Monday 23 November 2009

Fashion & Style.

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.

Oscar Wilde


What’s the fashion? It refers to the styles of dress, cuisine, art, haircut and so on, that are popular during some period. People’s preferences change quickly, and so does the style, things used to be modern some time ago can be just ‘unfashionable’ now.



Creating a fashion.

Which factors make a fashion? Who is responsible for what’s trendy?

Firstly, the fashion magazines – such as ‘Vogue’ or ‘InStyle’: they show what’s going on in the sophisticated fashion loop. Usually they describe all aspects of life: from the most obvious, like clothes, haircut or make-up, to those more surprising: what colors are most modern to paint a garage or what to exactly say if somebody coughs. Fashion magazines capture readers thanks to beautiful photos and assurances, that usage of all the pieces of advice can make life happier and more successful.

The fashion magazines environment is quite specific. Most of the people ‘on the top’ are fashion and style-freaks, for whom being trendy is an only important issue. Sometimes this obsession of being trendy becomes almost pathological. Here is a trailer of a movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’:



Except the fashion magazines and designers, the fashion is modificated and promoted by celebrities. A lot of styles of clothing became popular after one of the stars appeared in this kind of dressing.

As an example I will mention the Beatles' famous haircut. When the beatlemania shook the world, all stuff connected with the 'fab-four' started to be trendy. This sloppy and ruffled hairstyle had became so popular, that even in Poland the great amount of boys started to stylize their hair 'a'la Beatle'.

I want to be original!

Nowadays more and more people search for their own style. They want to show themselves through their clothing, appearance and disposition. And that’s how the most of the youth subcultures were created.


Punks – it is a subculture based on punk rock music, which is a loud, fast and aggressive variation of rock music. It emerged in the United States, UK and Australia in the ‘70s. Punks prefer dark clothes, t-shirts with slogans, often with political references. They like heavy and metal additives like bracelets made of safety pins or studded collars. Their skin is often covered with tattoos, and they have a lot of earrings, not only in ears :). What’s more, they have always bizarre haircut, usually formed in a colorful Mohawk hairstyle.



Grunge - a style very similar to the previous one, based on the subgenre of punk and alternative rock – grunge, sometimes referred as the ‘Seattle sound’. This style became commercially successful in the ‘90s. The most important trait of this style are long hair, stained jeans and flannel shirt.

Hippie - the hippie-movement started in the early ’60s in the USA and quickly spread all over the world. Both man and woman wore loose jeans, t-shirts painted in bright colors and a lot of jewellery made of wood or yarn. Girls often wore long full skirts or dresses and big bizarre hats. Much of hippie clothing were hand-made. Hippie symbols were often inspired by Asian culture.

And, what’s the most important in the hippie culture, both man and woman wore very long hair. They worshiped their hair as much as they worshiped nature, happiness, peace, love and freedom. Just watch this part of famous musical ‘Hair’.



Goth
- the goth subculture began in the early 80s, in the UK, shortly after the gothic rock appeared in the music-world. Goth style revolves around Gothic literature, architecture and fashion. There are also many influences from The Bible.
Goth fashion can be recognized by its stark black clothing (or hair or makeup). Both male and female goths sometimes wear black eyeliner and fingernails in the same colour. They often wear a lot of jewellery: mostly they appreciate ankhs, crucifixes and other religious symbols.

Chav - a subculture which firstly appeared in English dictionaries in 2004. A ‘chav’ is an aggressive Caucasian teenager or young adult, who engages anti-social behavior, such as drinking alcohol on a street or getting into a fight on a matches. Chavs usually wear tracksuits and hoodies made by sporting marks like Adidas or Nike. Girls like short skirts and tight tops, they almost always have platinum-blonde hair and artificial fingernails. Chavs especially love going to the matches and listening to the hip-hop or R&B music.


Emo - today’s emo is commonly tied to two genres of music: emo and screamo. Those styles of rock music firstly appeared in the mid ‘80s. It’s characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics.
The typical emo wear skinny jeans, tight shirts with depressive quotations or with bands’ names, studded belts and Converse sneakers. They like distinctive make-up and long fringes. Emo is associated with a stereotype that includes being emotional, sensitive and shy. It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.

