Fashion is an area of interest to many people. It has to do with clothing and other articles, but also to the way things are made. There is even a fashion in music, film, and dance. In general, fashion changes and evolves over time, but not necessarily because of societal change or the financial interests of designers or manufacturers.
One way that the concept of fashion is described is in semiotics, which looks at the ways different signs communicate meaning to others. For example, a tailored suit may symbolise power, formality and professionalism. Conversely, ripped jeans and a t-shirt may communicate casualness and youthfulness. The symbolic meaning of these signs can vary widely, depending on the social and cultural context in which they are being worn.
Some of the most famous and influential fashion trends can be traced back to a single designer or collection. This is especially true for clothing. For instance, when Suzanne Lenglen wore her innovative tennis skirt at Wimbledon in 1922, it set the trend for women’s sportswear. This changed the entire fashion landscape, not just for tennis but also for the wider world of sportswear.
Other names for fashion include style, mode, vogue, fad, and craze. The term craze, in particular, suggests a fashion that is short-lived and unsustainable. It can also be used to describe a specific fashion that is currently popular in a given society, like a celebrity hairstyle or certain types of shoes.