Fashion is a popular culture phenomenon encompassing much more than clothing. It includes hairstyles, makeup trends, body modifications such as piercings and tattoos, and other ways that people express themselves through their appearance. While fashion can be influenced by new technologies, it is largely defined by cultural influences and socio-economic changes. For example, a recession may lead to more subdued and practical fashion choices, while an economic boom may cause consumers to spend more money on flamboyant and extravagant clothing items.
Fashion often involves a combination of several different styles, including current and past fashions. This mixture results in a continuously changing style, which is sometimes referred to as “fashion cycle.” Eventually, a particular style becomes outdated and no longer fashionable, at which point it may resurface again in a later period.
For example, bell-bottom jeans may have been out of fashion for a while in the 1980s, but they are now back in style with younger generations. Fashion also changes in response to cultural events such as wars, natural disasters and political movements.
For many people, having a sense of style is important for self-expression and can have a major impact on their self-esteem. Having a good fashion sense is knowing how to mix and match colors, patterns and fabrics and knowing what looks good on you. It is also understanding the difference between a trend and a style, as well as how to take care of your clothes so they last.