Fashion is what’s on trend in a given moment. Designers craft clothes that blend functionality with aesthetics, and they often work within a broad range of styles and materials. They also consider who will wear a garment and how it might be worn.
Fashion reflects the zeitgeist and evolves just as characters in a story do. Charles Frederick Worth revolutionised the fashion industry in the 19th century, elevating it to an art form with meticulous craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics. Today’s fashion landscape is embracing sustainability and unisex designs, blurring the traditional boundaries and celebrating the kaleidoscope of human identities.
Some fashion trends burn out quickly, while others linger and take on a different flavour with each passing epoch. These longer-term trends tend to focus on key articles whose form changes slightly over time and become a wardrobe staple. For example, women may have several pairs of skinny jeans that differ in colour, wash and fit over the years.
Fashion is about more than just clothing – it’s an expression of individual style and an extension of our personal identity. It’s about how we feel, what we want to project and what messages we’re sending out. In the past, fashion was a form of identification or tradition: judges wore robes, soldiers wore uniforms and brides wore long white dresses. Now, it’s a way to make a statement or challenge societal norms. For example, the Peaky Blinders epitomised the spirit of rebellion in the 1920s with their impeccably tailored three-piece suits, while the 1960s took a psychedelic ride down the rabbit hole with mini-skirts and bold prints.