To sum up

  • Trends and styles change quickly.
  • For some people being trendy is the matter of life and death.
  • A lot of people want to be like their idols: they start to manifold celebrities’ style. Sometimes it becomes an obsession.
  • Being fashionable reduces the possibility of being rejected by the society. Having individual style gives an opportunity to become known.
  • Style makes our life more interesting.

What do you think? Is fashion an important part of our society?
With which subculture group do you identify mostly? Which group is in your opinion boring or maybe dangerous and culture-destroing?

59 comments:

  1. I agree with the statement that fashion is a part of our life, we can see it in the street and can identify people with certain subculture. However, I don't identify myself with any of them. I think I belong to the group of people who create their own style, what is a medley of various styles.

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  2. I think that it's not bad to have an original style and be a member of some subculture... I have many friends who are goths and listen to the heavy music and it's not a problem for me. But I hate when people wear some kind of clothes only because it's trendy. Of course, everyone can wear what he/she wants but I find it stupid... Fashion has never been the most important thing in my life and I think that it will never be... And nowadays it's really hard to be original... There're too many freaks all over the world ;)
    I have to say that I have never heard about "chavs" before ;) And I think I haven't missed a lot ;)
    And I love "Hair" - it's really great movie and musical :) Not only for people who like hippie style ;)

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  3. I don't identify with any of these subculture groups but I must say that it was really interesting for me to read about all of them. In my opinion fashion can't be dangerous or culture-destroying, but some of people who are in subculture groups could be fanatics and to do things which aren't dictated by fashion, as for example emos who injure themselves or want to commit suicide.
    But of course there are also positive aspects of membership in such groups, youth feel comfortable and safely among people who wear the same kind oh clothes, listen the same type of music, etc. So if they only don’t start to degenerate the idea of their subculture, I don't see anything wrong about it.

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  4. some of them looks crazy ;) some of subcultures are dangerous for me.. for example i'm afraid of skins. they seams to be angry all the time :/ im not belong to any of subcultures.

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  5. I'm not a member of any subculture, but I think, that many different styles of being (not only fashion or music!) makes our strets more colourful. I agree, that it's great to belong to society, where people have similar attention to life, some ideas, which connect them - of course, until the moment, when it could be harmful or even dangerous for other people.

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  6. Subcultures are interesting because we can know something about different side. It's curious music, opinions or ideas are created fashion. I think it's really good subject for psychologists, maybe for sociologists...

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  7. Somtimes people which would be fashion they are can look like monster! For example: person who have 100 earings and black mouth and red hair isn't fashion but in my opinion is crazy. I think people which would be fashion are very sad and lonley and in this way they would to pay attention for his mind but not for his apperance.

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  8. I find some subcultures pretty fascinating. I'd like to visit some day Bolków while it's hosting Castle Party, the biggest goth music festvial in Poland. Even the photos from that event are amazing and show that things people can do with their bodies have no boundaries.

    For me dressing only one wan is rather boring. I like to have a wider choice than only black t-shirts or baggy trousers.

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  9. First of all, I disagree that being in a subculture, or even become similiar to their style is fashionable. I think that, if someone belongs to subculture it means that he rejects temptation of being fashionable, in order to live in his own different way. Subculteres of courese have some influent on fashion, but they never create it; and I'm not surprised (would you want to look like persons on photos)... I don't identify with any of subcultures. I know that they sometimes contribute much to our society, but there are also many risks connected with them.

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  10. The most ridicoulus subculture I've ever heared is cerated by John Travolta. When I'm thinking about it I realize that we also called it some kind of church. The main message is not to wear tha same clothes second time. So they don't wash their colthes, just throw it away. It's starnge subculture and only for rich people, becuase their is no excuse for Armani suite.

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  11. Very nice review, I belive that the styles of dress, cuisine, art, haircut and so on, that are popular during some period is very strong connected with social rejection.
    Weak personalities feel very strong need for affiliation and social interaction. Strong not taking care about environment group opinion. They live as they want to live, wear what they like to wear, and they are uniqe.

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  12. I don't have a good recognision in this thema, because I'm not interested in fashion. For me, looking smart and handsome in clothes that we're wearing is number one. But I know, that for some people is a part of today's social life. Their clothes express their emotions and view for the world. But wearing jeans which looks like putting from the bin - riddiculous!!

