A Study on the Fashion Value of Generation Y

Y세대(Y世代) 미국(美國) 청소년(靑少年)의 패션 가치관(價値觀) 연구(硏究)

This is a study about the fashion value of generation y, those who were junior and high school students between 1990 and 2004 in the U. S. This study was mainly based on the street culture and fashion of American teenagers the author observed in New York from 1997 to 2004, and referred to articles carried by major American journals, the result d Census 2000, statistical data reported by well-credited American research institutions. To overview the values generation y applies to their fashion, this study picked 8 principal values generation y pursues in their fashion and put them in four sets of contrasting pairs, as in conformity vs. Individuality, authenticity vs. trendiness, comfort vs. sexuality, rebelliousness vs. conservativeness. The results are as follow. First, when it comes to fashion, generation y desires to be noticed by others, but is afraid d being too different from their peers. Second, generation y stresses authenticity in their fashion. But, they are very much interested in mass fashion trend as well, and the pursuit of authenticity itself can be just a trend. Third, generation y wants their fashion to be "not only sexy and feminine, but also sporty and athletic" all at the same time. Forth, generation y uses fashion to visualize their rebelliousness. But their rebellious spirit is diluting amid the rise of neo-conservatism. As a conclusion, generation y's fashion has changed the way that compromises contrasting values, and in the process, were created unique new styles.