Fashion, traditionally seen as the industry in charge of devising, materializing and marketing garments with an accepted cultural meaning, represents all the currents that involve popular behavior patterns within a specific social group, which can achieve significant differentiation compared to the customs of other set of people. However, the behavior and reasoning of certain individuals may be linked to those that were established in earlier times or countries that preserve a culture with unique peculiarities.
What is fashion
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It is known as "fashion" to the social phenomenon in which certain styles of clothing and footwear stand out. These trends are transforming and changing over time, and these changes are subject to the customs, cultures, environment and tastes of those who consume them. This means that the fashion trend is temporary.
In a broader sense it refers to the predominant tendency towards some object, place, habit or practice. For example (in addition to fashionable clothes), in terms of places, you can talk about a fashionable restaurant; some accessory, such as fashionable glasses; some activity, some fashion games, which can be sports, virtual or of another type; of tastes, such as trendy music.
The etymology of the word "fashion" comes from the French mode, which in turn comes from the Latin modus, and means "way" or "measure". In this sense, the word fashion refers to the “way of the moment”.
However, the trend that is paradoxically positioning itself loses its authenticity when it is replicated too much, then it is no longer relevant, since fashion is precisely about imposing new behaviors, way of dressing and thinking, so the impact that it fashion has on an individual is usually temporary.
The term fashion can also be used in another context, such as in mathematics, and it refers to the data that presents a higher frequency in a statistical study. In a way, it works in the same way as stylistic fashion, since, being the most repeated data, it represents a trend.
Fashion's history
It has its origin since the beginning of time, since what is used by humans in terms of clothing has always depended on the available materials, the climatic, cultural and social environment. But it was not until the 15th century, during the Renaissance, when there were trends regarding its use and under certain parameters.
According to the stratum, the styles were different for each group. There were regulations that dictated what clothing commoners could use, since there were certain types of fabrics and colors that were reserved exclusively for the use of the nobility.
On the other hand, the bourgeoisie, who were certainly not noble, possessed a privileged position and economic abundance, so they could access the luxury of imitating the styles of the nobility, although the tailors and dressmakers of the time had the laborious task of creating fashions that could differentiate the nobility from the bourgeoisie.
The exclusive use of the great fashion attire for the nobility and bourgeoisie also corresponded to the high cost of clothing materials, such as fabrics; so not everyone had access to acquire them and go according to trends. But later, in the 18th century, the entry of the industrial revolution and with the mass production of products and textiles, fabrics reduced their costs considerably, so that fashion could be reached in different strata.
Throughout history, upper-class women took considerable care to look impeccable and clear, to highlight their silhouette. For this reason, they went to dressmakers, who knew what kind of garment would go well with their body; Little by little "little fashions" were formed within social groups, which included makeup, accessories and behavior, all of which varied sporadically.
Today, styles of clothing and footwear are a bit more accessible, so you do not necessarily have to adapt considerably to economic possibilities.
Fashion timeline
Several experts affirm that the way of dressing is only an attempt by humanity to make integration into new groups much easier, since through appearance it is possible to define an identity without involving much of the true personality. This means an advantage, because this way an individual can feel a little more secure when entering a new social circle, trying to look like their peers do.
- 1900-1909: at the beginning of the 20th century, the most representative element was the corset, which was a garment that helped to highlight the bust and hips by tightening the waist. Later the use of it was dispensed with to give way to more baggy dresses, such as those fitted in the chest and straight to the ankles, the Delfos (a pleated dress without seams or fillings), the tight dresses in the upper part of the body (imperial waist) and loose down.
- 1910-1919: this decade was characterized by the shortening of the skirts, revealing the more pronounced ankles and necklines. They began to use the bra, the bias cut (diagonal), knitted dresses with bare arms and legs, Coco Chanel created the cardigan and presumably the flapper was also her work.
- 1920-1929: the silhouette of women changes, as trends point towards marking the hips, dresses with deep necklines in the back and shorts, skirts by the knees, closed hats. The trend in terms of hairstyle was short hair and makeup took on more vibrant and striking tones.
