Fashion is a prevailing style, particularly in dress or other forms of personal adornment. Fashion is often influenced by popular culture and is subject to changes over time. Fashion is one of many semiotic systems that signify status, and it can be used to make a social statement or to communicate a message about the wearer to others. A clothing style can also be a form of body art or self-expression.
Unlike most other forms of communication, fashion is easily visible and can be observed by others. As such, it is one of the most highly valued forms of semiotic distinction, allowing people to signal their status in public and in ways that are easily accessible. Clothing, accessories, footwear and hairstyles are all examples of fashion. The fads and trends that come and go in fashion are usually visible to the majority of the population, and they can be identified through a wide variety of media sources. These include magazines, TV shows and movies.
While fashion is an expression of individuality, the fact that it is widely accepted as a mode of adornment and socializing means that it can also be seen as a form of conformity. For a style to be considered fashionable, it must be exhibited by multiple individuals and exhibited in a group context. It is for this reason that the earliest instances of fashion are difficult to identify. However, historians have dated the beginning of continual change in clothing styles in Europe to late medieval times.
The evolution of fashion is often triggered by the need to express a specific identity, as well as the desire to fit in with others. For example, a new type of clothing may be introduced to mark a milestone in a person’s life. In the early nineteenth century, fashion was often used as a tool to display political affiliation and support the causes of social revolution. In more recent times, it is common for fashion designers to incorporate cultural and political references into their collections.
When writing a story, paying attention to the clothing worn by your characters can add dimension and depth to the world you create. This can be especially helpful for characterization. For example, if Gem’s aunt tells her to wear jeans and a tee with a skirt, the fact that she obeys suggests that she trusts her aunt’s advice.
The most important thing to remember when writing about fashion is that it is not black and white; there are many shades of gray in between. The most successful stories will convey this diversity in their approach to the subject matter and the way that they use language to portray the varying definitions of fashion. Impeccable grammar and diction is crucial for any type of writing, but it is particularly important in fashion writing, where the ability to present an elegantly crafted style is often what sets an article apart from the competition. This is an area where a professional editor’s services can be invaluable.