What is Fashion: How does it play into the lives of the Youth and Society?

Fashion, as we know it today, plays quite an important role in the lives of many, for great reasons. The significance of the concept of fashion, trends, and aesthetics are visible in the past and have been around for quite a long time. It’s not going to vanish anytime soon. 

The concept of fashion is very important in society. In the Renaissance period, fashion determined one’s status and created an emphasis on the different levels of hierarchy. Fashion was also used for important social movements. In the ‘Roaring 20’s’, flappers wore flapper dresses, not only for the sake of fashion and trends, but as a sign of freedom and party culture. Additionally, fashion helped determine the change in pop culture. From the rise of disco, to punk rock in the ’70s and ’80s, there was a significant transition in fashion trends which supported the shift of music trends. Fashion is used in many different ways resulting in fashion becoming a huge staple in our lives.

In simplest terms, it’s a form of art. It’s quite accessible and unique. Like every other form of art, we can use fashion as an outlet to express our emotions, help us identify our individuality and how we can come as one simply through clothing. For the few that do use fashion as a form of expressing themselves, they can say the same about how fashion contributes a lot, not only to society, but especially to the youth.

At the point in which we become teenagers; we find a sense of exploration. We slowly step out of our bubble to figure out who we are as individuals (our interests, beliefs, wants and needs, etc.). But when we become teenagers, we become attached to finding a place we can fit into easily. And what is the easiest way to do this? Through fashion!

In my last article, I talked about the different “Fashion Aesthetics”, what they were and what they exhibited. “Fashion Aesthetics” are a way to find the group of people you may fit into and feel comfortable in. It’s rather an easy way to find ourselves. Although I strongly believe that we can go about not having this concept because fashion is art! It’s quite important to identify that your style may not feel right at first. But that is the sole purpose of fashion. Individuality; to experiment and figure out what YOU feel most comfortable and confident in. We don’t need to follow trends or find a “Fashion Aesthetic” to make friends and express ourselves, because there is no right or wrong in art. Fashion is meant to be an outlet where we can come together through our individuality. Our cultures, traditions, way of living, beliefs, interests, opinions, etc. are all recognized from the way we dress and style ourselves and come together through those differences!

However, with all the positive impacts fashion has on the youth, there is also a fair share of negatives. Especially at school where we are most exposed to other peers, we notice that peer pressure is very common. Many teenagers tend to feel negative emotions when they are being dragged down, mentally, by other teenagers and this could be caused by different factors. You may not be satisfying the wants of other teenagers or body imagery, you can be judged regardless of your body image because of standards held onto an individual. These issues have been rooted in the world of fashion. Although it’s going to take a while for these issues and their roots to be abolished, it’s not impossible. The fashion industry now has more diversity and portrayal of different people. Today we see so much more normalization of diversity, and especially for young people who face social media every day, they do not have to struggle with trying to look for the people who are more similar to them and find validation from the portrayal of different people in the media.

Above all, I think that fashion is super important to keep in our lives. Although it has its pros and cons, I strongly believe that fashion helps us recognize who we are as individuals and celebrate the differences we hold as people. There are almost 8 billion people in this world, whilst it’s only human nature for us to want to fit in and be like other people, as teenagers and young adults, we need to embrace these differences to create an environment where we’re free to be ourselves through fashion.