How Fashion Has Reflected the Changes in Society

the trickle-down effect is most prominent in fashion where those of a higher class are able to have access to more options faster and utilise clothing as a means of expressing identity while still establishing themselves within their social group. Eventually more affordable clothing stores adopt the fashions of the upper classes making it more accessible, this however causes those of the upper class to lose their desire for the item and trend adopting instead new fashions perpetuating the cycle and creating fast fashion. The trickle-down theory creates a simple method of predicting the spread of fashion and trends for clothing companies (Bertrand and Morse, 2016)

The fashion industry plays a huge role in portraying bad images of ideal beauty, which in turn affects today’s society perception of their own body image. Not only are women affected by what is seen and heard about how the perfect body should appear, children of young ages are now feeling insecure and obsessed with their bodies before they reach teenage years. This ‘ideal image’ the fashion industry continues to enforce only focuses on very thin models who seem to be in shape and are very healthy. Furthermore, many people think of the influence from the fashion industry as being human representations (models). Because of the rising problem with the image of beauty within the fashion industry, it is shown that even mannequins and non-human representations (mannequins, dolls, photoshopping) of bodies play a significant role in women’s body image; which causes problems to the individual. (Anshutz & Engels, 2010). Body image and self-satisfaction, eating disorders and non-human representations all can cause harm to the individual, if prolonged.

This essay will explore the effects social and political changes had on fashion in the 1980’s. This period was chosen because the new romantic fashions were so different to the punk fashions that had been before, this essay will therefore identify the changes that had taken place to influence this change. Primary evidence used to support findings will include interviews and photographs which will show a firsthand account of the period.

More people feel insecure about themselves because society expects them to look like a model. Especially teenagers are targeted in an early age that if the teens are thin and pretty then they will become successful and happy in life like the models in the magazines. If only they knew that models are not so happy as they seem. The fashion industry obsession with thinness leaves the models a high risk of developing anorexia (Hawkes).“Not everything in life is what it seems.” The media is one of the factors that affect how people see themselves (Diantgikis). One advertisement can change the whole self-esteem of one person. The promotion of the thin ideal causes people to have a bringe environment (Hawkes). Many people are dying because they want to have the “perfect” body. Small sizes are preferred better than larger ones. The size zero obsession causes women to undergo eating habits to lose weight (Hawkes). This causes an effect on the health of the person.

Many people would not believe that there are so many similarities between modern day fashion and the fashion of the renaissance time period. Many differences may be seen between the two, but the similarities are remarkable. Throughout all of time, clothing has been the major representation of social classes. What people wear has always been the distinguishing factor between the wealthy and the poor classes of both the renaissance and current time period. The evolution from time period to time period has been vast, but the fact that what people wear represents what class they reside in is still very prevalent. From the fabrics, jewels, and accessories, you can still see many similarities from the renaissance time period to the current time

Fashion is everything to society and the media. The fashion industry has transformed into a necessity in the life of people. Everyone wants to look good, feel fabulous and feel as if we belong with everyone else. The envy and desire to wear certain things and look a certain way all come, from wearing the latest fashion handbags, accessories, dresses, shoes, and the list goes on. But, when is considering fashion into an individual’s life going too far to the extreme? Many do not consider the whereabouts of fashion materials and how the environment is affected by the mere existence of certain garments. Some may believe these objects grow on trees. But that is clearly not the case. Even though it would be nice. The fashion industry as a

Fashion is everything to society and the media, but everyone wants to look good while feeling beautiful in their own way. Everyone believes that fashion is an easy, fashionable, and sophisticated style. Today, the modeling industry has become negative for older and younger women. The people in the industry do not prefer unhealthy body images such as pictures of overweight women. Women suffer from depression and anxiety. The modeling industry has been very harmful towards women in America. It effects women by not achieving a healthy, being strong, and confident body image regardless of shape and size.

