Key research themes
1. How does body image influence the interplay between aesthetic and social psychological aspects of dress?
This theme explores the dual perceptual and affective components of body image and how it shapes individuals' interactions with clothing and the social presentation of appearances. By integrating aesthetic theory with social psychological constructs, the research underlines body image as a critical element influencing self-esteem, identity expression through dress, and the socio-cultural construction of appearance.
2. What role does the mirror play in shaping the visual self and embodied experience of dress?
This research domain investigates the mirror’s function beyond mere reflection, focusing on its performative role in defining dress and self through visual subjectification. It challenges the dominant gaze-centered paradigm by exploring alternative, multi-sensorial engagements with dress and body. Theoretical applications of phenomenology and poststructuralism are employed to reconceptualize the relationship of body, dress, and identity as fluid, relational, and affectively transformative rather than fixed images.
3. How has dress functioned historically and culturally as a symbol of identity, communication, and social positioning?
This theme addresses the historical, cultural, and socio-political uses of dress as a potent symbol for identity formation, communication, and social stratification. It explores diverse contexts including minority group experiences, gendered dress reform, and wartime class narratives, highlighting dress as a dynamic semiotic and material practice that encodes and negotiates power relations, resistance, and societal norms.