A Categorization of Erotic Expressions in Modern Fashion

1990년대 후반의 패션에 나타난 에로티시즘 -Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy를 중심으로-

The purposes of the study were to categorize eroticism expressed in modern fashion and to find out any significant difference in erotic expressions among designer brands and fashion seasons. The research methods was a documentary analysis. The documentary materials were 180 photographs randomly selected from fashion photographs of 3 major designer brand collections, from 1995 S/S to 2000 A/W. The data were analyzed by contents analysis, frequency, crosstabs. Results were as follows; 1) The existence of erotic expressions in modern fashion was found in 107 (59.4%) out of 180 fashion photographs and the eroticism was one of the major themes in the later 1990's fashion. 2) The erotic expression in the modern fashion were categorized into 5 categories exposure, adhesion, transparency, exposure+adhesion, and adhesion+transparency. The major erotic expression was exposure which was followed by adhesion and transparency. 3) The degree of erotic expression were separated into 3 levels-strong, medium, weak. The erotic levels in the modern fashion ranged between medium and weak; medium level 43%, weak 42% and strong 15%. 4) The erotic expression and the degree of erotic expression showed differences according to three designer brands. Chanel brand used less erotic expression than Christian Dior or Givenchy. Christian Dior brand showed the tendency of strongest erotic level while the Chanel brand showed the weakest level. 5) The erotic expression and the degree of erotic expression showed differences according to fashion seasons. Spring and summer seasons used more erotic expression than autumn and winter. In spring and summer seasons, exposure and transparency were methods used more frequently for erotic expressions, while adhesion was stronger themes in autumn and winter seasons.