Arriane A.

Vivero

11- STEM B

Thesis Statement:

Fashion is a constantly changing trend; a human’s necessity into the world of art; and a

reflection of an individual’s lifestyle.

Outline:

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Definition of Fashion

1.2 Fundamental Nature of Fashion

1.3 Thesis Statement

2.0 Body

2.1 History of Function

2.2 Fashion as constantly changing trend

2.1.1 Fashion then and now

2.1.2 Reason why fashion is a changing trend

2.3 Fashion as human’s necessity

2.3.1 Fashion as a form of art

2.3.2 Different fashion styles

2.3.3 Effects of fashion to human

2.4 Fashion as reflection of an individual’s lifestyle

2.4.1 Fashion as self-expression

2.4.2 Fashion as individual’s self creativity

2.4.3 Main influence of fashion to every person

3.0 Conclusion

3.1 Main essence of fashion

3.2 Contribution of fashion to everyone

3.3 Summary of the essay

 Fashion: To dress is to express

“Fashion is a popular style or practice, especially in clothing, footwear, accessories,

makeup, body, or furniture. Fashion is a distinctive and often constant trend in the style in which

a person dresses.” (Breward, 2009). Another definition of fashion from Valerie Cumming (2004)

is that fashion mostly refers to the style of clothing worn at a particular time. Clothing at its most

basic is to keep us warm, but it serves many other functions. It needs to fit the customs and

norms of society. Fashions are like trends. They change more quickly than the entire culture. The

term 'fashion' is often used a synonym for glamour and style. Fashion is all around everyone;

they can never avoid it nor ignore it. In other words, fashion is a constantly changing trend; a

human’s necessity into the world of art; and a reflection of an individual’s lifestyle.

In general, clothing from the ancient Greek and Roman times was based more on

function rather than style. With the beginning of Christian influence, clothing became modest

than before. During the Renaissance period, gradual changes in styles happened. 1970s was a

time of disco, punk/goth and making a statement with unique fashions. Anything shiny,

sequined, vibrant or stretchy was the ideal “disco look.” Taking a look back to the 1980s, the

style then was very similar to what is popular now. Leggings, oversized sweatshirts, ripped jeans

and many more trends have come back into style. Fashion in the 1990s united around a new

standard, minimalism, and styles of stark simplicity became the vogue (Aninonita, 2011). As

people observe the fashion today, the influence of it in the past decades is still of use.

Fashion is cyclical. It responds to the time and culture in which it exists. Fashion is an

ever changing trend that will be completely different from the year before and will call upon its

own past for inspiration in the future.  Current styles obviously differ from the popular wears of
the early 20th century, but there are similar concepts that exist between the fashion trends of

today and yesterday (Orodeo, 2010). In other words, fashion is an unending process; it is based

on the culture, tradition and belief of every person. For example, the fashion decades ago is

completely different to the fashion people have today but the fashion then will be used as an

insight to have the new styles or trends people have today. Same goes as the fashion existing

now, it will be used as an idea to change and have a new fashion trend in the future. Fashion

changes but comes back the same in a modern way. Indeed, fashion is a cyclical event.

According to Fiber2Fashion (2010), nothing is constant except for change. Oleg Cassini,

a reputed French-born, American fashion designer quotes, "Fashion anticipates, and elegance is a

state of mind... a mirror of the time in which we live, a translation of the future, and should never

be static." In other words, fashion is nothing but a constantly changing trend; it is neither static

nor stable. Fashion never stays the same. There are new things that can be discovered every

single day. Furthermore, fashion is the mirror of an individual’s lifestyle. One reason why a

fashion changes is that every person has their own unique and creative style, they have different

culture beliefs and perspective in terms of fashion.

Fashion is a human’s necessity into a world of art. According to Zandra Rodes (2003),

fashion is a form of art because the same amount of artistic expression goes into clothes, a piece

of pottery or a painting. In other words, fashion is an art because it is a concept of beautifying

and designing one’s self and people become creative. There are different fashion styles

conceptualizing the form of art depending on one’s interest. For example, a girl wants a minimal

kind of dress to use while the other person wants a decorative and colorful dress to wear. The

two of them will create their own style on how to make themselves fit in their own kind of
fashion taste. According to SuzySmile (2007), Fashion styles are commonly misunderstood

idea, which is less complicated than it often seems. Fashion style generally refers to the groups

of personality traits, which also match specific fashion theme. Fashion style is like a character

sketch that describes a personality out of a fashion theme. In other words, a fashion style is

created and revealed depending on one’s personality and likeness.

