When it comes to being fashionable, everyone has an opinion. However, opinions differ on what constitutes being fashionable. Fashion critics and style writers disagree on what makes a person stylish. Fashion critics often point to what they consider to be the definitive definition of fashion. The definition most fashion experts agree on, however, is that fashion is a type of self expression and autonomy in a certain time and situation and in a certain context, with certain items, footwear, clothing, accessories, make-up, hairstyle, and posture defining that look.
The word “fashion” itself can mean a lot of things. A common belief among fashion critics is that fashion is just dresses, clothes, or apparels that are worn in everyday life. However, some types of dress, such as dresses for semi-formal occasions, are considered “fashions” even though the materials, colors, or patterns are not essential to the dress. Other items of clothing like jeans, sweat pants, tee shirts, dresses, skirts, and some other forms of dress are considered “fashions” even though their styles and function are not dictated by fashion trends.
In the early part of the twentieth century, dressmaking underwent a revolutionary movement known as haute couture. Haute couture was essentially a design concept based on high fashion that emerged during the early part of the twentieth century. Haute couture was, in its most original form, a type of urbanized dressmaking that took elements from traditional dressmaking and applied them to the concept of modern dress. Haute couture designers like Gautier, Dior, and Balmain were responsible for the first greats in dressmaking, as evidenced by their lasting effect on the world of fashion.
Over the past century, however, with the coming of mass production and marketing techniques, the function of dress has changed drastically. Fashion design is no longer about showing off your best skills and abilities, but rather making a product that can be mass-produced for the masses. As a result, the styles and designs of yesterday have been relegated to high fashion status and history books. Even if a piece of clothing fits perfectly into a particular trend, it is usually deemed disposable and not worth spending money on.
Fashion trends are usually set by the fashion press. This is why it is so important to pay attention to fashion trends, because these fashion trends can often times tell you what will be popular in the future. It has been estimated that the amount of new clothes being sold in the U.S. each year is equivalent to the total amount of clothes being manufactured in all of Europe during the entire year. By taking notice of current fashion trends, you can determine what clothes will be popular in the future, which allows you to invest in fashionable clothes that will not only make you look good, but also allow you to save money.
Fashion trends are ever changing. The next time you are out shopping, keep an eye out for styles that don’t currently feature in the fashion industry. Many newer clothing lines are constantly looking to experiment with cutting and fashion, so keep an eye out for these styles. If you see something that interests you, do not hesitate to buy it right then and there. Many times new styles will come and go, but by having the information that you need before purchasing, you can always fall back on the styles that are currently popular and still make a profit from the fashion industry.