The Influence of Fashion on Society
Fashion is a highly influential global industry that affects the way we dress, but it also has an impact on the economy, culture, and technology. Whether it is in the form of clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags or accessories, the industry is constantly changing and adapting to new trends and consumer demands.
The word fashion can be defined as a “prevailing mode of style or manner of dress and adornment.” It is a reflection of the current culture, and therefore is always evolving. A person cannot have a “fashion” for themselves, in order for something to be considered a “fashion,” it needs to be shared and followed by a large number of people. This can be done either through direct dissemination, such as a celebrity wearing a certain outfit, or through indirect dissemination, such as viral memes or social media.
In the past, many famous artists and designers would create their own lines of clothing, and the fashion magazines would be used to spread information about the latest trends. These magazines had a great influence on the public and they promoted different styles of dressing through their editorial critique, guidelines and commentary. In recent times, the internet has become a major source of information about the latest trends in fashion. This is because many people have started to share their personal style and clothing choices through their websites, Instagram or TikTok accounts. Fashion blogs and YouTube videos have also become very popular and have contributed to the popularity of the online fashion trend.
It is widely believed that changes in fashion reflect societal change and the financial interests of designers and manufacturers. However, research has shown that internal taste mechanisms are at work as well, regardless of the prevailing economic conditions. For example, some people may have a liking for a particular style of dress that has been around for a long time. This could be due to its comfort factor or the fact that it was worn by their parents or grandparents.
Fashion can be found in the form of clothes, but it also extends to shoes, bags, accessories and even language. Clothing is not only a form of self-expression, but it can also serve as a means of identification, for example judges wear robes, soldiers wear uniforms and brides wear white dresses. It can also be a way of showing solidarity, for example when celebrities or other influential people begin to wear certain types of clothing, their followers will follow suit.
The Library of Congress has many resources related to the business of fashion, including books, periodicals, images, films and sound recordings. This guide has been created to highlight a few of these collections. It is by no means exhaustive, and users are encouraged to explore our other subject guides as well as our online catalog to find additional materials on this topic. The guide is organized by category and includes suggested subject headings that users can use to link directly to our online catalog.