Abstract
An analysis of adult women's somatotypes classified by drop values can provide important preliminary data in determining standard clothing sizes for mass production of ready-made clothes. This is because the values are based on measurements of girth, which is essential information in the size-setting process. Adult women's body types are classified according to drop values in a standard clothing size system adopted by Korea and several other countries. This study aims to identify somatotype characteristics of adult women aged 20 to 69 by using five types of drop values: bust-waist, hip-waist, hip-bust, abdomen-waist, and hip-abdomen. Statistical cluster analysis of collected data revealed four somatotypes among adult women. Type R, with a developed lower body, accounted for 36.6%, and its bodyline was found to be closest to the average adult woman. Type X, constituting 25.4%, had the curviest contours of all and relatively large hip measurements, with the thinnest figure. Flat abdomen and hips characterized type Y, which accounted for 18.9%. Lastly, 19.0% fell into type H, the most obese figure, in which abdomen girth exceeded hip measurements. Since type H has excess fat deposits in the abdomen, not only hip measurements but also abdomen girth should be considered when designing top longer than torso-length and bottoms.