WHAT IS FASHION TO YOU?
Q: What is fashion? If you will remember, you were asked to define fashion at the beginning of the semester. In no less than 250 words, please provide your definition of fashion now and think about how this definition has shifted as we have studied through the semester together.
A: In the beginning of the semester, I had shallow knowledges of “fashion”. Having the same thoughts as the definition in the dictionary, which states, “a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior”, I was only aware of the generic meaning and had a stereotypical overview or imagery of fashion; however, I have realized that the word “fashion” was not only about garments and ornamentation. I learned fashion is a way of identifying groups, classes, time, space, cultures, etc, but also it displays and records of our history. More specifically which is mentioned in the book Fashion and Cultural Studies by Susan B. Kaiser, “Fashion is about producing clothes and appearances, working through ideas, negotiating subject positions, and navigating through power relations” (Kaiser 2012, 16). Fashion is about designing and creating garments and I do somewhat agree that fashion is “personal”; however, fashion follows all principles of time, space, fashion-dress-style, subject position, etc, but this does not mean that fashion is not unique or different. There are no specific and typical rules that fashion follow, which Susan writes, “Fashion is a both/and, rather than an either/or activity” (Kaiser 2012, 17). There are more than one answer to fashion and to each individual, fashion defines differently. People’s thoughts and ways of approaching fashion blurs the meaning of what “fashion” really is. As Susan B. Kaiser states in the book, “[Fashion] involves mixing, borrowing, belonging, and changing. But it is also about matching, creating, differentiating, and continuing. It is a complex process that entangles multiple perspectives and approaches.” (Kaiser 2012, 16-7). To this day, I still do not understand exact what fashion really is; however, we do know that fashion is a constant presence in our life.
Citation
Kaiser, Susan B. Fashion and Cultural Studies. London: Berg Publisher, 2012.
