Fashion is the way we dress and the trends that shape clothing styles, including shoes, accessories and makeup. It’s not always easy to pin down exactly what makes something fashionable, but it is often linked to ideas of identity and self-expression. Fashion is also a form of art, and some designers have even taken political stances on their runway shows.
Clothing has long been used as a mark of social status, and it is the most common mode of expression for our ideas and feelings. The fashion industry is a massive business, with millions of people worldwide involved in designing, sewing, gluing, dyeing and transporting clothing to stores. The style of our clothes is influenced by many factors, including the current economy and culture.
Throughout history, fashion has been used as a tool of rebellion and empowerment. The flapper style of the 1920s, for example, was characterised by shorter hemlines and relaxed silhouettes that reflected the changing attitude towards women’s roles in society. Designers like Coco Chanel and Jean Patou played an important role in popularising these changes.
The emergence of modern Western fashions can be traced to the late medieval period, when European over-garments (or cloaks) began to change from short and tight to calf-length and looser. The rate of change increased during the early industrial revolution, when manufacturing techniques enabled garments to be produced more quickly and cheaply. This, in turn, fuelled the growth of consumer culture.