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  13. Well when I was younger i was a punk and had a Mohawk. But I never liked piercing and tattoos so I don't have them. Of course there were a certain clothes bomber jackets and heavy duty boots or brands like Lonsdale London that we used to wear but there really wasn't any uniform. The style of clothing really evolved since 70's and today's punks rarely look like their 70' counterparts. Also so called punk-fashion was sucked in by the mainstream and we can easily buy some leather belts or collars with spikes, the kind of things which were always associated with punk-rock style, in all the most famous boutiques like H&M or New Yorker.

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  14. I think that fashion is very important for some people. Sometimes they care about their look too much, spend so many time doing shopping can make them addicted to it. Especially teenagers are susceptible to fad. I think that fashion should be a way to express yourself but not for at all costs. I choose clothes in which I feel good and which suit me.
    I don't identify with any group because I belive that individuality is the most imoptrant, however it's very hard to find new style because in all shops clothes are the same.

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  15. Closest for me is a grunge subculture. I was raised on Seattle Sound music bands like AIC NIrvana, Temple of the Dog, Screaming Trees, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Madseason. I used to wear checked flannel shirt, I also enjoyed wear sneaker. In my opinion fashion is a very important part of social life.

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  16. hello all,

    I have to admit that when I was younger, I belonged to many of diffrent lets say fashions. Once I was on a heavy metal side, once I was skate, even in primary school I was called in Polish as an "blokers" :).
    Recently I do not follow the fashion but I try to look tidy.

    I don't know but I do not like skins, they just disgust me, sorry if I insulted somebody.

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  17. The English say that a well-dressed man is a man who isn`t noticed by other people in the street. I agree with that. Someone, who wants to express himself by his clothes, isn`t probably an interesting person and doesn`t have to much to offer you as an talking partner;)

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  18. In my opinion fashion seems to be the most important for many.I dont't follow the fashion I only try wear clothes in wchich I look good. For me more important is style and personality, not only outside look.

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  19. I agree that fashion is a one of the most important things in our life and in our society. But i think that everyone should wear the clothes that he/she feel good in...not only going by the latest fashion trends. I don't identify with any of these subculture group.

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  20. Everyone knows how important is the first sight for somebody. I believe fashion is very important because it can show our way of thinking about world. Subculteres are the best example. I've never been a member of any subculture. I couldn't identify with any of groups because I didn't agree with them. Eventually hippie would suits me:) But I think subculteres are helpful for a lot of people (especially young people), because they can feel they are not alone on the world:) And if they want to demonstrate something by wearing specific clothes - why not?

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  21. Fine feathers make fine birds. It's obvious that our appearance speaks for us. If the others don't really know us, they infer from visual inspection.

    I don't identify with any fashion group, I don't need to show my otherness by clothes. But I have some frame of my look, because I can't say that it makes no difference to me.

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  22. I think that it's not really important if your clothes are very fashionable and up to date. The most important is that they shoul be always tidy, clean and they should fit well. It's good to have your own style but if you don't have good ideas it's fine to copy others good ideas.

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  23. I agree with Ania. Fashion is something that comes and goes (and sometimes comes back) and it shouldn't dominate our life. I don't identify myself with any subculture and I don't try to look trendy. Actually the expression "you should try on/buy this because it is now fashionable" makes me irritated. For me, it is most important to feel comfortable and good in clothes I wear.

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  24. I agree with you. Fashion changes very qiuckly and everything, what is now fashionable, was also in the past. Good, thst now people wear almost everything, even it looks a bit weird or stupid for someone else. But I don't identificate myself with any group. I'm not fashionable, I prefer to feel good and I buy this cloth, that looks nice for me.

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  25. I also agree. My priority is to feel good in what I wear and I don't care if that color was trandy in previous season. I don't like being told what to do and fashion for me is obeying orders. Look is very important but not that important to make such a fuss about it. The whole fashion industry is to make us to buy new clothes because those we have are "oldfashioned".

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  26. I is said : Don't judge anyone looking only on his clothes. This type of thinking was invented by people with no sense of good taste. If you want to be respected in your small society like school you must take a part in fashion rat race, or you may begin life of a NERD right now.

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  27. To be honest i don't understand Emo subculture. What is the point of self-injuring, talking about suicide in age of 16 ? Life has so much to offer it's shame to waste time on such nonsense.

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  28. I think that it is depend of people. I know that meny people want to look like they idol, but I don't belog to them. I tkink that I don't belong to and of this subculture. I have my own style. I think fashon is important, but I think that everybody should find their own style...I think the most ugly fashion is goth. The look for me awful, but this is only my opinion.

