Fashion: To dress is to express
Coco
Chanel once said: “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we
live, what is happening.” (Karbo, 2009) Fashion according to the famous
designer was a lifestyle; a part of our everyday lives, and it is something
that is not limited to tangible things. One may share the same opinion but some
might disagree. But how do we really define it? Fashion, according to the New
Oxford American Dictionary is a popular trend, especially in styles of dress
and ornament. The dictionary defines it as to its superficiality, stating that
Fashion is something you wear to keep up with trends, but Fashion is something
more complex than that. Fashion is a
form of self-expression and is influenced by multifaceted factors. It is the
way you dress by showing your personality and character.
Fashions fade,
style is eternal. (Saint Laurent, 1940) The famous Yves Saint Laurent once said
that fashion, depicted as mere clothes wane after a period of time but fashion
as style remains forever. Every person has his or her own personal fashion
style. A person’s fashion style is not just given automatically but rather it
is earned from whimsical inspirations of all sorts. An individual’s interests
play a part in cultivating their style. Interest being defined is not narrowed
down solely to one’s hobbies. A person’s preference in music, books, and films
are also included. Somehow, people tend to incorporate these to how they dress
because it is a part of their lifestyle.
Every person has a
different body type and is also a factor in fostering one’s personal style. For
women, these body types can be classified into pear, rectangle, apple, and
hourglass. A pear shaped person is described to have wider hips than the rest
of her body while a person with an apple shape has more bulk on her upper body.
The rectangle shape is described to have proportional measurements of the
shoulders, hips, and waist. On the contrary, the hourglass shape also has
proportional measurements of the shoulders and hips, but the waist is
remarkably smaller and curvier unlike the rectangle’s. Each body type requires
a certain way of styling to be able to flatter one’s body which is why
considering a person’s body type is also a part of the development of one’s
style.
Imagine yourself
walking leisurely down the streets of your city, seeing a pool of strangers in
their own preferred clothing. Seeing a girl in an all black outfit gives off
the impression that she is a Goth while a boy clad up in polo’s and chinos with
a pair of glasses perched on the bridge of his nose will identify him as a
nerd. People are stereotyped by their clothes and by how they put them
together. These stereotypes are brought about by the depiction of Fashion in
media. These stereotypes represent personas that represent different
personalities and character. Some examples of fashion stereotypes are preppy,
hipster, emo, nerdy, and goth. These stereotypes affect people in a way where
they are being judged by what they wear or who they wear. Somehow, stereotyping
a person through his/her fashion can hinder him/her from expressing their true
selves.
Due to the
stereotyping of people through their fashion, many are baffled between individuality
and conformity. To express themselves truly through fashion without constraints
on how they are objectified by stereotypes is to revel one’s individuality.
Meanwhile, to conform the norms of fashion trends and fads that conceal their
identity in order to belong are diminishing the true essence of fashion, which
is to express your self. Many are facing the dilemma of choosing where to
stand. This depicts how society dictates a certain ideal in fashion. The
influence of society in fashion is big for it manipulates the evolving trends
and fads to keep up with that are common misconceptions on what fashion is all
about.
Fashion is a hobby
for some but can be someone else’s passion. Many would think that Fashion is
only for women and the feminine but what they do not know is that it is part of
every person’s life. Fashion as a form of self-expression allows everyone to
showcase his or her self to the world. It celebrates conformity and the
acknowledgment of one’s individuality. Through Fashion, one’s creativity is
also exerted through the constant application of aesthetics in clothing and
styling. Fashion challenges people to be creative and imaginative in expressing
themselves. It is also a way of self-evolution because as one ages, his/her
character also does, thus style will also evolve. It also promotes confidence
by being comfortable enough in one’s own personality that he/she articulates it
through fashion. Through
Fashion, many are able to share their interests and skills where others can
draw inspiration.
Self-expression can be achieved
through other means, but some are not expressed through a positive light.
Fashion is a healthy form of expression for it allows people to express
themselves through style. It does not only allow self-expression but also
cultivates a person’s strive for aesthetics and creativity. Since a person’s feelings are also expressed through this
medium, a furious person can express his/her emotions through the color or
texture of his/her clothes rather than releasing it through violence. Fashion
disregards the need of violence and negativity in self-expression but rather it
helps acknowledge the array
of characters portrayed through clothing.
To view Fashion in a different light
disregards the impression that it is a form of slavery for trends and designer
labels. To embrace Fashion is to embrace one’s self and its personal style
while making the world a more creative place. People are not slaves of Fashion
but rather they are the masters of it. Fashion is a form of self-expression,
rather than the misconception that it is all about the clothes, the trends, and
the labels. As Gianni Versace once said: “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make
fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the
way you dress and the way you live.” (Versace, n.d.)
References:
Karbo, K. (2009).
The gospel according to coco chanel. USA: Morris Book Publishing, LLC
Ritchie, R.
(2012). 20 best quotes on style. Retrieved from: http://ecosalon.com/20-best- quotes-on-style/
Sujata. Women
body shapes. Retrieved from: http://www.glamcheck.com/fashion/2011/03/16/women-body-shapes/
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