Fashion is a general term for the style or custom of dress and behaviour that is popular in a particular time and place. The word is derived from the Latin fash’inio, meaning “to shape” or “to form.”
The clothes worn by people can also reflect their culture and social status. For example, judges wear robes, soldiers wear uniforms, and brides often wear white dresses. Fashion is not limited to clothing but can include a person’s hairstyle, makeup, jewelry and other accessories as well.
In modern times, fashion is influenced by many factors, including new technologies such as sewing machines and mass production of garments in factories, advertising, and the influence of television and movies. People may follow a certain style in order to fit in with the current trend, or because they want to show off their wealth. Some styles are made specifically for a person, such as haute couture or bespoke tailoring. The majority of fashion is designed for the mass market and sold at low prices to a wide range of consumers. This is called fast fashion and it is a major source of competition for designers and retailers.
When someone follows the latest fashions, they are considered to be fashionable. The terms ‘fashion victim’ and ‘fashionista’ are used to describe people who slavishly follow the latest trends in dress and behaviour. Fashions may vary considerably within a society, depending on age, social class, generation, occupation, and geography. They may also differ between cultures and historic periods.
A new fashion trend usually starts when people who have high social status start wearing a different type of clothing than the common average. Then others who like or respect them copy the style, and so the trend begins. The styles that are currently popular in Western societies are often described as classic or contemporary. Classical styles have been around for a long time and will probably continue to be worn. Contemporary styles are usually more short-lived and will soon change again to something else.
Clothes are made of various materials, such as silk, wool and cotton. In addition, there are synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester that are manufactured by chemical processes. Various types of leather are also used for coats, shoes and bags. Those who follow the latest fashions often use more than one fabric or type of leather, and they will also mix and match colors and patterns in their clothes.
Changing fashions can affect the way we live, work and play. It can have a psychological effect on the way we feel about ourselves and our social and cultural environment. For example, a person who always wears black may begin to feel depressed if other people start to wear brightly colored clothes. In addition, shifts in fashion can cause economic problems when business people promote them for profit and consumers spend money on items they do not really need. However, fashion can also be seen as a positive aspect of cultural change.