Fashion is a form of individuality and self-expression at a certain time and place and at a certain context, of attire, footwear, accessories, hair style, makeup, wardrobe, and even body posture. The word also implies a distinctive appearance defined by the fashion business as what is fashionable at a given time. Fashion can be defined as the sum of all human knowledge blended in art and its application. In an extremely broad sense, it can also be referred to as culture and the embodiment of social organization based on the different styles and modes of dressing and the choices of individual people. In order for us to fully comprehend what fashion actually means, we must first define the different elements of it, especially its history.
Just as fashion has a history, so does every individual who wears it. Every culture has created its own set of symbols, signs, iconography, codes, and formulas that are commonly known as its trademarks or basic elements. A lot of these elements have come from the cultural experiences and beliefs of the individuals who made those inventions. For instance, certain clothes or items were designed for particular reasons in some countries and some for other reasons in other countries.
A fashion accessory may be described simply as any item of clothing that has practical value or aesthetic appeal. Accessories are usually used to enhance the appeal of a garment and at the same time highlight its utility. Thus, a scarf may be considered an accessory, while a belt is functional. The elements of design for a scarf include color, shape, size, pattern, and material. The history of scarf use in the western countries has been traced back to the nineteenth century. The elements of fashion design for this period include simplicity and geometric shapes, such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles.
A popular item of clothing during the early years of fashion design was the hosiery or stocking. Hosiery or stocking caps were worn by both men and women and they were designed to be tight fitting so as to keep the body warm and dry. They became very popular with the early suffragettes who made them a symbol of their resistance to the British rule. Another historical garment that got popular was the knitted sweater which was made by women to protect themselves from the cold.
The history of fashion design is not just limited to clothing; it also includes the types of underwear, make-up, and even the fashion for automobiles. Today, underwear is still sold by individual companies to individual buyers as a unique item of clothing. Make-up is designed to enhance the beauty of the face and body. Various colors, textures, and liners are used in the make-up so that it will be able to enhance the beauty of the individual.
The use of fashion designs dates back to the ancient times. Fashion items are still being developed today so that they will be able to meet the needs of the people in the present period. The fashion design is an individual choice to express themselves so that they can look their best. With the use of fashion items, an individual can show the way that they prefer to dress and they will be able to set the trends in the society.