Fashion is the style of something or an appearance that varies from person to person, day to day, time to time. It is defined as a succession of short-term trends or fads (Reilly, 2012).
The origin of fashion styles can be difficult to trace. Because cultures and communities are scattered across the world, it is often impossible to determine where a trend originated.
It is also commonly assumed that fashion trends are driven by societal change and the financial interests of designers, manufacturers, and others in the fashion industry. However, recent research suggests that there are internal taste mechanisms that drive changes in fashion even in the absence of social change.
Gatekeepers
The individuals who influence what is fashionable are called gatekeepers. These include marketing professionals, designers, and buyers. They are important in determining what is and is not fashionable, since they have great control over what people buy.
Theory
A fashion theory is a way of understanding why, when, and how styles and fashions develop. These theories range from “trickle-down” (upper-class theory), which explains how people in higher socioeconomic statuses set the trends, to “internal taste mechanisms” that drive changes even without a major shift in social culture.
In general, fashion is a way of behaving that a certain proportion of a group temporarily adopts and which is considered socially acceptable. This includes what is worn, a person’s manners, and etiquette. It also includes what is considered to be appropriate for a particular situation or occasion.