Idealized Body Image and Fashion Design Education

Abstract

The aim of this research is to understand the idealised body image in the context of fashion design education and to discover the preferred body types in fashion design education. Body image is a subjective picture of one’s own body, unlike what one’s body actually looks like. Exposure to idealised body figures may have positive and negative consequences. Fashion designers contribute to the ideal body images created and presented with their designs. Therefore, a change in the fashion designer’s behavior pattern to imagine and work through the ideal body is likely to be the first step for a social change. Body satisfaction as a social issue can be re-evaluated from the eyes of fashion designers by going beyond individual support. In this context, possibilities are discussed with behavior setting theory. In addition, a measurement was made on body perceptions and satisfaction in order to understand the consequences of fashion design students’ exposure to the ideal body. The body types that fashion design students focus on and their motivation to design for different body types were investigated through an online questionnaire in Turkey. According to findings from 63 participants, all students have confirmed that they work on the idealised female figure. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Annick Schramme and Nathalie Verboven; individual chapters, the contributors.