Defining Fashion – Culture Vs Individuality
Fashion is a form of autonomy and self-expression in a certain situation and time and in a certain context, of apparel, footwear, jewelry, make-up, hairstyle, body posture, and other accessories. In its general usage, the word also indicates a style defined by the fashion industry as what is stylish at a given time. A number of factors define a particular fashion; a critical evaluation of current fashion trends, changes in consumer behavior, changes in cultural norms, and changes in social attitudes towards fashion are some of the factors that contribute to defining a particular fashion. A number of individuals, for example, define fashion as the way people dress according to their lifestyles. Fashion also includes the attitude a person has towards fashion.
There are many different ways of looking at the definition of fashion. Some people believe that fashion itself is an intrinsic part of the culture. According to these people, fashion is what makes a country look good while choosing their clothing and accessories. The conversely, fashion is considered as something that a person picks up or chooses for themselves. According to the former view, fashion is something that people consciously pick up or choose while the latter view on the issue holds that fashion is merely what people unconsciously pick up.
In terms of definitions across cultures, some people perceive the culture that governs a society as having a major impact on the definition of fashion. For example, in some societies, it is not considered extremely fashionable to wear revealing clothing like women in North Africa and some Middle Eastern countries do. Likewise, clothes that are too tight are considered unacceptable in some societies. Thus, the overall fashion dictates cultural changes. In other cases, the changes in the definition of fashion are influenced by social changes within a country or even within a region of a country (for instance, certain styles of footwear become obsolete in certain regions due to the development of new technology or due to the weather).
When defining and assessing the importance of fashion, it is important to consider the definition of culture as well. One definition of culture is that the customs, beliefs, arts and ways of living of a specific culture are valued and preserved. This value system defines what is considered to be a fashion. A different definition of fashion considers the value system of a society as determining the essence of fashion. Usually, when talking about fashion, the discussion revolves around what an individual considers to be fashionable.
It is also important to take into consideration the history and evolution of a culture when determining its definition of fashion. Fashion changes significantly through history and what is considered to be fashionable among one culture may not exactly match with what is considered fashionable in another culture. Similarly, what is considered to be a fashion in one society may be considered a fashion in another society. As a result, fashion changes and develops in tandem with the evolution of a culture. Thus, it is important to take all factors into consideration when coming up with a definition of fashion.
When evaluating fashion, it is important to take into consideration the individual who is wearing it. For instance, if an individual loves black, it does not mean that he or she will wear it all the time. An individual may love red clothes but if they are working in an industry or other job that requires black clothing, it would not be appropriate for them to wear it all the time. Likewise, if an individual is tall and thin it does not mean that he or she will suddenly become tall and slim. The individual’s cultural norms must be considered when coming up with a definition of fashion.