When we were instructed to define the term fashion during our first lecture, my head quickly became clouded with a myriad of descriptions. Still today, if I were faced with the same question, a similar reaction may occur. Today, however, these thoughts may be able to present itself in a more organized manner. When being asked the question, “what is fashion?”, I must first acknowledge the obvious fact that fashion does not belong to a single definition, thought, system, or form. Rather, it is a collective of many ideas, practices, and declarations which form one huge system. In a sense, fashion can be perceived as systems within systems; a never ending, constant cycle.
In defining fashion today, Fashion theorist Carol Tulloch’s concept of articulation through style-fashion-dress cannot be overlooked. This was, perhaps, the first and main idea in building the grounds to my better understanding of fashion. First, fashion is articulation. Susan Kaiser defines articulation through two meanings: “to connect or to join (as in a joint in the body) and to express. Articulation is an embodied concept.” This, then, brings to light the question of what it is people are trying to articulate. The word it, however, implies a single concept or element. Fashion’s nature, however, is never singular. Concepts within fashion should never be seen through singular either/or, linear, and essentialist ways of thinking. Rather, fashion is a way of thinking in terms of both/and. It is a convergence of plural ideas, contradictions, and ambivalences to form a special articulation. This, then, can be expressed through the practice of style-fashion-dress. Style is the personal assemblage and expression of one’s self through the medium of garments, accessories, and other sources of outer expression. Fashion, in context to style-fashion-dress, is the clothing style which partakes the “social process” in flux with time. Then dress, similar to style, is very personal and intimate to the body. It is defined by appearance of one’s look. Of course, there is more to this ambiguous term fashion, however, I’ve come to terms with organizing my initial response in reference to Susan Kaiser and Carol Tulloch’s works. It is apparent, still, that fashion is not clearcut, and absolute. Rather, it thrives on complexities and contradictions.
