'The most feminine of all problems,' balancing budget, time and style in clothing selection: 1880-1920

摘要

Transformation from custom to factory-produced clothing occurred in uneven stages. While the production side has been explored, there has been little analysis of the consumer's role. Women balanced budget constraints against sewing ability, available time, and less tangible factors related to fashion. This paper focuses on women's decision-making processes in a period of changing demand, changing markets, and new employment patterns.