Fashion is a medium of self-expression. It can be used to demonstrate one’s status, nature and attitude. Fashions may vary considerably within a society according to age, social class, generation, occupation, and geography. The term “fashionista” or “fashion victim” refers to people who slavishly follow current fashions.
The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar business. It involves a wide range of industries that include clothing, footwear, accessories and jewelry. The industry is characterized by the rapid turnover of styles and trends. The changing trends are the result of various factors, including technological shifts, sustainability concerns and cultural dialogues. The fast pace of change has positive aspects as it encourages creativity both by designers and consumers. However, the tendency of some business people to promote specific clothing trends for profit can be harmful, encouraging materialistic consumerism.
In addition, fashions can discourage social stratification as they make people of lower class look similar to the upper classes by dressing in their style. For instance, the dresses of a popular singer, film stars or business tycoons can make ordinary people feel classier and elegant.
Fashion can also be a way of identity and tradition: judges wear robes, military members wear uniforms, and brides wear white dresses. It can also be a way of expressing one’s personality, like the roaring twenties fashion did for many men and women. Moreover, it can also be an expression of a particular time period or event, like the retro fashion of the 1960s.
