Fashion is a general term for any particular style of dressing and self-expression in a given situation and at a given time, of clothing, jewelry, footwear, makeup, hair style, body posture, and other accessories. In its broader sense, the word simply means a fashionable look defined as what is trendy at the moment. Fashion is also known to be associated with changing fashions, seasonal tendencies, and a revolutionary attitude or behavior. As the world changes and progresses, so does fashion.
The history of fashion can be traced back to some of the earliest civilizations, when people began to dress according to the necessities of life. Fashion has even been known to refer to some of the greatest leaders of the world who, no matter what was going on in their lives, consciously or not, consciously chose to dress in a way that would set them apart from the masses. Such individuals were often regarded as “emperors” or “lords”. For many people today, following the footsteps of such world leaders would seem to indicate a continuing commitment to high standards of living, while at the same time, giving fashion another look as we move into the twenty-first century. For example, during the late eighties and early nineties, there was a movement in a fashion that was referred to as “antiques fever”, in which designers and manufacturers were charging to design and produce new and unique styles for clothing for people who previously did not own or wear old clothes.
Today, as the 21st century progresses, fashion trends are continuously changing. Some years ago, “antique” clothing was considered to be any kind of clothing, including skirts and pants, that was relatively conservative in terms of its material and styling and which did not feature any embellishments or patterns. It was not uncommon to see only minimal amounts of unnecessary embellishments on modern day clothing. In fact, it is safe to say that, except for the odd scarf, that our modern day clothing choices do not even resemble any sort of earlier style of clothing.
As far back as historical times, clothing plays a very crucial role in social gatherings. During those times, each individual’s clothing was closely associated with their social status. The most prestigious of members of a society were the ones who wore the most expensive and finest clothing. As the years progressed, the roles that clothes played also changed dramatically. At first, men and women wore different types of clothes to denote their social status, but gradually, fashion trends started to separate men’s and women’s wear.
The first decade after the Renaissance brought about major changes in the fashion industry. The Italian renaissance was the period in which designers began to experiment more with materials, colors, and designs, and even made it possible for working class citizens to wear clothes that were cheaper and of lower quality than ever before. By the late seventeenth century, clothes were starting to be manufactured on a larger scale and the fashion industry made great strides forward. With the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century, mass manufacturing made it possible for people to purchase new and inexpensive clothing.
Today, the fashion industry continues to change and create new fashions every year. New clothing lines are introduced and clothing manufacturers invest a lot of money into research and development. Clothes can be expensive to buy and one has to take into account all of the accessories that come along with the clothes. But no matter what your budget, there are a lot of options available in the fashion industry today.