FASHION SCIENCE – An Introduction
Fashion is a form of autonomy and self-expression in a certain time and context and at a certain time and location. It can be described by means of the cultural practices associated with wearing of clothes, footwear, makeup, hairstyles, body postures, accessories, fashion trends, and attitudes about beauty. The word means a style defined by the fashion business as what is trendy. It refers to both individual and societal aspects of dress. It usually involves some kind of harmony in dressing.
The term has various other meanings. In order to avoid confusion it is normally used interchangeably with the phrase “high fashion.” Numerous designers and artisans in the fashion industry have created numerous definitions and descriptions of modern fashion trends. The commonly accepted definitions of contemporary fashion are determined by the current practice and ideas of those practicing the particular styles of dressing.
Several other terms have been used by those who practice this craft, such as “minority fashion,” “ghetto fashion,” “street fashion,” and “eastern fashion.” All these terms, in their most general form, describe fashion trends that are associated with members of different cultures and/or economically marginalized communities. This helps explain why people who are from these communities dress differently from people who are not from these groups. Even within a community, differences in appearance practices sometimes occur. Different clothing styles are needed to make identification and interaction with the rest of the world possible.
By applying a social justice lens to fashion trends, students can gain valuable insights into many social problems that affect society today. By identifying the varied forms of social injustice that affect people from different backgrounds, students will also be able to recognize similar patterns when they see them. In a case study reading on the topic, for instance, students can analyze how a common fashion trend of wearing full dresses can perpetuate gendered violence against women.
Students may want to consider using this reading to supplement existing class assignments or to serve as a final project for a thesis or dissertation. This class assignment is particularly well suited for students who are already familiar with a wide variety of topics about fashion design, but are new to the field of gender and social justice. Students in this department can use this guide to increase their understanding of what it means to be a woman, how certain types of clothing are sexualized or gendered, and what some of the most popular clothing trends do to both men and women. This book will also serve as an excellent resource for students who are planning future studies related to fashion.
Students will find that the focus of this book is on clothing as it relates to social justice. A full sentences or two can answer the question “why is it that full dresses are so sexually attractive to young adolescent girls?” Also, there will be several diagrams and examples to help answer the question “what do young adolescent girls look like in their full dresses?” All in all, FASHION SCIENCE is a very engaging text for students to read, not just because of its style and design, but the valuable lessons that can be learned by looking at the way that we dress.