This study delves
into a linguistic analysis of Elle magazine in its foundational period,
examining the first 32 issues published between November 1945 and June 1946. It
aims to explore the role of fashion terminology as a mirror of broader
sociocultural transformations in post-war France. This article is structured in
three main sections: the first outlines the magazine’s historical and editorial
context, highlighting its unique editorial approach and groundbreaking tone, a
testament to its founder’s influence. The second presents the methodology for
the corpus creation, preparation and processing. The third section explores the
terminological results alongside the magazine’s thematic content. The analysis
led to the creation of a glossary providing a clear overview of the French
fashion lexicon of the period, while also offering insight into evolving values
and new representations of femininity. Through the intersection of
terminological analysis and historical-cultural reflection, this study shows
how fashion terminology functions as a vehicle of memory, identity, and
transformation.
