Fashion helps us to define and show who we are and what we do

Fashion helps us to define and show who we are and what we do Introduction Fashion is like a kind of visual arts: people come to Karl Lagerfeld’s fashion show and express their excitement the same way they do at the Louvre when looking at da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Fashion is like sports: everybody wants to outstrip competitors and be the best.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Fashion helps us to define and show who we are and what we do specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fashion is like a magic wand: it seems to one that he/she just needs to put on a new splendid outfit, and his/her life will change completely. Funny as it may seem, these words are hardly an overstatement: today, fashion is constantly in the spotlight in media and remains one of the most discussable things in society. Scholars give different evaluations to the influence of fashion on contemporary people emphasizing both positive and negative social impacts; however, the fact of this influence is evident. That is why it is reasonable to continue the study of how fashion trends influence an individual’s life and how they are perceived by people. The paper aims at describing the influence fashion has upon our lives. The key notion of this discussion is identity. It is quite broad and can be defined in different ways; there are several levels of identity, and each of them requires particular discussion (Schwartz and Pantin 4). This approach seems to be appropriate for investigating fashion: as Loughran (4) marks, on the one hand, when people make decision about what to put on, they focus on their own principles, interests, and preferences. On the other hand, fashion trends find their origins in culture, traditions, social processes etc. and thus promote people’s integration. The study embraces three levels of identity and implies discussion of several questions, such as: How can be the notion of one’s identity defined? What is the mechanism of influence o f fashion on an individual’s identity? For an individual who demonstrates interest towards fashion trends and adjusts his/her style to them, is fashion a means of demonstrating belonging to some group, or, backwards, the way to highlight his/her exceptionality? How does the communicative function of fashion work? What expectations do individuals have about the results of efforts they make to follow the fashion trends? Fashion helps us to define and show who we are and what we do, and the research below aims at understanding how this help comes to be. The study includes analysis of scholars’ works and study of the cases from history and contemporary media.Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Levels of Identity Scholars offer different schemes of an individual’s identity depending on the identity levels they mark out. Based on Erikson’s and Marcia’s models, Schwartz and Pantin (1-40) describe five levels of identity, which are: Ego identity; Personal identity; Social identity; Ethnic identity; Cultural identity. Hall (cited in Kirchner 3) offers a generalized model of one’s identity, which includes three levels: Individual; Collective; National. It is possible to state that the individual level included into this scheme corresponds to the ego identity and personal identity from the abovementioned model; the collective identity is similar to the social identity; national identity is similar to ethnic identity and cultural identity. For the aims of this study, the three-level identity model is used in analysis of the link between fashion and identity. Below, the role of fashion at each of identity levels is discussed. Individual Identity It is reasonable to begin the study with the level of an individual identity, which can be defined as â€Å"a kind of self-identification as a human being with co gnitive and social capabilities† (Kirchner 3). An individual’s appearance is considered to be an important element of his/her identity: as Craik (137) argues, â€Å"†¦Our body image forms the basis of our idea of self and identity as an individual, shaped both by our bodily performance and by how others perceive us†. This corroborates the reasonability of studying the â€Å"individual-fashion† link. The notion â€Å"individual identity† includes a set of characteristics that outline who an individual is and how he/she is perceived by the other people. It seems reasonable to say that one’s identity is a priceless and inalienable asset he/she is lucky to possess. Not accidentally, an individual feels the desire to â€Å"communicate† his/her individual identity to the society (Kellner 264). Oscar Wilde highlighted the importance of this â€Å"communication† with humor and at the same time very precisely, â€Å"It is only shal low people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible† (quoted in Davis 1). The â€Å"messages† about one’s individual identity are numerous: style of life, interests, masculinity/femininity, ambitions, good