Fashion is an incredibly complex cultural phenomenon. It’s a form of self-expression that allows people to communicate a range of ideas, from sexual orientation and social class to values, beliefs and even emotional states. It also plays a vital role in our identities as it can reflect both our past and present experiences. This is why clothing is so important – it’s not just about covering ourselves or satisfying vanity. It’s about being comfortable in our skin and translating that into a unique style.
Fashions have always been influenced by political events, economic conditions and changes in the world around us. They can help to communicate social status, for example when judges wear robes or soldiers wear uniforms. They can also be a form of identification and tradition, for instance when women and dressmakers outside the French court pored over sketches of royal dresses or people in the 1700s read fashion magazines to find out what to wear.
The fashion industry is a vast one with millions of people involved in the design, production and marketing of clothes. It is a global business and trends are influenced not just by what’s happening in the world around us but also by ideological movements, educational practices and scientific pursuits. Fashion is also a way for people to express their personalities, from the understated whisper of an urban hipster to the roar of a rocker.
A trend occurs when a particular color, silhouette, pattern, material or style becomes popular for a period of time. It could be sparked by an event, such as the introduction of a new fabric or a movie that showcases a particular style. It can also be triggered by the work of certain fashion designers, celebrities or influencers.
Once a trend is identified it can spread quickly. The popularity of a certain look can be reinforced by the media, especially with the rise of social media. This is why it’s so important to monitor the fashion media, as it can be a good indicator of what will be popular in the next few months or years.
As a result, fashions change continuously. They can become “in fashion” and then quickly fall out of favour, but they are likely to reappear at some point. This process is known as cyclical fashion.
Modern Westerners have a wide array of choices in their clothing. Depending on the person’s style, they can choose to be traditional, quirky, romantic or bohemian. They may also be influenced by music, art and film, which can all influence their choice of fashion. The term fashionista describes a person who follows the latest fashions and trends, while the opposite is a fashion victim who is unable to think for themselves and simply copies what other people are wearing. In the past, discovery of new countries or regions often caused a shift in fashions, for example Europeans in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries might favor Turkish, Chinese and Japanese styles.