'Is Fashion clothing a form of social control?'

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Alex Taylor

Is Fashion clothing a form of social control?

        Fashion, defined as being the style popular at a given time, can be seen in every corner of the world in one form or another. Fashion is not only a very dynamic concept but is also seen to be specific to the location and context that it is in. Each culture has its own form of traditional fashion that can be seen in the more modern forms of fashion. As a result of increasing globalization many of these cultural barriers have been breached and the fashion within spills over into worldwide fashion. For example we might now see international footballers wearing a sarong in an attempted fashion statement. Role models are a key issue within the concept of fashion, and will be looked at further on in the argument.

        Clothes are a clear form of division within society, whether it is between class, gender or even sexual orientation. Anyone living in society can read into these signifiers and mostly have an understanding of what they represent. The clothes that we wear can often act a barrier between groups of people. The aim of wearing a certain type of clothing could be said to achieve a sense of belonging to a social group. As fashion changes, groups may wish to make a statement about their beliefs through their clothes, or lack thereof. Examples of such groups have in the past included those such as the ‘punks’ or the ‘Goths’. ‘These groups were concerned with an implicit politics of style, using fashion to quote, invert and distort dominant meanings’ (Connor, 1997, p.214). This idea of signifiers and signifieds is the reason that fashion has the effect on society that it does. If people could not read into the intended meaning of the fashion statement portrayed by the carrier, fashion would not be the important issue that it is and would in fact become obsolete.

        Accepting for now the importance of fashion in society, its origins within society are still uncertain. Certainly we are fed a lot of subliminal messages through influential and ‘fashionable’ people that are seen on the television and media. Those with a higher proportion of disposable income are usually the first to spawn a fashion for the very reason that they can afford to be up to date despite the rapidly changing trends. Class divides are therefore easily visible through fashion, where middle classes can be seen to searing now and expensive fashion items. Whereas, on the other hand, working class consumers might be seen as wearing items that has surpassed their peak of fashion. This being said, consumerism is not exclusive to the middle and upper class and is enjoyed by all. Even those with fewer resources to buy often simply spend a far higher proportion of their wealth in order to enjoy the changing fashion.

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        Fashion is a choice, an intended projection of oneself. It is often the case that a certain pride and personal values makes people wear what they wear. ‘Items of clothing can act as totems, communicating distinct social identities and identifying different ‘tribes’’, (Lury, 1996, p. 16). For instance class divides are often a matter of pride, or inversely one of embarrassment. Even not caring what one wears is a signifier and again is a projection to others. The signals that may emerge from observing what someone is wearing can be as significant as to convey the strengths of being ...

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