Fashion is a global industry that encompasses the design, production, and distribution of clothing, footwear, accessories, and cosmetics. It reflects the changing trends and styles in a society and can be used as a tool for self-expression or to convey a message. It often varies from place to place, but can also be changed by cultural or environmental factors. For example, traditional clothes in a particular region may be altered through the capitalization and commoditization of the cultural aesthetic, or by adopting certain elements from other cultures or subcultures.
Clothes have long been used as a means to communicate social status, as an expression of personal style, or to identify with a particular group (e.g., goths, punks, or preps). Fashion can be considered as a form of art, with the creation and design of clothing being influenced by many factors such as music, history, and culture.
The earliest examples of continuous change in clothing style can be dated to late medieval times, when the silhouettes of male over-garments were abruptly and drastically shortened from the traditional calf length to almost touching the ground. Fashions have also been influenced by military models, with soldiers making note of foreign styles that they encountered in their travels.
There are several different types of fashion writing, depending on the target audience and the intended tone. For example, articles written about bohemian chic styles are typically geared towards younger readers and have a light, whimsical tone, while fashion writing for older women or men tends to be more sophisticated in its language.