do not consider racial differences nor do they consider petite women's own specific body proportions in their size categories to produce petite garments. The primary objectives of this study was to describe the petite women's body proportions especially the differences between Asian and Caucasian petite women and to compare their body proportions to the average body figure. A physical body measurement chart was developed and revised through a pretest. Sixty subjects, thirty for each group of Asian and Caucasian. They were landmarked using an anthropometric instrument and photographed using the method of somatography for analysis of body proportions. Data were analyzed by t-test for a description of the petite subject's body proportion. The results of this study indicated that the Caucasian subjects had generally a longer lower torso than tehAian subjects in their body proportions. both subject groups had differnt body proportions from the aerage body figure.

Keywords

• petite size;
• body proportion;
• garment-fit