Fashion is the prevailing mode of expression, whether through dress or other means such as hairstyles, jewelry, shoes, accessories, or even speech. Fashions can also be cultural, evoking particular periods or social movements. Fashion can also be regarded as a form of art, with designers and consumers alike creating styles that reflect their personalities or ideals.
Throughout history, fashion has been used as a way to express emotion or solidarity with other people. In modern times, it is a major industry that employs millions of workers around the world. Fashion changes constantly, and is influenced by a wide range of factors including globalization, technology, and economics. The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that encompasses all aspects of design, production, and sales.
Although the term fashion is generally associated with a particular time period, some styles are designated as “out of fashion” and may return at a later date. For example, the 1920s saw a revival of Chinese styles like qipao that feature stand collars, trumpet sleeves and straight silhouettes. In the same way, Lenin coats featuring double lines of buttons and slanting pockets returned to style after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
Other factors that influence fashion are new discoveries, such as silk in the 1700s or rubber in the 1930s, or shifts in trade relations, such as when the British Empire expanded and Europeans traded with distant places such as China or India. Fashions can also be created by cultural influences, such as when a group of young people begins dressing in a certain style or when an established celebrity adopts a new look.