In week one I defined fashion as ever changing/evolving trends. However, through this course, my definition of fashion has broadened. Fashion is not just clothing, but one’s style too. It is a reflection of one’s self represented through dress. Fashion helps communicate when words can not. Some people dress to fit in, other to stand out. Fashion helps people identify themselves and others. Fashion is beyond a dress. There is a whole system of producers, distributors and consumers. Products only sell if there is a demand for it. Fashion has a reason and purpose. Every style or trend is influenced by a variety of factors like gender, sex, culture, weather etc. Fashion is also a symbolic way of subcultures is distinguish themselves. This can also be seen in the earlier times used to depict hierarchy. I also learnt how celebrities, media and music have a huge influence on fashion. We see their style and are inspired by what is depicted on the big screen. I also understood fashion in terms of how trends and created and spread – trickle up, trickle down or trickle across theory. “Dress is the way in which individuals learn to live in their bodies and feel at home in them. Wearing the right clothes and looking our best, we feel at ease with our body…”1. This quote depicts how fashion gives one comfort in their body. They dress not only to impress, but also have a sense of belongingness. After all, dress and body can not be separated.
- Entwistle, page 139.
