What is Fashion?
I was asked at the beginning of the semester to define fashion, a word that I was so familiar with, yet had no idea how to define. After the course of the semester, I have learned not only the meaning but also the ins and outs of fashion and everything in between. An aspect of fashion that I found interesting that can be included in my redefined definition of fashion is, in the words of Susan B. Kiser “Everyday life, a critical concept in cultural studies and fashion studies alike, can be described as uncatalogued, habitual, and often routinized.” This quote defines how I feel towards fashion. The word is so inherent in my vocabulary that I was surprised when asked to define it. Fashion for me is almost a routinized way of getting dressed in the morning. I inherently get dressed, as everybody should, and in this instance I am face with contemplating my subject position in relation to the day and what I plan on doing. Fashion is thought to be defined by a popular trend, especially in styles of dress or a manner of doing something. Fashion is also a verb that tells of the action to make into a particular form. When we fashion our bodies with fashion, we decide how we position our items and whether or not they follow a trend etc. Although that was a mouthful, I believe it to be the truth. Fashion is a multifaceted word that cannot be fully bound by a definition. In addition, fashion can be a mindset or a personality, as in, she acts as though she is fashionable, or as a fashionista. Fashion has many variances and this semester I have been able to grasp the many concepts behind the meaning of fashion and what it means to me.
