Fashion is a form of self-expression and an art of creating a unique look. It is an important part of culture and civilization as it reflects our values, beliefs and attitudes towards life. Fashion trends change with societal changes and have been used as a means of social communication in many cultures across the world.
From the beautiful arcs of printed silk dresses made in dynastic China, to the intricate corseted ball gowns worn in eighteenth century England, fashion has become an essential aspect of human society. While some clothing is designed specifically for an individual, such as haute couture or bespoke tailoring, most is manufactured to appeal to the mass market, with styles being constantly updated and replaced by new ones. Fashion is an industry employing millions of people, from those who design and manufacture clothes to those who sell them. It is a multi-billion dollar business, and many of us are influenced by it in one way or another.
Clothes serve not only the practical purpose of covering one’s body and gratifying vanity, but also communicate and reflect our identities and our attitudes towards life. For example, the miniskirt became a symbol of feminism during the roaring 1920s, or a nun’s robes can symbolize renunciation of vanity.
Trends in Fashion are often influenced by popular culture, including music, movies and books. Similarly, they may be triggered by major events, like political or social movements. They can also be influenced by globalization, as evidenced by the prevalence of Turkish, Chinese or Japanese styles in Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.