The media group that retouches images skews the “normal” body image of people through many of its outlets, including models in advertising and magazines, and actors in TV and movie productions. “The average model portrayed in the media is approximately 5’11” and 120 pounds. By contrast, the average American woman is 5’4” and 140 pounds” (Holmstrom, 2004). This statistic shows how the media manipulates consumers into believing that because they are not what the average model looks like, they are not living up to a certain standard which implies that they need to look like that to be beautiful. Another research fact that shows a similar concept is that, “In the United States, 94% of female characters in television programs are thinner than the average American woman, with whom the media frequently associate happiness, desirability, and success in life” (Yamamiya et al., 2005). This association of female thinness and happiness, desirability and success makes consumers believe they must achieve this unrealistic thinness to achieve more ultimate goals and fulfillment in life. “The media also explicitly instruct how to attain thin bodies by dieting, exercising, and body-contouring surgery, encouraging female consumers to believe that they can and should be thin” (Yamamiya et al., 2005). This idealization of thinness in the media is seen so much, and is extremely harmful to women’s self confidence and is often associated with body image dissatisfaction, which can be a precursor to social anxiety, depression, eating disturbances, and poor self-esteem (Yamamiya et al.,

Fashion reflects the attitudes of a society more than any other art form. Like art, fashion is a material record of the ideals that swayed the nations at the time of their creation. Through examining the styles, and tastes of a particular era, we can realize where the interests and priorities of a time lie. As Frank Parsons wrote in his 1920 study, The Psychology of Dress, "There is surly no better field in which to trace the devious paths of human thought than in that of clothes, where man has ever given free play to self expression, in a way which, thought not always a credit to his intelligence, is yet quite true to his innermost self, whether he will acknowledge it or

Defining fashion is extremely important in order to determine its influence on social class in society. The use of the word fashion here does not

Fashion in this era has been the ideal transformation since the time of the 1800s. It has said to be the most iconic thing thus far. Throughout the years, fashion has always been served as a mean of self-expression and communication among of individuals. We have watched the transition of dull to classy, to chic, vintage and more. Fashion shows the uniqueness of others when they express their own style ,it wasn’t really common back then, but now in the modern day that we live in it has been brought up to existence through clothing.

Today, there are numerous researches that have been carried out in relation the influence of fashion on self-perception on different people. All these researchers are of the opinion that the way that an individual dresses has a major impact on his self-perception.

By taking a look at the clothing styles worn by a group of individuals, we can comprehend a great fragment regarding the prevailing social values of the generation. Polyester was the material of choice and bright colours were everywhere. Men and women alike, wore tight fitting pants and platform shoes.

What is Fashion? Fashion is a general term used to describe a style of clothing or practice used by people around the world. Fashion refers to anything that is a trend. Self-presentation is the most direct noticeable marker of fashion. Throughout history we have seen many changes in clothing, from the color, to the material used to make it. We have also seen the style in which clothing is made change drastically. Fashion communicates meanings that have individual and social significance. Society, cultures, gender and even political authority have impacted fashion over the years. Clothing styles characterize certain designs which represent the culture that wears the clothing. Designers continue to try to direct their ideas to a transforming

It’s usually all over the place, in the magazines, on the internet, T.V shows, and even while walking down the streets, you’re assured to encounter it. What else would it be, other than fashion trends that everyone is talking about? Fashion trends have always been playing an important role in many people’s day to day life and they are considered to be the latest style of clothing, hair or decoration that is developing and popular at a given time . Fashion trends have drastically evolved as time has passed and many looks have popped up in different eras. For instance, the swimming suit has evolved since the eighteenth century, where they were called bathing gowns and made out of fabric that covered the entire body .However, in the nineteenth century, this swimming suit became rather a shorter one, covering the female’s body from the shoulders all the way down to the knees. It is in the late twentieth century where the two-piece swimming suit, now called the bikini, became common. Fashion trends, however, can be compared to a circle, where we notice that some of the old trends have made their comeback .Some of these trends include the skinny jeans, crop tops, thigh-high boots, large hoop earrings, "the Bob" haircut, tie dye, and big purses. While clothing was once a simple human necessity used for warmth and modesty ,fashion trends have come a long way, now playing an important in people’s everyday life, allowing them to create an outlet to show off their creativity by