Six Functions of Dress

Ceremonialism
The Royal wedding in 1981 between Diana and Prince Charles was a date we will always remember, but so was her infamous dress. The gown that Princess Diana wore is an example of Ceremonial Function of dress, and was nothing short of amazing. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, this elegant dress featured a 25-foot train and was crafted with antique lace, ivory silk taffeta, and over ten thousand pearls and sequins. The gown was hand-woven and the lace was sewn with gold thread. Interestingly enough, some of the leftover parts of fabric that weren’t used are being sold in auctions and on the internet today.

Sexual Enhancement
Bustiers were introduced to enhance a women’s shape by slimming the waist while lifting the bosom. They became popular in the early 1900’s and are still fashionable today. One very well-known bustier was the cone-shaped bra designed by Paul Gaultier for Madonna. She wore this during her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour. This is an example of Sexual Enhancement.

Group Membership
When the favorite Upper East Side teenagers on the show of Gossip Girl aren’t sipping martinis at Butter or plotting manipulative schemes, their dutifully maintaining their top grades at the Constance Billard school and St. Judes School for boys. As you can see, they are all putting their distinctive personal style in the official school uniform, but the look is a keep example of Group Membership.

Gender Differentiation
The difference between the dress code between men and women in the Islamic community is a prime example of Gender Differentiation. Women must cover the entire body, only the hands and face may remain visible. The material must be thick so it is not see through, and must hang loose so that the silhouette is not apparent. The dress cannot have bold designs to attract attention and one can not wear clothing for the purpose of increasing one’s status in society. See http://www.islamfortoday.com/7conditions.htm for reference. The only guideline men have to follow is that they must not show their naval area and must cover their head. Some men take their dress code lightly and think the women’s code is more important and spend their lives lecturing various women about what to wear and what not to wear.

Decorative
This is a photograph of a woman in the Karo People region in South Ethiopia. The region is known to be masters of body painting, especially when a dance or celebration is coming up. Men, women, and children use white chalk, yellow mineral rock, black charcoal and to paint themselves. The men usually have wild hairstyles and ornaments. Head pieces, necklace beading, and animal skins are also used for decoration. One very unique feature is the long nail that is sticking through the woman’s bottom lip for ornamentation.

Environmental Protection
This photo, taken by Edward S. Curtis in 1929, is a great example of Environmental Protection clothing. Due to the Arctic climate, this particular Eskimo family kept warm from the freezing temperatures through their fur coats and hoods.