Brostek 5

Emily Brostek
Professor Lotier
English 137H
October 30th, 2012
The Erogenous Shift of Fashion

In the world of fashion, Heidi Klum tells us One day you are in and the next day you are
out. This famous saying from Klums show Project Runway accurately portrays the shift in
fashion throughout the past century. Fashion is a direct reflection of the culture of the time
period. The atmosphere of the time period, be it a time of war or economic boom, places a
standard on the use of sex appeal in clothing. The gradual shift of emphasis on sex appeal has
shaped and formed style over the past century. The present day trend of exposure in most
clothing suggests a high placement of a womans allure and attraction in everyday life. Fashion
dictates the ideal sex appeal for body type as well as style choice of the time. The shift from
wearing covered clothing to wearing no clothes at all is a fashion statement that is the result of
a slow progression of the different views of sex appeal throughout history.
The Seduction Principle is defined as the manufacturing of clothes with a sexconscious appeal in womens clothing (Worsnop 4). The idea focuses on the highlighting
feminine silhouettes that are seen as alluring and attractive during that time period. The
Seduction Principle is used throughout each decade of the 20th century and is key in the
manipulation of fashion trends in the United States. This principle is evident throughout fashion
history and executed in the style of all womens clothing in cut, material, and color. Fashion
designers keep eroticism alive, numerous psychologists have pointed out, by continually altering

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the emphasis accorded to various parts of the female body. This alteration of emphasis is
sometimes called the shifting erogenous zone (Worsnop 4). This shifting erogenous zone in
fashion guides trends in each decade of fashion.
During the Roaring Twenties, the shift in the United States lifestyle gave new
liberation in clothing. The short flapper dress was introduced and it characterized the party
atmosphere that surged in America after World War I. The skimpy, unfettered female attire of
the 1920s was regarded as symbolic of woman's social and political emancipation (Shaffer 5).
With this new liberation came a sex appeal focused on a womans legs, which before this time
rarely had been a focal point of the female attraction. As a result of this erogenous shift, It was
during this period that the silk stocking, the high heel, and the colored slipper became
necessities (Shaffer 6). Each of these statements in fashion drew strong attention to the sex
appeal in legs. Bright colors, fringe, and excessive jewelry also became crucial in fashion
because they represented a sign of wealth or new money. In the 1920s, money was the most
appealing quality and it was important to emphasize your wealth and class in your outfit (Shaffer
6).
Sex appeal shifted in the thirties with the outbreak of the Great Depression. The use of
flashy colors and clothing immediately plummeted from style as a result of the economic
turmoil. The use of color in clothing was too reflective of the times of the twenties which were
marked as a successful time (Worsnop 5). The shift to darker colors was a direct response to the
turmoil of the Great Depression. Fashion trends were not as pronounced during this decade
because few Americans could afford it. Sex appeal however still managed to shape the way
clothing was fitted and cut. The new style focused around elongating clothing to reflect the more
serious tone of the depression. Since showing legs was no longer the trend, the back became the

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new focus of erotic appeal (Worsnop 5). The back of a dress involved a large V shape gap
between a womans shoulders ending just at her waist. This style lasted minimally throughout
the time period since the elegance of the back was viewed as an upper class trend that most
middle class Americans could not wear during the depression. Fashion during the period was
downplayed and not as successful because sex appeal was not as highly sought out during a time
of such trouble in America.
Throughout the late 40s and 50s, the housewife style was made to idealize women as a
perfect form of elegance in the comfort of their own home. The new form of sex appeal for this
type of woman was seen in the narrowed waist (Shaffer 8). Dresses modeled a synched middle to
make the bust appear larger as well as compliment a slim figure. This style was a modern
interpretation of a silhouette modeled in the late 1800s; The dominant look for women was the
S-curve, a corseted style that thrust the chest out in one direction and the buttocks out in the
other (Benenson 6). This new curved style dress reflected the attitude of the time in which
World War II had ended and the United States searched for a return to normalcy. Normalcy
consisted of a modest, toned down sex appeal in clothing. The erogenous shift from showing the
backless dresses to hourglass shaped dresses shows how the sex appeal of the time dictates the
fashion of the public.
The 60s brought about the modest look of Jackie Kennedy and the elegance of her
fashion choices (Benenson 8). The signature look of an upper class woman was seen in tall hats,
short veils, and business dress attire. However, the youth of the 60s and 70s focused on the
rebellion against the modest lifestyle and family life of the generations before them. Sex appeal
was a ground breaking part of the fashion revolution during this time. Blue jeans became the
ultimate symbol of the youth and a new type of depiction for attractive legs. Worn skintight, a

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style adopted from the disco scene, these pants were treated more like couture than casual wear
(Benenson 8). The erogenous shift of the 60s and 70s moved from the back or waist to legs.
Jeans accentuated a womans hips and legs as well as symbolized the overall liberation of the
woman wearing them. Wearing jeans immediately sent a message of the woman as a free spirit
individual, which was alluring and desirable during this time.
The 80s and 90s sex appeal brought about a high use of loud color and individuality. Sex
appeal had never been more prominent in clothing before these two decades. With the growth of
the ready-to-wear industry and the freedom of women to earn their own living, almost every
woman now has enough cash to adorn herself with at least a minimum of fashionable clothing
(Shaffer 6). As a result of increased female involvement in the work place, fashion became a
more prominent statement to a broader spectrum of women. The hemlines of skirts dropped
drastically making miniskirts for business as well as casual a popular theme. Legs remained the
focal point of attention and attraction in fashion. As a result of this erogenous focal point, fashion
tights and leggings became a style trend that modeled the slim figure of a woman and allowed
for skirts to be short without coming off as class-less (Shaffer 6).
The current fashion of today shows a fluctuation of high waist shorts and bandeau bras,
used to highlight large chests, slim stomachs, and tone legs. The erogenous shift of today focuses
so many parts of the female body that clothing is made to show more skin than ever before.
Even the materials of our clothing are based on showing the ideal slim waistline through the use
of transparent fabrics. Tight spandex material is also used to tighten the body and conform to the
ideal skinny figure. Legs are still highlighted as important use of sex appeal in fashion and are
accentuated with the use of new platform heels. This takes the platform of the 70s and morphs it

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into a more attractive way to elongate the leg (Shaffer 9). A large chest is idealized in modern
society and fashion uses cropped shirts to accentuate a womans curves.
Sex appeal has determined the past and present fashion concepts in United States history.
The erogenous shift of attraction to female body parts has molded by the time period and
exemplified in clothing style. Throughout history this shift has brought back styles and modified
them to accurately progress the idea of sex appeal in clothing. I predict that the future of fashion
will continue to focus on different parts of a feminine figure to base clothes around. Following
the patterns of the past, the future of fashion will shed light on the alluring and daring new looks
showing more skin on women.

Works Cited

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Benenson, R. (1985). The world of fashion. Editorial research reports 1985 (Vol. I). Washington,
DC: CQ Press. Retrieved from
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1985032200

Shaffer, H. B. (1958). Business of fashion. Editorial research reports 1958 (Vol. II). Washington,
DC: CQ Press. Retrieved from
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1958080600

Worsnop, R. L. (1971). Fashion world. Editorial research reports 1971 (Vol. I). Washington,
DC:CQ Press. Retrieved from
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1971041400