- 1930-1939: skirts dropped below the knees, the waist was redefined, hair was allowed to grow out and wavy. Techniques are used to define the shoulders.
- 1940-1949: During the wartime, there were not many innovative trends, as there was a shortage of materials. The style was dominated by jackets, skirts below the knees, topolino shoes and a covered head.
- 1950-1959: After the war, the house of Dior made the hourglass silhouette famous by narrowing the waist and accentuating curves. The skirts had more flights and continued below the knees, stilettos, small bags, gloves and other accessories were used to restore to women the femininity that the war stole from them.
- 1960-1969: in the fashion of the 60s the youthful and colorful style takes center stage; flowery, butterfly and psychedelic prints take possession of the pieces; miniskirts are used; cotton shirts were used; and the fashionable hairstyles were pompous.
- 1970-1979: the style of hairstyles were asymmetrical short or long; Tight-fitting trousers were used at the top and flared at the bottom; the flowers invaded the fabrics and accessories (revolution of the flowers); platform shoes invaded the fashion market; and cotton lagged behind to make way for lycra.
- 1980-1989: the fashion of the 80s was characterized by presenting a more liberated style in women. Sports garments, wide flannels, underwear that could be seen, suspenders, pants at the waist, sports shoes and a variety of colors were used. The 80s fashion hair style was messy.
- 1990-1999: there was no defined style, so comfortable styles were styled, t-shirts with logos of trendy musical bands, strong colors for the lips such as blue or green and the style of hairstyles were loose and the fashion of hair dyes. The tattooed and pierced style was influenced by trendy music at this time.
- 2000-2009: tribes and subcultures are booming and becoming more demarcated due to the popularization of the Internet. "Emo" fashion takes center stage with dark wardrobe styles, side-slicked hairstyles covering part of the face, and trendy nails with dark and black colors. On the other hand, the pants to the hip and flared, bright touches with sequins and beads on blouses. Retro trends from the 80s are beginning to return.
- 2010-2019: in women, fashion clothes were fresh and modern garments, simple and clear styles in terms of makeup and the style of the 60s revives in some details, so vintage is the thing. In men, the style is characterized by being more daring: V-neck t-shirts are used a lot and tube or skinny pants.
In the gentlemen, the fashionable pants had to be combined with the jacket (which had peak lapels) and were accompanied by a shirt with separate collar and cuffs. The so-called "dandies" imposed cross-closure jackets and colors such as gray and blue.
The fashion business
Fashion as an industry presents a universe of business possibilities, since every year infinities of pieces are created, which are distributed en masse by a specific audience according to style. The first step is the making of a piece based on a market study where the tastes and trends towards which consumers are inclined are surveyed. Then, the marketing and they do their thing by selling the product by different means and seeking the desired acceptance, so the designer houses go to different methods.
Great design houses such as Dior, Armani, Coco Chanel, among many others, participate in catwalk shows in which they launch their collections according to the season. Many of these designs are acquired by public figures who are one of the best strategies for them. The influence that figures such as singers or famous actors and actresses have, make a trend or style position themselves in the market. Using a designer piece on a red carpet brings benefits to both the creator and the exponent, bringing dividends for both.
Fashion features
- It reinvents itself, which means that it evolves and takes elements that already existed to create new styles.
- Due to the above, it is cyclical; from time to time, styles that were already left behind reappear.
- The cycles can be short, medium and long, so it is also temporary.
- It is taxable and has an immediate impact.
- It is one of the greatest exponents of an epoch or historical moment.
- There are designers who make original designs and others who make designs based on the trend that is already in fashion.
- There are independent designers and those who are under a fashion brand (such as Hugo Boss or Armani), which have a team of designers who are governed by a design director.
- The industry is made up of precursors (who are the ones who create the new trends, the manufacturers and the public figures who display them), the first adopters (those who can acquire the new pieces), the second adopters (merchants and fashion masters.), third-party adopters (low-priced fashion retailers) and outsiders (consumers who prefer convenience and low prices over being fashionable).
Fashion images
Here are some representative images of fashion in different fields.
