The Evolution of Fashion

Fashion is the way people dress, behave or perform. Typically, it implies difference, but may also refer to the sameness of certain trends.

Style is a form of fashion in which a person’s clothes, hairstyle or jewelry are distinctive and often of high quality. It can be a reflection of the social class of the wearer, or it can be a more casual or informal look.

Vogue is a style that is popular or well-known amongst those who have a particular taste for clothes. It reflects trends in music, art or books that have caught the eye of the public.

Depending on the prevailing social and cultural conditions, the fashion industry evolves over time. This evolution is based on the diffusion of styles that are either created by a group of innovators or picked up by fashion leaders.

The diffusion of a style can take several forms; from the top-down (“trickle-down”) to bottom-up (“bubble up”) or transversally across cultures and through viral memes and media (e.g., the influencer model).

In Europe, fashion in clothing dates back to late medieval times. The earliest fashions involved drastic changes in male over-garments from calf length to barely covering the buttocks, sometimes accompanied by stuffed chests.

The fashion world is a multi-billion dollar global industry that employs millions of people in over 300 countries. It is a powerful and influential channel for disseminating information to its consumers, as well as a way for designers and brands to make their stances known to their audiences.