taste, intelligence, profession, wealth, any kinds of personality traits etc. At the same time, a range of devices used in expression of these characteristics is also very wide: color and color combinations, silhouette, cut, fabric, length, style, texture and oth. (6)Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Fashion helps us to define and show who we are and what we do specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different combinations of these devices provide one with an opportunity for eloquent self-expression and endless experiments. Fashion is able to express any â€Å"dramatic type† one chooses: conservative, cool, glamorous, successful, t ender, intelligent, charismatic, â€Å"snobbish†, passionate and oth.; fashion specialists are always ready to offer the audience the corresponding style. In her (2005), Reynolds provides a broad range of â€Å"fashion personality† types, for example: the â€Å"classic type† preferred by women who â€Å"want to make a good impression†, â€Å"think long term†, and â€Å"self-monitor†; the â€Å"creative sparkler† type offered to bright females who â€Å"have many different sides and like to express them all, mixing colors, moods, and textures†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ; the â€Å"nature girl† type which is for women who want to emphasize their inner world and â€Å"prefer comfort over fashion†, etc (157-159). However, keeping in mind the fact that every individual is unique and inimitable, it is reasonable to assume that a number of such â€Å"fashion personalities† is incredibly big. Evolution of one’s identity starts at the moment of his/her birth; some characteristics are formed under the influence of the external environment (Schwartz and Pantin 8). Thus, it is interesting to answer the following question: how do one’s dressing habits form? Craik (136) offers an interesting term â€Å"prestigious imitation†: it reflects a young individual’s desire to â€Å"imitate† people whom they consider to be authoritative. Small children copy the actions their parents take and â€Å"absorb† the knowledge about what is good and what is inadmissible. Fashion also becomes an object of â€Å"prestigious imitation†: a child understands what he/she can put on for different occasions; being provided by the external environment, this knowledge is extending. However, this may give birth to a question: does this mean that the way an individual looks is formed by the environment only, regardless of his/her personality? Kellner disproves this statement (263) and refers to an interesting example of Madonna, a famous American singer. Madonna’s extravagant style was not created as a means of drawing attention of the audience; the singer began forming it during her young years: being pushed by the teenage â€Å"rebel spirit†, the future star began experimenting with her clothes – as Madonna herself says, â€Å"Only because we knew that our parents didn’t like it† (265).Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The abovementioned example can be evaluated from the perspective of fashion’s communicative function. Craik (137) talks about social â€Å"performing† and â€Å"projection† of bodies: an individual has a desire to communicate to the society who he/she is. Fashion â€Å"equips† one with a choice â€Å"of clothes, style, and image through which one could produce an individual identity† (Kellner 264). Thus, Madonna makes her original choice in clothes and style in order to brightly and precisely demonstrate to the society who she is and how she perceives herself. Fashion and other industries use the idea of â€Å"choice† to address customers’ individual identity and increase sales. Providing different â€Å"modifications† of the same goods, brands give customers an opportunity to show who they are thus fulfill their self.† African Arts 36.1. (2003): 52-65. Mendis, Patrick. Glocalization: The Human Side of Globalization as if the Washington Consensus Mattered. Morrisville, N. C.: Lulu Press, 2007. Reynolds, Susan. Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life: Strut Your Way to a Fabulous New You! Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2005. Rolley, Katrina. â€Å"Love, Desire and the Pursuit of the Whole.† Eds. Ash, Julieth, and Elizabeth Wilson. Chic Thrills: A Fashion Reader. Berkeley Calif.: University of California Press, 1992. 30-39. Sevanen, Erkki. â€Å"The Study of Cultural Identity: Development and Background of a Multi-Disciplinary Field of Research.† Eds. Kupianen, Jari, Erkki Sevanen, and John A. Stotesbury, Cultural Identity in Transition: Contemporary Conditions, Practices and Politics of a Global Phenomenon. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 2004. 33-63. Schwartz, Seth J. and Hilda Pantin. â€Å"Identity Development in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: The Interface of Self, Context, and Culture.† Ed. Columbus, Alexandra, Advances in Psychology Research. Volume 45. Huntington , N.Y.: Nova Science Publishers, 2006: 1-40.