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  29. People from one subcultre didn't understand people from second subculture. That happen because we never think about what motivate the other people to wearing special clothes and why they listening only that type of music. My conclusion is short: we should be more tolerantly for other people.

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  30. Well, all of us need a group which to we can belong and we need to be accepted, in that special area tolerance is very important because every one of us is free and can wear whatever clothes he or she likes and listen to her or him favourite music, some subcultures may be difficult to understand but not impossible to understand.

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  31. Don't judge a people by their appearance...
    I like goth subculture, I identify with their, but I don't look as typically goth. Why? It's no safe in Poland...

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  32. fashion is very important in our lives for centuries and is part of our culture. People dressing up in a way they want to express themselves. There are many subcultures that the clothes they want to express their opposition against the present reality. I do not belong to any subculture, but the streets of Warsaw is very easy to see such a person

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  33. Nowadays fashion changes so quickly that it is hard to say what is in fashion. I'm not a follower of any subculture and fashion is not a matter of life or death.I'm too old for grunge and too young for a hippie style . I will wait for something that will suit my personality. For fun I would choose Emo style.

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  34. For me following fashion is useless. It's more important to have own style. In my opinion having your own style is much hader than just wearing someting that is on top and what's everyone are doing at certain time. Besides fashions devaluate really fast and after them you can be embaressed sometimes that for example you were wearing platforms (like when Spice Girls had it's 5 minutes.
    Also I've read somewhere that nowadays there is no such thing as a fashion. Now you can wear just anything and be fashionable. For example pants: slim, hippie, baggy pants - all are allowable.

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  35. In my opinion fashion is quiet important part of our society-it defines partly our attitude to life. It's good to have fun with it, not to blindly follow what the others wear.
    I persolnally like hippie style. Especially in the summer it's really comfortable.
    For me boring is "punk"-it looks always the same-black with some bright colours. It's not shocking, but repetitive.

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  36. I like the grunge style. But I mean - real grunge style. And real grunge style is being yourself, your SPECIAL self. If you like flannel shirts - good for you, wear them. But try to be original, try to make your own style - humble and natural, these are good words in my opinion. I don't like fashions at all, I think people are losing their individuality. You can hardly see the difference between them. The same about subcultures - first you choose subculture because of your character, your values, your own preferences. But very often - when you're 'in' you're starting to act like other people from this subculture...just beacuse the others are doing the same! And then you're creating a terrible, brain-washed crowd. Like in this Audioslave song: "Be yourself, it's all that you can do."

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  37. I do not like fashion. I think that people should dress and appear in way that they want to. I understand that somebody like some style but I can not work out willingness to be copy of idols or other people (what does it show?). My favourite culture is connected with rock music. I like sound of it and lyrics but I do not feel pressure to look like my idols. What is more sometimes it is very difficult to judge from my appearance my preferences. To my mind it is important to be widely opened on new ideas so I try not to judge other cultures from appearance or stereotypes.

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  38. Each fashion has its own rules. We like wear that wear our idols. Our idol is not always dress fashionably. Fashion and style is often connected with the music. For exaple roch, metal - black clothes and long hair, rap - loose clothes.
    Most people care about the appearance and they wont to look fashionable and this is nice. But I think that we are far to the West.

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  40. In my opinion it is important to know what to wear.We should know how to choose clothes to look appropriate to the occasion and make a good impresion and we can't completly forget about this that people SEE us not only hear,there are some rules,which we should fallow e.g we don't go the theater or on the exam in tracksuit,simply,it is not.So,I don't see nothing bad with care about the image,but wit moderation,because it is important but not the most important,this is only part of our live,not whole live,like someone think.
    For me the best style of this it is hippie style,I think that it is comfortable and in some way unconventional(more than the other)and it is the best connection.But I also like combine different style,it is good fun and I hope,effect.

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  41. I completely agree with Aneta .We should know how to match our style to the occasion :)
    I think that everybody decide about their style.If you want to look like girl from the catwalk...be like her!If you want to look like fan of Audioslave-look like him!:D But don't forget about you and your personality... :)

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  42. I agree whith you. I think that our style must match to our personality. We shouldn't pretend some other. I like see streets full of diffrent, colorfull people, but I notice that in Poland sometimes people don't accept other.

