Fashion is a mode of expression and personal style. It is a multi-billion dollar industry that influences not only our clothes but also how we live. While some may think that fashion is a frivolous and shallow topic to write about, it can be more than just a way of dressing up to impress others; it can be used to communicate ideas and beliefs.
Throughout history, clothing has been used as a way to convey status and social class. For example, Albrecht Durer’s drawing contrasted a well-dressed bourgeoise from Nuremberg with her Venetian counterpart, demonstrating the different styles of dressing in each region. Fashion trends also reflect significant social events, such as the miniskirt representing women’s emancipation and freedom from societal constraints, while cassocks or nun’s robes represent a rejection of vanity.
For a style to be considered fashionable, it must be adopted and worn by multiple people. This collective behavior is known as the trickle-down theory of fashion. This theory suggests that as individuals with higher socioeconomic status set the trend, lower-class individuals follow them to achieve their desired appearance. However, there is a catch-22 built into this theory: once enough consumers adopt a style, it loses its appeal and becomes unfashionable. Therefore, the cycle of fashion starts all over again.