The invention relates to a gown having a gown body, an inflatable chamber capable of selectively inflating and deflating carried by the gown body, and a shaping element carried by the gown body. The shaping element is directly responsive to inflation of the inflatable chamber so that the shaping element is moved from an initial arrangement to a subsequent arrangement by inflation of the chamber. Upon subsequent deflation, the shaping member retains its shape. The entire structure is suitable for the self-assisted donning of a surgical gown.