Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry that encompasses everything from the high-end designer clothing seen on the runways of Paris and New York to the mass-produced casual wear available in malls and markets around the world. Although some observers separate these categories and call one the “fashion industry” and the other the “clothing industry”, this distinction is not always enforceable as fashion can be defined simply as any style of clothing or accessory that is currently in vogue at any given moment.
Fashions tend to change more often and quickly than culture as a whole, making it difficult for anyone to keep up. This rapid change can be positive for those who enjoy variety and are willing to try new things, but for others it can represent wasted resources, wasteful consumption and an excessive attachment to the latest trends.
Some fashions become victims of their own popularity, becoming so popular during one era that they’re almost impossible to wear in another without appearing “dated” or even costumey. On the other hand, styles that are influenced by the cultures of lesser-known parts of the world can remain in fashion for longer periods of time.
Whether you want to be at the forefront of fashion or just keep up with the Joneses, it’s important to choose clothes that suit you and your body type. Forcing yourself into fashionable cuts and colors that don’t flatter your figure will only make you look dated and unfashionable in the long run. Instead, spend a little time studying the clothes you see in magazines and on the runway, then use your everyday environment as a laboratory: observe the styles worn by friends, colleagues, or fellow commuters (in a non-creepy way of course).