What is Fashion?

Fashion is a kind of autonomy and self-expression in a certain situation and context and in a certain time and era, in terms of fashion, shoes, clothing, accessories, hairstyles, makeup, and body postures. The word itself suggests a definitive look defined by the fashion market as what is popularly trending. Trends in fashion are most likely the product of a consumer’s expectations about his or her outfit for the day, especially when those expectations are not fully met by way of the product or service being offered.

Fashion designers, fashion advisers, and the media watched closely how consumers expressed their feelings about certain fashions in the popular categories such as casual wear, preppy, and trendy. In turn, this reflected on the marketplace by way of increased demand for clothes, shoes, and accessories. Then came the notion of fashion trends. A certain piece of clothing became fashionable depending on which group of people it was aimed at. Today, fashion trends are still determined by what is popular with the masses, and a designer’s or manufacturer’s idea of “in” can often be misunderstood as the most popular fashion trend. Thus, the social status attributed to various fashion trends can also vary greatly.

A number of factors affect the fashions of people. First, some fashions look good on certain people while they do not look good on others. This means that the way fashion affects an individual’s life is also dependent on the way that person is socially grouped. For example, some fashions may be viewed as “in” by teens, but frowned upon by older, more mature people, as these fashions may not conform with societal expectations. Also, certain fashions become popular among groups of people at the same time, like hip hop styles in the 1980s, while fashions become less popular as time passes. Trends change, thus, fashion changes.