Extended Definition Essay: Fashion: To Dress is to Express (final)

Outline

Fashion

Title: Dress to express

Topic sentence: Fashion is a form of self-expression and is influenced by multifaceted factors.

I.               Introduction

A.     Definition of Fashion

B.     Factors that influence Fashion

1.     Trends

2.     Media

3.     Status

II.             Body

A.     Fashion Personas

1.     Sense of style as a stereotype

2.     Individuality vs. Conformity

B.     Factors that influence personal style

1.     Interests

2.     Trends

3.     Body

III.           Conclusion

A.     Effects of Fashion to one’s self

B.     Fashion as a healthy form of self-expression

     

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, is 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 of dressing by showing one’s 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 walking leisurely down the busy streets of a 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 denote 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 or her fashion can hinder him or 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 to 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 one’s 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 (n.d.) 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” (p.1).

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/