Fashion is the art of dressing up in clothes that express your sense of taste and beauty. It also reflects the culture of the society where you live.
The word fashion comes from French and means exclusivity and elegance. It is a term that can be used for designer-made clothing and for ready-to-wear clothing that is sold in high-end stores.
Traditionally, fashions were used to show solidarity with people in different parts of the world and to make sure that everyone had their own style. However, in modern times, the clothes that people wear are more likely to reflect their own individual tastes and character than they are to imitate someone else’s style.
In the Western world, fashions are cyclical; a style that is popular among a certain group of people may come back “in fashion” in a particular year and remain so for a few years. Occasionally, there are an equal or larger number of styles designated “out of fashion.”
To be considered in fashion, a style must be exhibited by a large group of people and be accepted by the majority of consumers. The reasons for this can vary widely.
Historically, new discoveries of exotic and lesser-known places in the world provided an impetus to change fashions. Globalization has largely reduced the availability of exotic novelty. Today, fashions are more often influenced by the desires of people within Western cultures than by outside influences.