What Is Fashion?

Fashion is a way to express yourself through clothes. It is a medium that can be used to communicate a message about your attitude, character, and lifestyle. It is a type of expression that can help you feel more confident and comfortable with yourself. It also helps you stand out from the crowd and become unique. However, you should be careful with what you choose to wear because the wrong style can make you look sloppy and cheap.

Before the modern era, almost all clothing was handmade for individual people. This included dresses, shoes, and other accessories. By the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of new technologies such as the sewing machine, the development of global trade and a factory system of production, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores, clothing became increasingly mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices.

Fashion is often considered a product of popular culture, but it is also a form of social control and can serve as a means to differentiate one group from another. In high school, for example, styles can create stereotypes and distance between groups. A boy with green hair and multiple piercings, for instance, might be perceived as a “freak” by a businessman, while a girl wearing ripped jeans and a leather jacket may appear to be part of a rebellious or gang-related subculture. Fashion can also be seen as a form of elitism. The terms “fashionista” and “fashion victim” are used to describe people who slavishly follow trends.