Fashion is the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories and cosmetics that reflect cultural aesthetics and serve as social status markers. It can also be a means of self-expression and individuality. Fashion trends and styles are often influenced by past and current events, including political and social upheavals, economic fluctuations, and the evolution of technology.
The fashion industry is an important source of employment. Millions of people work in the buying, selling, designing and production of clothing and millions more work in the retailing and advertising of fashion products. Throughout history, fashion has been an indicator of wealth, power, status, and social standing. In ancient Rome, only the wealthy were permitted to wear garments dyed Tyrian purple; in the early nineteenth century, only the highest-ranking officers could be seen in yellow uniforms; high society Hawaiians used feather cloaks and carved whale teeth.
A major problem with fashion is its ephemerality. Once a garment becomes popular, it quickly becomes old-fashioned. Moreover, fashion is often based on the assumption that everything that is not fashionable is inferior or uncool. This kind of thinking inevitably leads to the exclusion of those who do not follow the fashion.
There is no one way to define what fashion is. In general, however, it is defined as the prevailing style in a certain period. A person can be considered to have a good sense of fashion if they know what the current trends are and can dress in a tasteful manner that is in accordance with those trends.