The Fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar global economy supporting millions of people worldwide. The world of fashion offers a diverse range of opportunities for individuals to express their creative sensibilities and individuality. Fashion has become a powerful platform for advocacy and social change. The ability to promote diversity, equality and awareness through the power of clothing is unparalleled in any other form of media.
Fashion has a life cycle, with 5 stages: introduction, peak, decline and death (or rebirth). A trend that makes it through the introduction stage can be considered fashion – however, if it doesn’t have enough staying power to reach the decline stage, it will not remain fashionable. A good way to test whether something is currently in fashion or out of style is to go shopping – and look at what is available in the clearance section.
The world of fashion is constantly changing – and it’s hard to keep up. Developing your own sense of style is like learning a new language – it takes time and patience to develop. It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out what is considered fashionable – so start by finding the styles that work best for you and stick with them.
If you’re looking for inspiration, spend some time watching how your favorite celebrities and public figures dress. Sit in a cafe and observe your friends and co-workers, or check out what the other passengers on your subway are wearing (in a non-creepy way, of course). Once you have a grasp on what styles you like, use blogs and Pinterest as tools to expand your knowledge.