Fashion is a general term for prevailing customs and trends in dress or other modes of expression. It is often linked to popular culture and can be influenced by the social or political climate. A change in fashion can have a dramatic effect on society. The word fashion may also be used to refer to the style of something, such as a chair in Queen Anne style, or to someone who conforms to prevailing standards: “He was fashioned in that manner.”
Fashion has always been a major influence on human culture. People have experimented with clothes throughout history to express themselves and show their solidarity or difference. Some of the earliest examples are found in Ancient Egypt, where different colors and styles of clothing were used to denote social status. In modern times, fashion is a huge business with millions of people involved in the designing, manufacturing, distributing, retailing and promotion of clothing.
Many things affect fashion, including music, movies and television shows. Celebrities have a huge impact on what people wear. For example, wearing hoodies became fashionable after rap musicians started to do it. Other influences are the seasons, religious holidays and even politics. The adolescent period is an important time for Fashion changes, as teenagers try to figure out who they are and what kind of impression they want to make on others.
While some critics believe that rapid changes in fashion lead to materialism, others argue that the availability of many options allows consumers to choose a style they like and that the fashion industry promotes creativity by encouraging people to experiment with new designs. The word fashion has several synonyms, including vogue and style.