Fashion is a way of expressing oneself through clothing. Throughout history people have used the clothing they wear to signal their social status, wealth, political affiliation and other traits. Today, fashion is a major industry with designers and manufacturers creating lines of clothes to appeal to consumers’ aesthetics and preferences. Fashion trends also occur within a society, whereby individuals or groups of people adopt particular styles in clothing. These styles may be influenced by current events or by the culture of a given place.
Some scholars believe that fashion is driven by societal changes or the financial interests of fashion designers and manufacturers. However, recent research shows that fashions are driven by internal mechanisms as well. For example, children’s first names often reflect the most popular styles at a given time, even though these choices are unrelated to advertisements or parental guidance.
Fashion can be viewed in a positive light, whereby people can use it to enhance their lives and develop a sense of individuality. However, a person can also be overwhelmed by the fast pace of fashion and become obsessed with creating and following style trends. The resulting stress can interfere with work, family life and other important aspects of one’s existence. Moreover, attempting to keep up with the latest trends can lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. This can also be seen in today’s youth who are highly focused on their appearance and rely on clothing brands to make them feel good about themselves.