In this course I have learned that fashion has a variety of meanings. Principally, my own conception consisted of fashion being a manner of dressing, a trend that lives and passes, a certain aesthetic taken on through clothing as a style. Throughout the course my views on the meaning of fashion were added to and amplified when I learned that Fashion can be impacted by a subject formation in a person’s life such as their religion, gender, hometown etc. According to Breward, “Fashion has a tendency to construct its own canons. Like every cultural form these should be documented and then subjected to debate and challenge.” which means fashion creates its own traditions and exemplars that are to be studied and analyzed to become a master at it. Subculture dressing is another aspect of fashion that changed my perspective on the power and influence of fashion and what it is. Subculture groups used fashion, and many music along with it, to Revolt against norms, institutions, other subcultures, parents/ older generations. Subcultures over the generations repurposed material culture, usually to subvert. Drawing on symbols or signifiers to do so. Events and locations defined identity or community. Class distinction influenced subcultures due to the working class needing a way to release stress and rebel. The Middle class formed countercultures against parents and their values. Also, more focus was placed on gender role subversion, individually and ideologically. An example of subcultures that was discussed in lecture included the Mods of the 1950’s which used nonnormative culture to signify rebellion.