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  43. I absolutely agree with Aneta and Patpie that we should know how to wear. I accept different ways of fashion but I think some people a little bit too much identified with their subcultures. They seems to be so much connected with it that they don't want to get off their clothes anytimes. In my opninion they should think and for some ocassion choose more suitable clothes.

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  44. For me the most important is to be myself. Everyone should wear clothes which he or she likes.I'm very tolerant about fashion. My friends wear different kinds of clothets and it is OK for me.
    I think clothes should be comfortable,then you can do everything in it and feel happy.

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  45. hmm... Readind this articles I think that I can't completely belong in person to any groups. But In my opinion for people is very important what how we dress, what music we listen, what we have hair becouse it says about us a lot. People want to please the other person. By the appearance of their independence, like and dislikes. No matter when and where we want to look good, at school, at work or on vacation. Always:)

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  46. I think everyone has their own style and wears what he likes. Everyone has the right to look like he wants, but in moderation. People who look differently than most of us is considered strange. Each of us should know what style is good for it and do not try to look like someone else, because it is fashionable, just be by yourself.

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  47. The fashion still changes.Every year,even month something different is fashionable and new..
    And that's really crazy to follow after this all trends..
    First of all,it is expensive..On the other hand,we should have our style,personality and stop to change clothes every season..Then,we have to remember that we can really fashionable and nice 'old' clothes..It depends on how we will join different clothes,styles and how we will feel in wearing them..
    What else..do you want to look the same as other people?
    So,create your style and stop to think what is fashionable now..

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  48. Fashion is the expression of the personality.Fashion has a wider meaning. It isn't only the half-year long style from Vouge. Fashion could be a sign for a government, it express the mood of society. I guess it is enough to understand what I mean. I do not fallow any trends. I don't have time.Let me say that I'm 100 % natural. I only wear this what makes me feel self-confident, what makes me feel myselfe.

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  49. I think that fashion may be important - it's nothing wrong. But we should USE some elements of it, make fashion our inspiratio - not copy it. I don't understand many fashion slaves, they forget about own style and try to copy some fashion ideas... And the results are often horrible...

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  50. I think that fashion is important part of life, but everyone has individual style.
    Fashion is pointer not warrant

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  51. For many years I wear only black clothes and I listen metal music. But it was hell specially in summer time:] Now I wear whatever I want and when I met my old friends they say I betray our subcluture. I thind that people should have own style and not to be a prisoner in our skin.

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  52. There is a saying that ,,a real lady don't go home without make up". I don't agree with this saying. I think that makeup improves being and make you feel self-confident. In my opinion some women don't interested fashion

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  53. hmmm, fashion. I've never been good at it. Usually, I wear what is comfortable for me and how good I feel. I do not identify with any subculture often but I can see their representatives in the streets (some I think are really weird)

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  54. In my opinion, fashion is important, but I'm not very fashion - forward person myself. But I can understand who beg for fancy clothes. I don't take part in any subculture.

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  55. I like street fashion mostly inspired by hip hop. For me clothes are the part of myself. I like sneakers and snapbacks and have little collection of both. I don't have problem with other subcultures but some creations make me laugh. Clothes are not the most important when I meet people but I pay attention to how someone is dressed.

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  56. I actually do not feel as part of any subculture. But I think that different fashions and general eclectic style in our society is actually myriad of beautiful colours,clothes and even make-up. Very impressive and mostly I enjoy watching people with extraordinary style.
    Besides, fashion changes very quickly, so people like me, who just like to observe other people, will never be bored by that.

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  57. I think its not about what you wearing as loong as your not hurting anyone right? Fashion is fashion its always gonna change. But you dont. So stay yourself even when ur wearing black long dress with a cat on it :D

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  58. The blog "Fashion&style" shows what factors are responsible to nowadays fashion. The most important are magazines. The magazines play an important role in fashion world because they usually describe what is the best on clothes or haircut.The celebrities also direct fashion. When the famous person wear somethink interested, a lot of people want to have this things. But there are a people who want to have own specific style f.ex. punks, grunge, hippie and so on. This people pay attention by individual style.

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  59. It’s a very individual case, but I think it’s very important to look good (in our opinion), because then we are more confident. I don’t think that we need to have always the top fashion clothes. Everyone have to find his own style, because when you don’t care about fashion, it’s also a kind of fashion. Fashion it’s a very easy way to express yourself.

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