Etymology and Usage

“Fashion,” according to Webster means” dressing up to suit the occasion” or “modeling.” “Fashion” as a word carries more than one definition. For some people, “fashion” is a synonym for “style” or “modeling,” while for others it means something else entirely. In this article, the word “fashion” refers both to a generic concept and particular style.

style

“Fashion” is a sort of autonomy and self-expression in a given situation and at a given time, of apparel, footwear, accessories, hair style, make-up, life style, hairstyle, and physical physique. The word means simply a trend defined by the fashion industry, which changes with the times and consequently reflects society. It is not, however, an exhaustive description of the entire spectrum of style. Just as style is a generic word that can apply to persons, things, and events as diverse as shoes and clothes, so too is fashion a generic term that can refer to the entire range of attitudes, choices, and behaviors about dress. To speak of “style” as a single concept is therefore meaningless. “Fashion” as a noun therefore indicates a style that is shared by many others.

In most societies, fashion is typically associated with youth. Thus, the young and the fashionable are considered to be socially and cultureatively superior to those who are older or more conventional. This is why it’s important to note that the concept of “fashion” as a verb (as in “to become fashionable”) dates back to the days of European history. At the time, being fashionable meant to be “articulated.” The young person who pursued a seemingly haphazard approach to fashion might, in fact, have been “fashionable” by virtue of being able to exhibit certain forms opacity, disjunction, or asymmetry.

The word “style” as a noun is therefore most often used with reference to a particular style or way of dressing, presenting, or behaving. A style may also be described as an overall quality or type of behavior. It has become the preferred terminology of the hip hop community and the new generation. In recent popular usage, however, the style is used to refer to both a distinctive way of dressing and an attitude about style that is considered to be non-conformist or unconventional.

Style is one of the three nouns in the sentence “The man that won’t wear his shirt is me.” “Wearing” and “shirt” both possess definite articles and the verb “wear” does not. “The man that won’t wear his shirt” describes a style that is considered non-conformist. While it is grammatically incorrect, the statement expresses a common attitude about style that many people share.

The other two nouns, dress and suit, describe what clothing people wear. A style is different from dress in that it is more flexible and can be tailored to fit a person’s body shape or height. So if you were to compare jeans to a style, you would find that style would be the more appropriate word. Style can be considered a synonym for fashion. Fashion can also be considered the more appropriate word, if we are talking about the type of clothes that a person wears to work.