Fashion, according to Webster, “is any way of dressing, behaving, writing or performing that is favored at any time or place.” Fashion is so much more than what we cover ourselves up with.
My favorite designer, Coco Chanel, put it best, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with how we live, what is happening.”
Many think fashion is superficial, without much value, but I think that is far from the truth. The clothing we wear is often our most powerful and obvious form of personal expression. Fashion allows you to express yourself on a daily basis just by wearing what you love. The way you dress tells the world your preferences, your personal style – even what kind of mood you are in.
Fashion is created through the dreams of countless individuals. Fashion boosts the economy and creates jobs for many people – from the designer who sketches the original concepts, to the outfitter who manufactures the clothing, to the salesperson who sells the garments.
Fashion is history. Fashion cannot only tell you about what people wore during a certain time period, but can give you insight into their lifestyles.
Fashion is art. The creation, display, and wearing of fashion expresses creativity just as much as painting, writing and photography. Fashion is the one art form that makes life more beautiful by making people look and feel more beautiful.
Fashion is cyclical. If you hold on to anything long enough it will come back in style. A style will go from fashionable, to so hopelessly last year, to tragically dated, to vintage, to timeless. If you invest in quality clothing, you can conceivably wear them for many decades.
Fashion is also change. The ability to constantly renew itself is what makes fashion so intriguing. For all its beauty, fashion has the power to transform us all.
-by Nicki Smith
About the Author: Nicki Smith has been in the fashion industry for over 40 years. She is the owner of and buyer for Pappagallo, located at 2020 Scottsville Road in Bowling Green (The Pines Shopping Center, next to Chico’s).
