Philomena Ene Ekoja
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and a specific context of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture.
In the 21st century, the style trends of the fashion industry dominate the world more than they ever did and control not only the way people dress but also trends in homeware design, makeup and people’s overall attitudes. Nowadays, fashion is bold and daring, reflecting a noughties generation that is not afraid to say what they think or wear what they want.
Fashion is not just a means of clothing one’s body, it is the essence of a person’s personality and beliefs, and designers are well aware of the power it holds.
Trends in fashion unify women and men around the world, yet they still allow people the ability to portray their style at the same time.
A period of time portrayed in a picture can be identified immediately just by the style of clothes the people are wearing. This sums up just how powerful and all-encompassing fashion is. Fashion changes from time to time, but what never changes is its hold on society and its role in the modern world.
To keep up with the latest fashion, people subscribe to fashion magazines and keep a keen eye on what has appeared in shops and what has been there for a long time. People also check social media handles and go to fashion shows to see what the designers are putting on the catwalk that season, and therefore what will make it into the shops.
For the extremely wealthy, they practically have a relationship with top designers who will keep them well ahead of the current trends. Therefore, many people who want to know what the new fashion lines will be will watch what celebrities are wearing. Being ahead of fashion is, for many, the ultimate achievement, although being too ahead of fashion is just as bad as being behind it. If you are too far ahead, people will think what you wear is not in fashion, because it is not yet.
Designers continue to market the importance they know people put on fashion, and people continue to hang on to designers’ every move in the fashion world.
Interestingly, fashion is no longer the monopoly of women. Men now fancy fashion, although some men fancy fashion more than others. The latest unisex dresses like shirts and jeans can be worn by both men and women.
And when we talk about fashion power cities, the biggest centers of the latest fashion trend in the world are undoubtedly Paris, London, Milan, Berlin, and Barcelona. These cities have the most significant influence on fashion trends worldwide. The fashion weeks in these places are known to be filled with celebrities and fashion moguls.
Fashion has permeated all spheres of our life. It is followed not only in clothes but also in hairstyles, shoes, etiquette, and manners.
Some people are content to wear fashionable clothes, others wear fashionable hairstyles, and others adopt the latest trend in their speech and manner. All these people want to look impressive and attract the attention of others. They want to look different in the eyes of others.
Fashion is neither stable nor eternal. It is ever-changing. The change in fashion takes place so fast that people sometimes find it very difficult to catch up.
Fashion is a very important part of life, and of course, everybody wants to be praised for their looks. It also plays a vital role in society, both functional and cultural. At the individual level, the ability to express yourself, and at the collective level, the ability to enable connection and belonging.