CLOTHING
“fashion” → A SPECIFIC style of clothing and/or accessories that is accepted by a
SPECIFIC group of people during a SPECIFIC period of time.
→ Usually the style is accepted by more and more consumers until it is widely and easily
available, until a new style is accepted and the old style is replaced in popularity.
Fashion style: A style only becomes fashion when it is accepted by a large group of
consumers
→ differences/additions whereby similar products are distinguished from one another
Silhouette
● This is the outline of your body/ garment which you can see from distance (even
before you notice the detail)
● 3 basic silhouettes: Cylinder, triangle and bell
Fashion trend:
● GENERAL DIRECTION THAT A FASHION STYLE TAKES
● E.g. hemline/ shape of neck / waistline/ sleeve length
Contemporary Fashion (Standard fashion)
● Styles that are CURRENTLY ACCEPTED and WORN by MANY PEOPLE
● Mass-produced and then sold in chain stores, at affordable prices
● Remain in fashion for 2-3 years
Haute Couture/ High Fashion
● New, unique and exclusive styles
● Created by fashion designers
● Usually very expensive (limited numbers made, outstanding quality)
● Only affordable to the very rich and a few fashion leaders
● Only successful if they are accepted by fashion-leaders and the public
Fashion Fad
● Rapidly accepted and worn by a relatively small group of consumers
● Suddenly become popular, but disappear just as quickly
● Usually last for ONE season
● Reasons: usually a poor design, too extravagant or just too extreme E.g. platform
shoes, plastic shoes, gloves
Classic style/Timeless fashion
● Timeless
● Remain in fashion because of their simplicity
, ● These styles are a good investment – remain popular over a long period
● Always considered elegant
● Usually of good quality
● E.g. denim jeans, plain t-shirts, tailored suits
Influences determining contemporary fashion
● The 1800s = only rich people dressed fashionably
● After the Industrial revolution = more people could dress fashionably (clothes were
mass-produced and available at affordable prices)
● Main influences today:
○ 1. International fashion shows: designers introduce their fashion ideas to
clients through fashion shows (summer and winter)
○ 2. Celebrities/ icons whose style is copied: celebrity's styles are closely
followed and imitated → these ideas are mass-produced so that
ordinary people can wear them
○ 3. Inspiration from fashions of previous eras: designers use previous eras for
inspo
Fashion cycles:
● Start from the beginning and end at the same place
● A fashion cycle usually has 5 phases:
○ 1. The launch/introductory phase: the style is new, worn by fashion
leaders, exclusive and expensive.
○ 2. The rise: more people are exposed and accept the style, celebrities now
wear the style.
○ 3. The peak: Mass production stimulates affordable prices and discount
sales.
○ 4. Decline becomes less popular and fewer people wear it, becomes sales
items to get rid of stock, a new fashion trend is introduced
○ 5. the end: fashion style is now complete, dies out and disappears, new
fashion trend has now been established.
By the time the fashion or style has reached the peak phase another style or fashion is being
launched. Therefore the consumers will never get bored with fashion.
“fashion” → A SPECIFIC style of clothing and/or accessories that is accepted by a
SPECIFIC group of people during a SPECIFIC period of time.
→ Usually the style is accepted by more and more consumers until it is widely and easily
available, until a new style is accepted and the old style is replaced in popularity.
Fashion style: A style only becomes fashion when it is accepted by a large group of
consumers
→ differences/additions whereby similar products are distinguished from one another
Silhouette
● This is the outline of your body/ garment which you can see from distance (even
before you notice the detail)
● 3 basic silhouettes: Cylinder, triangle and bell
Fashion trend:
● GENERAL DIRECTION THAT A FASHION STYLE TAKES
● E.g. hemline/ shape of neck / waistline/ sleeve length
Contemporary Fashion (Standard fashion)
● Styles that are CURRENTLY ACCEPTED and WORN by MANY PEOPLE
● Mass-produced and then sold in chain stores, at affordable prices
● Remain in fashion for 2-3 years
Haute Couture/ High Fashion
● New, unique and exclusive styles
● Created by fashion designers
● Usually very expensive (limited numbers made, outstanding quality)
● Only affordable to the very rich and a few fashion leaders
● Only successful if they are accepted by fashion-leaders and the public
Fashion Fad
● Rapidly accepted and worn by a relatively small group of consumers
● Suddenly become popular, but disappear just as quickly
● Usually last for ONE season
● Reasons: usually a poor design, too extravagant or just too extreme E.g. platform
shoes, plastic shoes, gloves
Classic style/Timeless fashion
● Timeless
● Remain in fashion because of their simplicity
, ● These styles are a good investment – remain popular over a long period
● Always considered elegant
● Usually of good quality
● E.g. denim jeans, plain t-shirts, tailored suits
Influences determining contemporary fashion
● The 1800s = only rich people dressed fashionably
● After the Industrial revolution = more people could dress fashionably (clothes were
mass-produced and available at affordable prices)
● Main influences today:
○ 1. International fashion shows: designers introduce their fashion ideas to
clients through fashion shows (summer and winter)
○ 2. Celebrities/ icons whose style is copied: celebrity's styles are closely
followed and imitated → these ideas are mass-produced so that
ordinary people can wear them
○ 3. Inspiration from fashions of previous eras: designers use previous eras for
inspo
Fashion cycles:
● Start from the beginning and end at the same place
● A fashion cycle usually has 5 phases:
○ 1. The launch/introductory phase: the style is new, worn by fashion
leaders, exclusive and expensive.
○ 2. The rise: more people are exposed and accept the style, celebrities now
wear the style.
○ 3. The peak: Mass production stimulates affordable prices and discount
sales.
○ 4. Decline becomes less popular and fewer people wear it, becomes sales
items to get rid of stock, a new fashion trend is introduced
○ 5. the end: fashion style is now complete, dies out and disappears, new
fashion trend has now been established.
By the time the fashion or style has reached the peak phase another style or fashion is being
launched. Therefore the consumers will never get bored with fashion.
