Fashion is an art form of individual mobility and self-expression in a certain context and at a certain time, of apparel, footwear, jewelry, lifestyle, cosmetics, hair styling, and personal body posture. In its general usage, the word implies a style defined by the fashion business as what is currently fashionable. As to the fashion business, trends are established through the accumulation and comparison of data, and then evaluation of the degree of influence these facts have on current supply and demand of clothes. From this information, fashion gurus and fashion designers formulate and create designs according to the demands of the market, on the basis that if something is in, then it must be out with a good reason. If it is not wanted, it simply will not exist.

The history of fashion can be traced back to the rise of the French Revolution, when a new fashion movement arose, one predicated on the idea of equal opportunity for all French citizens regardless of social status, color, race, or language. This “Diderotian” fashion movement, founded by men such as Diderot, Maupassant, Balmain, Chaumet, Saint Laurent, and Georges Braque, took fashion to a new level as they combined an innovative approach to tailors, materials, and colors. Thus, fashions at that time included complex combinations of dress, outerwear, undergarments, jewelry, and apparels. This new movement also popularized street wear such as the pique ring for men, the double-breasted tuxedos worn by both sexes for formal occasions, and street side burners for women.

During the late nineteenth century, French fashion gradually took shape from a social point of view, where the more fashionable among a group of people tended to wear clothes with fashionable shapes, like triangular or bell-bottom styles for men and gowns, long skirts, and curve-hugging silhouettes for women. Fashion became associated with wealth, affluence, and social standing, and the designs and materials of the clothing were always tailored to fit these values. Clothing designers saw the handwriting on the wall and quickly began to create materials, patterns, and colors that helped to revolutionize the face of fashion design in clothing. Haute couture fashion shows gave designers the chance to display their work and talent to the world.

Haute Couture is still a vibrant part of the high fashion world today. Designer labels regularly invite fashion followers to come in for a look at the latest in modern clothing trends. Celebrities regularly get involved in charity and art projects that focus on the theme of fashion and individuality, such as stars joining forces to raise money for cancer research. Fashionable clothes are often the first topic in newsstands, with newspapers happily carrying fashion columns to keep readers informed about what’s hot and what’s not.

The importance of fashion can be found in everyday life. Clothing that perfectly fits the new trends, or colors that help people feel comfortable in new surroundings, are all a part of fashion. In the work place, designers are designing suits that make employees look like they belong. Celebrities wear fashionable clothes to support their charities. Students learn about fashion by modeling for charities and then wear clothes that demonstrate the importance of caring about one’s appearance and attitude. All of these examples of how the fashion world affects everyday life make it clear that fashion is not only for the rich and famous, but is also an important part of everyone’s lives.

High fashion fashions are usually considered a symbol of wealth and prestige, but that doesn’t mean that everyone can afford them. There are many pieces of clothing that are too expensive for the average person, and fashions that are considered cutting edge may also be out of reach for even the wealthiest people. That doesn’t mean that anyone has to let go of the freedom and creativity that come with owning great looking clothes. With some simple planning and research on where to purchase a good fashion, anyone can find great new fashions at reasonable prices and allow themselves to start taking pride in their looks.