Fashion is the process of determining what is considered desirable in clothing and related accessories. It involves a wide range of individuals who are involved in the design, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of apparel and related goods (Reilly, 2012).
Styles vary over time and across cultures. In many cases, styles may even change in response to the changing social or economic conditions in a society.
The fashion industry is a globalized and international one, with clothing often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold in a third. Traditionally, clothing has been handmade by tailors and dressmakers on orders from individual clients; however, with the advent of new technologies such as the sewing machine and global trade, as well as the development of the factory system of production, clothes have increasingly been mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices.
In addition to the effects of style on the consumer, fashion also plays an important role in defining and expressing status within social groups. People with high cultural status like to keep ‘in fashion’ in order to demonstrate their position; those who are unable to do so can be regarded as out of step and risk being shunned from their own group.
Keeping up with fashion can also be used as a form of self-promotion, which can aid in attracting prospective mates or partners. It can also reveal specific features of a person’s personality that may appeal to such candidates, and it can be viewed as a measure of wealth.
There are many different types of fashion, including ready-to-wear, couture, and haute couture. Typically, ready-to-wear is cheaper to produce than couture or haute couture, and it is often sold in small quantities in department stores.
Haute couture is expensive to produce and is usually only made for a few individuals. This type of clothing can be extremely exclusive, and it is a good investment for those who are willing to pay for the luxury item.
Costume history demonstrates that fashions have been changing continuously over the centuries. For example, bell-bottom jeans were a relatively recent addition to the wardrobes of country folk in the nineteenth century, but this look soon spread into city centres as rail travel improved communication between cities and rural areas.
Fashion also changes in a cyclical way, with some styles becoming popular for a period of time and then declining over time. For example, the ’70s punk rock trend of oversized clothing, such as T-shirts, faded into the ’80s hip-hop fashion of baggy clothes and designer jeans, and into the ’90s neo-hippie fad of bohemian attire.
As a result, many women choose to wear more practical and comfortable styles of clothing. They want to look smart but they also need their clothing to be easy to put on and take off, as well as to fit well into their everyday lives.
The newest trends can be fun and exciting to be a part of, but if you are not willing to put in the time and effort required to wear them, it is probably best to steer clear. Instead, invest in pieces you know will last and can be re-worn multiple times over the years.