“So soon as a fashion is Universal, it is out of date.”  -Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach  This reality within the fashion world is what I think makes fashion a never ending cycle.

Whoever we are, whether we are interested in fashion or not, inevitably we’re involved in it because of the clothes we wear.  Fashion is not just about runways and 6 foot women pulling out some bizarre shapes on the cover shoots of fashion magazines!

Fashion includes every single one of us.  The generalisation that fashion is for the women of this world is an idea that is slowly but surely being squashed, but again this is a ‘generalisation’.  Our fashion sense in a way could be our way of defining who we are…or does it?

There are so many opinions on fashion, for example, we have TV shows like ‘Fashion Police’ that are created to give praise and criticism to celebrities who wear various labels, including up and coming designers.   Whilst I personally would watch this, a lot of people I know are appalled by this type of show because of the effect that it can have on people.  Celebrities, whether they like it or not are role models, people who us general public folk look up to and in a sense ‘copy’ with their clothes and style.  I will personally hold my hand up and admit that I’ve seen a celebrity and thought “I would look good in that” or “I wonder where they got that from?” I’d say 99.9% of you have been the same!

What is a shame is that people form opinions about individuals according to the way they dress.  I think to a certain degree we have all done that too.  I remember seeing that meat dress worn by Lady Gaga at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.  I thought she was a “sandwich short of a picnic” but it certainly did cause a lot of controversy and seemed like it was aimed to provoke.  One interpretation was that it was an ‘Anti Fashion’ statement.  Either way, whether people loved it or hated it, an opinion was formed.

Lady Gaga may be identified by both her music and zany fashion sense, but realistically we do not know her…yet our opinions are still rife and with her status as a celebrity they are aired quite publicly.

Clothes can be a powerful tool when showing the world what you are REALLY about, it can be a great form of expression.  This is not always the case.  Some people wear certain types of clothes to fit in with other people, different groups and different backgrounds.  Some people are noticed for it and some people are looked over

because the initial observation will be what they are wearing.   I mean look at the social group that have been labelled ‘Chavs’ or ‘Charvas’ – they are associated with designers like Fred Perry, Rockport and Helly Hanson, but people generalise others who wear the striped jumpers, Rockport boots and tracksuit bottoms tucked into their socks as being ASBO material. 

The stigma attached to the fashion sense forms an opinion illustrating the generalisation that goes on in our society.  The real picture though is that no all people who fall into the category of ‘Chav’ are ASBO material…

That was just a classic example of how fashion makes us think about how we identify a person.  Even though fashion is a great freedom of expression, but as Yves Saint Laurent said “Fashions fade, style is eternal” Maybe we shall then see as the times and fashions do change, will our opinions?

I personally love Topman (so does like 85% of the student population…I notice this as people walk towards me in the same items of Topman attire!) but I love it because it’s colourful, design ideas have been brought back from the decades and many items have messages that could in turn portray a message that we feel we want to share. 

I like to find new clothes, to bu new clothes and discover new styles but the reality of the situation is that I never really discovered it…it’s just made a comeback. 

 I think the message of this that I am trying to get across is the well-known “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or alternatively “Don’t judge a person by their fashion sense” reason being fashion is forever going to change.  People may dress to; provoke, intrigue, excite, be different, to conform and so on…the list could be endless.  It’s an individual choice, it can be your stage to show people exactly how you view yourself but make no mistake that upon meeting new people, that is one of if not the first thing people will notice about you.  So whether you are interested in ‘fashion’ or not be aware…you are already a part of it!

“It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”