Expressing identity: function of fashion

Abstract

‘Identity’ is one of the seminal concepts for describing the function of fashion. Fashion allegedly contributes to the formation of identity. Besides identity includes the way an individual perceives, interprets, and presents individuals and others in various contexts of everyday life. An expression of identity is extremely subtle and symbolically communicates personal values, interests, tastes, and affiliations to one another. Through the process of self identification, individuals place and express their own identities. However, people cannot hold on to particular identities by themselves. As noted by Kaiser, identities tend to be constructed, revised, and reconstructed in social transactions. The processes of developing identities are based on ascribed and achieved identities. The objective of the study is to explore how the royalty anticipated what identities they would like to have in the social situation and how they presented themselves accordingly to others, thus generating basic theoretical concepts to the field of fashion.