• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2021

This study analyzes the characteristics of fashion flex, which have recently spread on social media. The study was conducted with big data analysis that derived flex keywords from news articles and social media as well as case studies that collected 136 posted images on Instagram to analyze the content. The meaning of flex was positively accepted based on big data results. Flex was also a buzzword frequently used on social media as well as a symbolic meaning when discussing luxury goods or fashion brand experiences. The characteristics of fashion flex in social media were largely divided into three categories. First, conspicuous consumption is considered an active expression of individual fashion tastes or self-oriented consumption and emphasizes individuality through consumption. The second characteristic is that the public actively participates in events or fashion flex challenges. People use similar fashion styles or products to participate in playful social interactions with others using various Instagram functions. Finally, acts of pursuing psychological well-being in social media were used as the term flex in a broad sense and were shown to actively explore fashion-related materials and experiences for individual happiness. This study found that the meaning of existing conspicuous consumption is transforming into positive consumption, such as the expression of taste-based identity or the seeking of fun and psychological well-being. It is also meaningful that fashion has become an effective means to express individuality and taste in expressing flex.