• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2011

The purposes of this study are clarifying the characteristics of women's hair style in the late Joseon Dynasty by inquiring into that hair style and, by extension, having a new understanding of the aesthetic consciousness of women in those times. The typical hair style of married Joseon women was Ungeonmeori and Jjokmeori, with Ungeonmeori being much more popular. Regardless of socioeconomic status, women used a big Gache as long as conditions permitted. Meanwhile, some women who led the trend or followed the national policy did Jjokmeori and wore Jokdoori. The Joseon Dynasty had a strict clothing system. However, giseangs were free from this restriction and they were free at attire. Therefore, they led the fashion trend. Both noble and common women followed the trend, imitating giseangs' attire. Women's hair style was used as a tool to express one's personality in the late Joseon Dynasty when the hierarchy was already weakened. In fact, it seems that women in those times cared more about hair style trend than clothing trend. This means that those women already had such a high quality of aesthetic consciousness that they showed their hair which is the closest to the face to advantage.