Fashion is a popular mode of expression, reflecting cultural values and personal style. Some fashion trends are very fast-moving, and others more enduring. Fashion is also a social phenomenon, with trends set by influential people like celebrities and the media. The fashion industry is a global business. Designers, pattern makers, manufacturers, and retailers all contribute to the creation of fashion.
In the past, changing fashions often reflected new ideas about beauty or social status. For example, the long, full-length dresses of the wealthy in Europe in the 18th century were replaced by shorter, more modest styles. During the Industrial Revolution, clothing was increasingly made to fit more closely, and this led to the development of new fabrics.
Some garments were designed specifically for a particular purpose: for example, the court dress of the 17th century was based on the formal attire worn in courts in that era. In modern times, garments are more often designed for mass production and distribution, as they are in the case of ready-to-wear clothing.
Those who have a good sense of fashion can put together outfits that look stylish and put-together. They can avoid some of the mistakes that other people make, such as buying clothes that do not flatter their figure. While many people think that a great sense of fashion requires hidden talent, it is actually quite easy to develop a stylish appearance if one follows a few basic rules. The process of developing a style can be fun and adventurous, and everyone who has a great sense of style could probably tell you millions of stories about all the “terrible” outfits they wore before they settled on their current style.