Fashion is a global industry that has a profound impact on the world – not just in terms of personal style, but also as a reflection of cultural trends, an economic driver and a source of creativity. Fashion is not just limited to clothing, but can include accessories, shoes, bags, jewelry and even language. To understand what Fashion means, I sat down with four different Mercyhurst alums from the Fashion Department to hear their perspectives on the subject.
They all agreed that Fashion is a way for people to express themselves, but they also see it as a means of showing others who they are. This is evident in the various styles that are worn in different cultures or time periods. For example, the miniskirt became a symbol of freedom and emancipation for women in the 1960’s, while cassocks or nuns’ robes signify renunciation of vanity. Clothes are a form of expression that conveys information about an individual’s gender, age, social status and personality.
For many people, fashion is a way to show off their sense of style and taste in clothes. This may be done to impress others or simply because they like the way a garment looks. But it can also be used as a form of communication – for example, doctors wear scrubs to signal that they are medical professionals and deserve respect. Teachers wear more casual clothing than students to show that they are authoritative figures who should be listened to and respected.
In addition, fashion is a way to connect with other people, and it can be an important tool for building social networks and developing trust. This is evident in the popularity of certain celebrities who have a following that follows their every move. People often look to them for guidance and inspiration when making decisions about what to wear.
Fashion is constantly changing, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends. In order to stay ahead of the curve, it is essential to be able to recognize a trend as it develops and to understand how a trend can influence an entire culture or community. Typically, fashion trends go through a five-stage life cycle: innovation, adoption, popularity, peak, and decline.
The first stage of the cycle starts with a designer or manufacturer creating new styles. These are often picked up by influential individuals known as fashion leaders, who then promote them to the rest of the population. Once a style becomes popular, it usually reaches a plateau where it remains for an extended period of time before slowly declining and eventually falling out of fashion. Then, the cycle begins again with a new trend or innovation being introduced. This is why it is essential to keep up with the latest fashion trends and to be aware of how they can affect our culture, society and economy.