Fashion is an informal form of autonomy and self-expression in a certain context and time and at a certain place. In its broader usage, the word also means a style defined by the fashion industry when what is popular at the moment is referred to as fashionable. The term can be used to refer to individual aspects of dressing such as hairstyles or general appearance. It can also refer to the way of dressing one’s self. While some consider it as a generic term, others have made it an individual expression of style. It is generally accepted as a term that refers to modernity.
Fashion is seen to affect people’s choices in clothing, their mode of dressing, and even how they behave in public. However, this does not mean that fashion is imposed on people by other people and that no one is free to choose how he or she dresses. People have control over fashion. They choose the clothes that they wear and make choices about hairstyles, accessories, and even their own bodies. People who are part of the punk subculture have made a big contribution to the development of the concept of fashion. For instance, in the early seventies, the punks discovered new ways of wearing their hair and also discovered different ways of expressing themselves through their fashion.
Because of the great impact of the punks, today fashion trends are more influenced by society and the society around them than by individuals. In other words, fashion trends are seen to be determined by designers, brands, and advertisers. These designers decide what is trendy and what is not. They also determine the materials, colors, designs, and styles that will be presented to the public. People who want to wear these clothes can choose from the wide range of available designs.
But before fashion trends were determined by designers, clothing was given emphasis by businessmen who wanted to use it to improve their business performance. businessmen chose the type of cloth that would be suitable to give their workers good looks and at the same time allow them to work efficiently without being squashed by their heavy clothing. Different manufacturers tried making clothing for workers using their various resources, such as wool and silk, cotton, jute, or synthetic fibers. Eventually, these resources were combined to make fine clothes that were fashionable, durable, comfortable, and affordable. The demand for fine clothing also increased, especially since many people became conscious of their appearance.
Then designers made their moves to create a market for their clothes. They began presenting clothes in high fashion shows where they tried to attract buyers from other cultures and classes. At first, fashion was associated with rich people. Later, it became acceptable for all kinds of people to wear fashionable clothes.
Nowadays, fashion trends are determined by different types of people, including designers, buyers, and ordinary people. The human body is considered to be the basis of fashion trends; whatever kind of clothes we put on our bodies can affect the way we look and feel. However, wearing the right kind of clothes is not enough. Fashion is also influenced by culture, profession, and personality. For instance, in some parts of the world, especially in the developed countries, it has been recently accepted that long skirts are considered to be inappropriate for working women.