Fashion also gives both a positive and negative effect to human. According to Jessi Turk,

fashion is harmful because it creates a false sense of beauty. People are constantly competing on

being the most attractive by the clothes that they wear, and many individuals only dress a certain

way to please others. For example, a person is insecure to another’s fashion sense that it comes

to the point that she wants to be better and more beautiful than her; she does not want to be

defeated in terms of fashion. However, according to Fashionsociety.com (2011), fashion can

cause a person to enhance his or her own creativity. For example, a girl wants to be confident

enough in whatever she wears and wants to please herself that is why she will become artistic in

terms of fashion for her to be satisfied and contented.

Fashion is a reflection of an individual’s lifestyle. According to Doctor Baumgarter

(2012), while many of them might think they can hide behind their clothes, what they choose to

wear tells others about their innermost selves. A person’s clothes reveal what is really going on

internally, his or her thoughts and feelings are laid bare in the closet – they just have to look for

them. In other words, what people wear defines their identity and personality; it reflects the inner

character of an individual. According to Charmaine Li (2015), fashion means to transform the

way they feel about themselves. In other words, people dresses according to their emotion and

where they will feel comfortable. Their fashion depends on their own creative style; they dress to
impress their selves and others, to gain self-esteem and confidence. Some people say that

clothes do not matter. That inner beauty is more important than outer. We all would like to think

that people care more about what is on the inside, but that is far from the truth. According to

Lauren Mountclair (2015), how a person dress’ says a lot about him or her, that fashion is the

easiest and most effective way to express their selves. In other words, fashion has a great

influence to an individual in the way that it can be someone’s passion and reflection. They exert

their own artistic quality through fashion.

A fashion is indeed a constantly changing trend that people discover and adapt new

things every day. It is a human’s necessity in a world of art because it brings out the skills and

creativity in designing one’s style. More importantly, it is a reflection of an individual’s lifestyle

because they bring and express their selves through fashion; they convey their emotions and

feelings through what they wear to feel contentment and satisfaction. To embrace fashion is to

accept one’s self and its personal style while making the world a more artistic place. Fashion is

not all about trends, labels, and clothes, but the real essence of it is that we dress to feel unique,

beautiful and to attain fulfillment. As Gianni Versace (n.d.) once said: “Do not 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).

“Fashions fade, style is eternal” (Saint Laurent, 1940)

 References:

Christopher Breward (August 19, 2016) The Flyer. Retrieved from

http://www.fairmontflyer.com/features/2010/11/22/fashion-from-one-decade-to-another/.

Valerie Cumming (August 19, 2016) Fashion. Retrieved from

http://www.shareyouressays.com/103/essay-on-fashion

Anitonita (August 19, 2016) Brieft History of Fashion. Retreived from

http://www.slideshare.net/anitonita/fashion-8453290

Marie Claire (August 19, 2016) Fashion as self-expression. Retrieved from

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/535510/what-you-wear-reflects-your-personality.html

Orodeo (August 19, 2016) Modern youth. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgeidea.com/fashion-and-

modern-youth-essay/

Fiber2Fashion (August 19, 2016) Fashion industry. Retrieved from

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6189/does-culture

SuzySmile (August 19, 2016) Fashion trends. Retrieved from http://www.enkivillage.com/types-of-

fashion-styles.html

Zhandra Rodes (August 19, 2016) Arts and fashion. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2003/jul/13/art.artsfeatures1

Jessi Turk (August 19, 2016) Impact of fashion. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/d2jc4thx9oof/the-
impact-of-the-fashion-industry-on-human-values/

Dr Baumgarter (August 19, 2016) Fashion as reflection. Retrieved from

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/535510/what-you-wear-reflects-your-
personality.html#RCFeiaD1KfdOfVBg.99

Charmaine Li (August 19, 2016) Self-expression. Retrieved from

http://www.ignant.de/2015/10/22/fashion-as-self-expression/

Laurent Mountclair (August 19, 2016) Beauty as fashion. Retrieved from

https://www.reference.com/beauty-fashion/fashion-change-329ee27078dc99cf

Oleg Cassini (August 19, 2016) Fashion as identification. Retrieved from

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6189/does-culture