Fashion is the style or taste in clothes, hairstyles, accessories and other personal appearance. It is closely associated with culture and social class. In the broadest sense, fashion is an attitude and lifestyle that is continually changing and evolving. The term is also used to refer to a particular season or period of time.
Fashion has always been influenced by popular culture, from music and movies to politics and royalty. It is difficult to pin down exactly when continuous and accelerating change began in Western clothing but historians have placed the start at late medieval times. It was not until clothes rationing and factory production in the First and Second World Wars that mass fashion really took off, though. Clothes rationing meant that fabrics and haberdashery were scarce and it was necessary to make the most of whatever materials were available. It was during this time that the standard dress for women was reduced from calf length to knee length and the shape of clothing became more streamlined.
Today, the fashion industry is dominated by designers, models and photographers, with the media playing an important role in promoting the latest trends and styles. The media include magazines, newspapers, blogs and the internet. It is a global industry, with influences that vary from place to place. The fashion industry is a form of art. Its creations can be aesthetically pleasing, and the designers have a responsibility to ensure that their creations are ethical and morally sound.
In order to write an essay or paper on the topic of fashion, it is important to familiarize yourself with the industry. The best way to do this is by reading and reviewing fashion magazines. This will give you a good understanding of the current trends and what is being influenced by which culture. It is also helpful to visit thrift stores and flea markets. This will allow you to locate inexpensive bits of vintage era clothing, which can be great for providing real life examples in your essay or paper.
The key to a good fashion essay or paper is balance and rhythm. It is essential to remember that no piece of clothing or accessory is complete without the right complementing pieces. For example, a dress is not complete without the right shoes and bag. The same goes for a hat, bracelet or necklace. In order to succeed, one must not overlook the importance of balancing color, fabric texture and body shape.
The fashion industry is constantly changing and evolving, and it is up to the designers to decide how they will incorporate the newest trends into their collections. It is also up to the consumer to decide which trends they will adopt or discard. The future of the fashion industry will most likely depend on how well the designers can combine technology with sustainable design to create a more responsible industry that will appeal to the masses. The most successful designers will be able to do just that.