Fashion is a culturally influenced style of dress that varies from person to person and day to day. It is about personal expression, and can be a silent whisper, a high-energy scream or an all knowing wink. It can be playful, but it is also a serious business that has its ups and downs. It is an industry that encompasses the design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, and advertising of apparel, footwear, and accessories (accessories are small, decorative items that complete a clothing article, such as gloves or scarves). Fashion can be considered a form of art, but it is mostly about being comfortable in your own skin and translating your self-esteem into a stylish, unique personality.
Fashion is often influenced by current social trends, but it is also often used to reflect individuality and creativity. The evolution of fashion has been accelerated by the use of technology and globalization, which has allowed people to travel more easily and to share ideas more widely. This has enabled people to adopt new styles faster and to develop a more personal sense of style.
Until the mid-19th century, most clothing was made for individuals by local artisans or tailors. Then came the invention of the sewing machine, which enabled production to be scaled up. Clothes could now be produced in standardized sizes and sold to the public at affordable prices. This was the beginning of the modern fashion industry.
Before the industrial revolution, women wore traditional dresses that were designed for them, while men wore suits and other garments tailored to their specific physical requirements. But the modern fashion industry has broadened to include the design, manufacture, and marketing of a wide range of apparel articles for both men and women.
Many people consider the most important aspect of fashion to be the ability to match clothing to one’s body and personal preferences. Some people are very good at this, while others may find it difficult. People who are good at matching clothes to their body type and personal preferences are called fashionistas.
Other aspects of fashion that are largely subjective include color, fabric texture, and silhouette. It is important to remember that fashion is a constant process of change and reinvention, and it can be hard to maintain a consistent look over time. In addition, many trends are short-lived, and styles that have been “in” at one point in time can quickly become out of style again. It is often said that changes in fashion reflect societal or economic change, but research shows that internal mechanisms may also drive fashions, such as the choice of first names for newborns, which appear unaffected by commercial interests.