Fashion is an art of dressing and self-expression in a given time and context, with particular reference to clothes, footwear, fashion accessories, cosmetics, hairstyle, body posture, and life style. The word simply means a style defined by the fashion industry as what is fashionable at the moment. This is often considered as a broad category encompassing all types of people who are interested in fashion, to varying degrees. In other words, the definition of fashionable varies according to the culture, age, gender, social status, profession, and even political opinion of each individual.
The origin of the word is not clearly known, but most likely comes from the French word “folles”, which means skirts. This is also the source of the English word skirt, which means a short dress. These two words have a close synonym in the word “gown,” which means a dress or skirt. Thus, the evolution of the word is related to the evolution of women’s dress.
Women’s dresses have evolved through the passage of time. During the ancient days, men only wore loose clothing such as tunics and cloaks, and they seldom wore shoes. As the clothing habits of men and women changed, so did the types of clothes that were available for both genders. As civilization advanced, the concept of clothing evolved from cloths to clothing materials, from skins to leather, from metals to wood, from pottery to jewelry, and finally to cloths again. Clothing then became a socially established and expressed ideal, although many people still depended on hunting and gathering for their necessities.
The earliest types of clothing were discovered in Egyptian tombs, and gradually evolving into modern clothing styles, fabrics, designs, and patterns. However, over time, the changes in fashion brought about major alterations in clothing standards. The Victorians and Edwardians introduced the concept of dress sense, making it fashionable for both men and women to wear certain accessories and clothes that were considered fashionable. The rise of designers and manufacturers brought about new designs, which were in keeping with new trends. Fashion designers saw that consumers wanted clothing that was stylish, durable, comfortable, and affordable.
In the 20th century, urban street fashion brought about a different type of fashion. The style was influenced by music, literature, and the lifestyles of urban youth. The hip hop and rap culture of today features urban clothing styles, and their popularity led to the birth of urban and preppy fashion styles. Urban street fashion clothes include urban denim jeans, oversized shirts, jackets, and hats, as well as jewelry, sneakers, belts, and jewelry.
The fashion design hierarchy includes four levels. The first level is known as Economy Fashion, which refers to the items that are needed for everyday living. The second level, known as Accessory Fashion, includes fashion items that are fashionable, but not necessary for daily use. The third level, known as Promo Fashion, includes fashion items that are available at a discounted price or are a limited edition. The last level, called Alternative Fashion, consists of fashion styles that are designed to accommodate a particular lifestyle or event.
