Fashion is a general term for the prevailing style of dress and other modes of self-expression. It is influenced by culture, social status, age and location. The styles that are currently fashionable reflect the changing attitudes toward beauty, identity and personal power. Fashion is a global industry that reaches beyond clothing to include shoes and other accessories, hairstyles and makeup.
Throughout history, people have used fashion to communicate their sense of personal identity and belonging. In a society that has no central authority, such as a tribal village or an isolated rural community, fashion is often passed down through the generations in the form of tradition and custom. In more modern times, fashion has become an integral part of social interaction and is often a source of pride or status symbol for individuals. In a large urban society, trends are usually set by fashion magazines, celebrities and other popular influences. People can express their own style or choose to mimic the styles of others, consciously or unconsciously.
While the origin of fashion is largely unknown, some historians and experts have traced its evolution over time. Some early trends can be reliably dated, such as the emergence of calf-length dresses in medieval England and the gradual shortening of men’s overgarments. In the past, some clothing styles were worn to show a person’s status, such as by displaying expensive fabrics like silk or gold, or by incorporating distinctive symbols of authority such as crowns, sashes, or badges.
Today, people in most countries wear clothes that are both functional and pleasing to the eye. The clothing industry employs millions of people to design, sew, glue, dye and transport garments to stores for consumers to buy. The media has an enormous influence on what is considered fashionable, both in the United States and in other parts of the world. Advertisements on buses, billboards and magazines give people ideas about what to wear, consciously or subconsciously.
The best way to approach an article on fashion is to take a broad perspective and stay open to new ideas. A good fashion article should provide an original insight that captivates readers from start to finish. It should also be based on solid research.
Fashion articles that explore distinct styles are a good choice for most writers because they allow them to experiment with their writing. For example, an essay exploring bohemian chic styles might use a whimsical tone and page layouts while an article on preppy styles might be more serious and concise. Similarly, a fashion article that analyzes the relationship between a particular trend and its cultural roots could be more analytical and scientific than an article that simply reports on current styles. Regardless of the style that an article on fashion is written in, it should be well-written and free of plagiarism and other writing errors. These mistakes can be hard to detect when reading an online article. They can also make the article seem less trustworthy and authoritative to the reader.