Let me set the scene- one of your closest friends is getting married to an engineer, and you know the wedding will be as extravagant as they come. She describes ice statues, and pyramids made out of champagne flutes. As happy as you are for her, you take a look in your closet and a wave of anxiety washes over you. What are you going to wear?

This is a question that afflicts the masses. Clothing plays a huge role in how we feel and carry ourselves. For a typically fancy event, such as a wedding, seldom will you see sweatpants or t-shirts. These events call for gowns and tuxedos, adorned in crystals and satin. This has become status quo. It’s in such garments that people tend to feel their best. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s rare to see people wearing a pair of stilettos to the grocery store. 

These are examples of the way in which clothing affects our behaviour. Clothing allows us to feel comfortable in a given environment. Like the example mentioned before, we dress up for formal events because it makes us comfortable and blend into a specific space. An article called “Clothing and Human Behaviour” explains that, “clothing is a relevant variable in social cognition and that the process by which clothing is related to human behavior may be studied in an advantageous manner from the framework of social cognition”(Burns and Lennon 46). This study supports the connection of social cognition and clothing. 

Based on experience, and support from the article, it is clear that clothing and behavior are linked. People use clothing as armour in such social events. There must also be a reason for this. 

One way of explaining this is the idea that clothing acts as an extension of one’s self. People use close as a means to express themselves. Rachel Zoe, a designer, expressesd that, “style is a way to say who you are without having to speak” (Dris). Every person has a different sense of style. We are all drawn to certain colours or patterns. Such a large part of the human life is dedicated to clothes- whether it be through shopping, choosing an outfit, or admiring other people’s outfits. Fashion is a direct way people are able to show who they are.

The need to express oneself goes beyond fashion. People do this in many forms like art, music, writing and so many more. Fashion is just another avenue. The need to display oneself to the world transcends fashion. It is rooted in the human experience itself. In a world where every single person is different, self-expression projects those differences for everyone to see. 

Works Cited

Lennon, Sharron and Burns, Leslie. “Clothing and Human Behavior from a Social Cognitive Framework Part I: Theoretical Perspective”. Clothing and Textiles Journal. June 1989. P.41-48. Accessed on March 9, 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247783551_Clothing_and_Human_Behavior_from_a_Social_Cognitive_Framework_Part_I_Theoretical_Perspectives/link/02e7e5324d2d0c7be0000000/download

Dris, Kaylee.”Why Personal Style is the Best Form of Self Expression”. Her Campus. April 5, 2018.  

https://www.hercampus.com/school/ufl/why-personal-style-best-form-self-expression

Nothing satisfies me more than buying something on sale. The amount of satisfaction I feel when I approach the checkout knowing I am not paying the price written on the tag gives me a rush- probably more than it should. The truth is, behind the companies that blast out mass produced products at cheap prices is a dirty reality.

The awareness of fast fashion and its effects has exponentially grown in recent years. Webster’s dictionary defines fast fashion as, “an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers” (“fast fashion”). Initially, the concerns regarding this issue dealt with the conditions workers endured to produce clothing. Companies are known to hire children and women in sweatshops where they are overworked and underpaid. 

The conditions of these work environments appear to pull at peoples heartstrings. Knowing a child in an impoverished country may have been slaving to make the clothes we buy on sale at a store constitutes some type of moral conflict. I have considered this many times before- how entitled can I be knowing the truth behind the clothes I own and continuing to partake? 

Another issue that’s gained some attention in recent years is the effect fast fashion has on the environment. Fashion is an enormous contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases. According to an article published by Vox magazine, “apparel and footwear production currently accounts for 8.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions” (Chua). In a world where climate change is increasingly becoming a bigger concern, this is another factor to consider before purchasing from these stores. 

