• 복식문화연구
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.113-126
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• 2007

Since the ancient times, black has been the most valuable color. Also, it has played a more important role in a history of fashion than other colors. In general, black was regarded as a color of negative images. However, as people have recognized the aesthetic value of black color, they have expressed unique and various images of black through the medium of clothes. This studies on images of black dress for woman was based on reference to literatures and valid investigations. The images toward black clothing are categorized by study participants' perceptions according to age, marital status and education. The result was as followed. Dignity and modernity were the most frequently cited image of black dress among women followed by feminine, sorrow, sensuality, and abstinence. Age significantly affected the recognition of black dress images. Woman showed significant difference in recognizing dignity, modernity, sensuality, and sorrow in black dress according to their age. Woman more strongly recognize dignity and modernity in black dress when they are younger, while increasingly recognizing abstinence and sensuality in black dress as they become older. Marital status significantly affected woman's recognition of black dress. They showed meaningful difference in recognizing dignity, modernity, and abstinence in black color. In sum, single women recognized more easily dignity and modernity in black dress and less easily abstinence than married women. Women also showed the trend with relation to education level. In general, as women got higher education, they also increasingly recognized dignity and modernity in black dress.