Fashion is a way of living, a mode of expression that reveals a lot about personal identity. Fashion can also be a means of social or cultural status, reinforcing a particular lifestyle or a desire for recognition among peers. Different aspects of fashion – including fabric, color, pattern, and accessories – can communicate an array of meanings, from personal and cultural values and norms to social status, historical context, gender roles, emotional states, and even imagination and fantasy.

Historically, a change in fashion occurs along what is known as a bell curve: First, the innovators of a new style create it and then spread it through what are commonly referred to as “fashion leaders.” Then others who identify with these fashion leaders will follow suit, and eventually other members of their role-set will begin to wear this style. When the popularity of a certain style begins to fade, it is considered to be out of fashion. Then, a new fashion will emerge and repeat the same process.

In the modern world, this accelerated cycle of new fashions makes it difficult to keep up with all of the changes. Some people feel that fast-paced changes in fashion encapsulate many of the negative aspects of capitalism and encourage unnecessary consumption, while others, especially young people, enjoy the diversity that changing fashions can offer. In addition to changing styles, fashion can also be used to enforce uniformity: for example, some garment manufacturers produce a line of clothing that is worn exclusively by members of a military force.