Catherine is 20 years old when she buys the extravagantly beautiful red dress.She is said to be "eloquent in her garments" which are eye-catching and beautiful things she is not able to be. Catherine revels in the dresses in her stunning wardrobe, but her father is repulsed or discomfited by them. Dr. Sloper has a "dread of vulgarity," and he cringes at the openly eye-catching and lavish dress his daughter wears.