Fashion is a cultural phenomenon that affects all aspects of life. It unites and divides societies, cultures, and generations. People are constantly influenced by what other people wear and try to keep up with the latest trends. There are whole magazines dedicated to fashion and TV shows devoted to it.
The term Fashion refers to the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics and jewellery that depict distinct ways of dressing as signifiers of self-expression, social status, and group belonging. It can be defined as the prevailing style of dress at any given time, whether influenced by popular culture, celebrity, or by an exclusive aesthetic elite such as designers and couturiers.
It is generally assumed that changes in fashion reflect societal change and/or the financial interests of clothing manufacturers and retailers. However, there is evidence that other internal mechanisms can also influence fashions. For example, children’s first names often reflects a particular fashion trend at the time of their birth.
The earliest fashion trends can be reliably dated to the late medieval period, and the beginning of continual and accelerating change in Western garment styles can be dated as early as the 14th century. Historians have attributed this to the development of printed books, and the use of illustrated manuscripts that could show changing fashions.