This week was a continuation of data collection and acquisition in the form of my survey and in-person interviews. My focus has certainly shifted from the survey to in-person interviews in order to gain more qualitative data. I have also finally discovered a few literary sources that will contribute to my understanding and general analysis.
My initial impression of the interviews is that there are consistent understandings on campus about clothing trends, habits, and themes. I am finding more and more consistency about what certain brands and articles of clothing mean and represent to Bowdoin students. My understanding is that there is a large focus on the physical price of items and the way that relates to self-presentation and worth. There is without a doubt a pressure that students feel to perform and appear a certain way.
The data for this week also brought up a very interesting theme. When my subjects were asked to identify certain brands or clothing that are used to exhibit status at Bowdoin, they reported that although the clothing may be very high quality, it is overly priced and unnecessary. What is interesting is these same respondents also identified they owned something from that brand. For example, one respondent said he thought Canada Goose jackets were overpriced and elitist, yet he had one himself. Another talked about lulu lemon being overly priced but popular here and confirmed that he currently owned clothing from them. What this informs me of is that although their critiques of the status enhancing brands may be true, they are not off putting enough to be a successful deterrent. The status and appearance that comes from these brands is greater than what it means about your lifestyle and the group it puts you in. This will be a main area of study for me as I continue to move through other interviews.
As has been the case every week since these logs began, the data I have received has altered my perception and direction of my project. Every interview starts with a set list of questions and quickly changes with the subject’s responses. Normally I think this would be counterproductive, but I think it is extremely helpful to have flexibility and probe in the correct spots. For example, in my last interview, I ended up spending the majority of the time asking questions that were not planned because of the subject’s first answer. This has allowed me to reach the desired information and begin to see themes form. One alteration I am including in my project is a broader examination into clothing stereotypes with regards to geography and class. I always knew that class and socioeconomic status were going to be a large focus area, but there have been a surprising number of individuals who have tied certain brands and clothing to regions around the United States.
The biggest challenge for me this week was being able to find scholarly journals and studies related to my topic of millennial fashion. After digging around, I was able to locate some great sources, but it took some more skilled and intentional research. I have not had any real troubles with the survey or interviews. People have been very accommodating and participatory, which has been great for my qualitative and quantitative data.
My next steps are to prepare for my presentation on Wednesday and to begin orchestrating my final paper. I want to finish my acquisition of data by completing the rest of my interviews and compiling it so it can be used effectively.