What Is Fashion?

Fashion is something that society is presented four times a year. However there is more to fashion than just that when used in the correct form it can become a political statement. According to Jane Audas of SHOWstudio "The very act of dressing in the morning is a personal declaration of stance, aesthetics, consumption and class" and that if this is "not political then what is?".   

Fashion has always been more than just to look nice, previously it was used to govern what class somebody was this was known as the sumptuary law. However it was Royalty that started the concept of fashion, in particular Louis XIV of France. Louis made fashion important by making it part of social etiquette, this was all done as a way for him to control his nobility. Louis influence extended to many part of the world, such as the Russian court whose official court language was french. This was because to the rest of the world anything french evoked sophistication therefore to be so you needed to be associated with anything french. These factors suggest that France Versailles notably is where fashion was born and this was all due to Louis XIV. 

WHEN DID THE AGE OF FASHION DESIGNER OCCUR?

The age of the designer began in the 19th century, with Charles Fredrick Worth an englishman becoming the first designer and the father of haute couture. Worth is considered to be the first designer that branded his clothes through labels and is credited for Also his fashion house The House of Worth is meant to be the first ever fashion house,consequently establishing himself as separate from other designers.

Worth is still influential today here you can see, how Valentino has used the dramatic scroll pattern from one of Worths dress which was inspired by The Art Nouveau movement for his Spring/Summer 2013.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY 

Think Pink - Idealised version 

Blow Up - Represents the photographer as having all the power and fashion as being sad when it should be joyful 

Un Zipped Isaac Mizrahi - Fashion is about extravagance and is chaotic 

The September Issue - Represents fashion as being controlled by one women Anna Wintour