Fashion is a multi-billion dollar global industry and encompasses an ever-changing landscape of styles, aesthetics, and trends. It is often used as a tool to promote and market products, and can be influenced by political events, new technologies, and consumer demand. It is also a form of self-expression and can reflect personal beliefs, values, or culture. Fashion can be shown up through clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags, accessories, makeup, language, and even behavior.
Whether or not we are aware of it, our clothes tell people a lot about us. They tell other people who we are, what we like, and how to interact with us. When we wear stylish outfits, people take notice and give us compliments and positive attention. When we don’t, they make fun of us or avoid talking to us.
With modern westerners having a large variety of choices available in the selection of their clothing, some styles may become fashionable. A fashion trend is usually sparked by a person of high cultural status such as a singer or actor. Once these persons start to wear new or different clothing styles, the people who like them or respect them will begin to follow their lead and also dress in the same style. Fashions can vary within societies according to age, social class, generation, occupation, and geography. The terms fashionista and fashion victim are sometimes used to describe people who slavishly follow current fashions.
Fashion can be described as a highly distorted mirror of society. For example, a look at a fashion magazine from 1967 will reveal the tastes and preferences of a particular period in time. It is also a reflection of our anxieties, fears, and fantasies.