Overall, the fashion industry, in simple terms, is a complete wreck. Despite the obvious vices surrounding this business, we continue to give them our money. As much as people are aware of these circumstances, the mass majority of buyers continue to give these companies business. In a way, this completely goes against the basic human ethics we’re raised with. Think about it- any balanced person would be extremely disturbed to see a child slaving away, simply to produce clothing that we consider stylish. This also goes for the environment. More and more individuals are altering their lifestyles to help the planet; yet fast fashion stores are just as busy as always. 

Has society’s pressure to maintain a certain appearance shifted our moral compass? This issue regarding fast fashion projects the fact that people are willing to sacrifice their moral values for societal approval. Based on general moral principles, it is silly to assume that anyone would genuinely approve of this issue. In an age where information is always at our fingertips, ignorance is not a good defense. As a whole, our society has become so consumed by physical appearance that we are willing to overlook the lives being negatively impacted along the way. Fashion can be a vessel to bring confidence and empowerment, but how valid is that if it takes those same attributes away from someone else?

“Fast fashion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20fashion. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020

Malik Chua, Jamsin. “The environment and economy are paying the price for fast fashion — but there’s hope”. Vox. September, 12, 2019. Accessed from https://www.vox.com/2019/9/12/20860620/fast-fashion-zara-hm-forever-21-boohoo-environment-cost

Everytime I watch a movie from before 2010, I find myself gushing over the way the characters are dressed. From bellbottoms to shoulder pads, fashion trends continue to ripple through decades. In my experience, I find myself continuously pulling items of clothing that my mom kept from the 80s and 90s, and incorporating them into my daily wardrobe .

 For unexplained reasons, it feels endearing to recycle these styles into my modern day life. Searching for vintage clothing has become a trend, as the rise of interest in thrift/vintage shopping has taken over.  The reason behind repeating fashions trends is not easy to pinpoint. Ominously, we see clothes resurface as the years go on.

One main explanation for this is the “20-Year Rule”, which is a term coined by the fashion industry that outlines that popular fashion trends usually repeat every 20 years.  I have seen this happen time and time again. Everytime I purchase a vintage themed item, my mom never ceases to remind me that, “she’s been there” and “done that”. 

A blog post published from The Medium, titled “Style secrets: why do fashion trends repeat?”, brings up a good point, regarding the 20-year role. It explains how often pop culture pulls from the past in order to be successful. T.V shows like Stranger Things and That 70s show play on this. People cannot help but be fascinated by past lifestyles that are no longer tangible. This can be also seen in the popularization of older shows, such as friends. There are numerous social media accounts dedicated to the fashion used in these shows. Watchers cannot get enough of it. 

All this made me question why me, and so many others, glamorize past fashion trends. For me personally, I feel like I am reliving a piece of history when I wear something vintage. I think it calls to the human fascination with the past. These dated trends make us feel nostalgic. They bring us to a time we may have not experienced. We cannot travel back in time, but notions such as vintage clothing are a tangible means to get a jist of another time. We essentially live vicariously through clothing.

This idea of nostalgia runs deep in people. A blog post by Elite Daily called, “The Science Behind Nostalgia and Why We’re So Obsessed With The Past”, quotes a psychologist saying, “Nostalgia serves a crucial existential function. It brings to mind cherished experiences that assure us we are valued people who have meaningful lives” (Martin). In general, this explains that nostalgia is a means people use to find meaning in their lives. Repeat fashions trends may have this effect on people. By fulfilling the wearers desire to relive the past, they have a sense of meaning. It goes beyond simply wearing a trendy style and touches upon the way the clothing makes us feel.

Works Cited

Konda, Sneha. “Style secrets: Why do fashion trends repeat?”. Medium. July 30, 2019. Accessed from https://medium.com/@snehako/style-secrets-why-do-fashion-trends-repeat-3f6484807ef5

Martin, Lauren. “The Science Behind Nostalgia and Why We’re So Obsessed With the Past”. Elite Daily. July 17, 2019. Accessed from https://www.elitedaily.com/life/science-behind-nostalgia-love-much/673184

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This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

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The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

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