Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry that employs millions of people all over the world. From designers to manufacturers, countless people contribute to the creation and promotion of clothing, shoes and accessories. Fashion is a form of self-expression and can convey many different messages. It is a means of identity and can be used to signal status, social class or even a sense of belonging. Fashion is often inspired by current events and can be influenced by popular culture. This makes it easy to see how trends can be spotted from everyday life: from the baggy pants of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the bobbed hair of 90210, or the tight clothes of the Beatles to the short skirts of Swinging London.
The earliest examples of fashion changing rapidly can be traced to medieval times. Changes in a gentleman’s coat or the pattern to which a lady’s dress was cut could be galvanized by wars, for example.
Once modern production and distribution of textiles became more efficient, a whole new industry developed. Clothing was no longer handmade for individuals but rather made in bulk for mass consumption, usually at a lower price point. This became known as ready-to-wear, or affordable fashion, which enables people to purchase the latest styles for a reasonable amount of money.
For those who have a great sense of style, fashion is a way to express themselves without having to say a word. It is about balance, a combination of factors that can be seen in everything from the color of an outfit to the design of a piece of jewelry.