Whether it’s a high-energy scream or an understated whisper, fashion is the medium through which people express themselves. A fashion trend can be a reflection of an era in the past, but it can also be a reaction to current events. Whether it’s a dress or a hairstyle, fashions are created to reflect individual taste.
Fashion is an innate social phenomenon. It can be defined as the manner in which a social group behaves during a certain period of time. Often, fashion looks are created by drawing references from subcultures and popular culture.
The term fashion is most often used to describe the style of clothing. Some fashions are considered classics. These are garments that stay popular for a long time, but are not necessarily re-introduced into fashion. However, new fashions are reintroduced into fashion over time.
In Western culture, fashions have been around for centuries. During the late middle ages, people would pore over fashion magazines to find out the latest trends. During the early 1900s, designers began combining Western and Chinese styles to create new fashions. These designs had body hugging fits and short sleeves.
However, fashion can be difficult to define. Some argue that fashion is the use of whatever parts are available. The term fashion can also refer to the idea of sameness. This is especially true in the modern Western world. People who wear the same clothes as others are not considered to be fashionistas.
According to upper-class theory, people of a higher socioeconomic status set fashion trends. This is known as the “trickle down” theory of fashion. People in the lower socioeconomic classes follow the fashion trends set by the higher socioeconomic class. However, this does not mean that fashion is exclusively the domain of the upper class.
Other theories on fashion describe the diffusion of styles. In ancient China, fashion was considered to be an indicator of the socioeconomic conditions of the population. Confucian scholars associated changing fashion with social disorder. However, they also noted that it was very difficult to trace the origins of fashion. It was believed to have started in the late middle ages, when nobility began to create fashions.
Other theories define fashion as the popular acceptance of a certain way of behaving in a certain situation. These theories can be top-down or bottom-up. Unlike upper-class theory, these theories do not include the social class as the determining factor of fashion. The diffusion of fashion can be based on a variety of factors, such as the influence of fashion houses, the media, and even fashion houses themselves.
In addition to its aesthetic value, fashion has been used as a political weapon, and has led to debates over democratic values. For example, during the 2016 presidential election, many fashion designers took advantage of the political climate to make new fashions.
While fashion can be used as a political weapon, it is not always the most inclusive platform. However, it is becoming more and more important to understand how fashions are defined and how they are disseminated. Many fashion designers use social media to reach their target audience.