Different Clothing Styles over Years in Different Parts of the World - Literature review Example

Different Clothing Styles over years in Different Parts of the World Name: Institution: Introduction The global platform is currently dominated by different forms of multimedia which facilitate the process of interaction and communication among individuals in different parts of the world. One of the most influential aspects in defining the trends in interpersonal relationships is clothing (Howlett et al, 2013). Clothing can be used to communicate different forms of information regarding culture, class, beauty and other personal attributes such as the level of sociability, proficiency and intelligence (Ashdown, 2014). Different societies have over the years exhibited different styles in terms of their clothing. These in most cases have been facilitated by their levels of technology and societal development. The main objective of this paper is to conduct a study on different clothing styles that have characterized fashion n trends in diverse parts of the world. This will realized with reference to the United States, China, Japan, the Middle East and Africa. Trends in dressing in USA, China, Japan, Middle East, and Africa Different societies have over the years demonstrated different forms of development in terms of their dressing. The US and Japan are liberal societies that are characterized by cultural multiplicities. However, the dressing styles of these communities other than being influenced by culture have also been deeply influenced by the desire to realize fashion trends (Ashdown, 2014). The liberal nature of the fashion market has therefore continuously allowed these countries to determine the best possible dressing styles in different occasions. Dressing styles in these societies hare therefore influenced by the occasion (Khare et al, 2012). This is because clothing according to the Japanese and American communities plays the role of enhancing the self-perception of the wearer (Ashdown, 2014). There are dresses that are to be worn in dinners, ballroom parties and in-house parties. These are often long and descent dresses among women while men often wore suits or some form of official clothing. Sports and luxurious activities such as swimming have also their own designs of clotting to suit the occasion (Ashdown, 2014). China unlike the US and Japan is a conservative society whose techniques in dressing have been defined by long history of cultural development. The Chinese culture of dressing has often been considered as unique since it draws all aspects of its originality from more than 2000 years of development (Ashdown, 2014). Traditional hanfu dress, for instance, has continuously characterized Chinese clothing industry. This has been because of the glamour and the creativity that has continuously characterized the dress. Kimono style dress has also played an influential role in defining the trends in dressing among the Chinese (Howlett et al, 2013). African and the Middle East have often been defined as relatively strict societies in terms of clothing. This has been attributed to religious and cultural connotations. In the Middle East for instance, the trends in dressing have continuously been defined by the Islamic religion (Howlett et al, 2013). This religion has a definite approach to the way women and men should dress to reflect the image of the society. Women for instance have been expected to wear long dresses and hijabs to cover their bodies and protect them from men. Men in this society often wear the dishdasha which is a long while robe (Howlett et al, 2013). The mode of dressing is relatively different in Africa considering that the continent is characterized by diver’s populations. The mode of dress is often in defined by the prevailing culture (Ashdown, 2014). This means that the dressing style in West Africa is different from that of East, Central, South and North Africa. Africa has however received much of its influence on clothing from the Europeans and the Americans especially during the colonial period (Ashdown, 2014). The European colonialist while implementing foreign structures in Africa, they also introduced different aspects of fashion that define the continent. Despite this intervention one of the clothing styles in West Africa that has continuously been dominant is the boubou which is a wafting wide sleeved robe (Ashdown, 2014). Other than the religious background that has continuously characterized trends in dressing style in the Middle East, the effects of globalization have continued to dominate fashion in this region. The Middle East is currently enriched by an amalgamation of influences derived from the cultures in this region (Khare et al, 2012). This is an indication that the contemporary society in the Middle East is home different dressing styles which derive their identities from traditional designs. Religion still plays an essential role in the determination of the design and the adherence to strict measures (Patel, 2012). The effects of changes in clothing styles Changes in dressing styles have continuously played an influential role in determining different aspect in the society. Other than the role intended by clothing to protect human beings from cold and exposure, dresses have also changes the perception of people in terms of their sentimental value (Ashdown, 2014). Dressing style in developed societies such as the US, China and Japan communicates crucial information on impression (Li et al, 2012). This means that dressing styles have been used to convey information regarding different personalities. In China for instance, the ability of an individual to wear traditional clothing is often perceived in relation to respect to years of cultural supremacy. The situation is however different Japan and USA where clothing is perceived as an art (Ashdown, 2014). Celebrities in these societies often consider the colour and styles in their clothing to demonstrate their ability to attract and control power from different sources. The USA for example the colour of tries and other forms of clothing have been used to determine the levels of power. The president of the country often appears in red coloured ties. This is often a reflection of his confidence and power compared to those of other countries (Ashdown, 2014). Changes in clothing styles have also attracted negative sentiments from different factions of the globe. In the Middle East, and Africa for example, the type of clothing that an individual wears can often be used to determine the levels of morality of that individual of the said societies (Ashdown, 2014). Miniskirts and in dresses in Africa and the Middle East have been viewed as a display of loose morals (Patel, 2012). In the Middle East this has often been perceived to be in contravention with the Islamic teachings on dressing. It fails to adhere to the standards of decency (Patel, 2012). In the African context the situation is relatively different and dependant on cultural orientation (Li et al, 2012). Despite the differences in culture, explicit or dresses that seem to reveal parts of the body that are perceived as private are often a sign of disrespect to the elderly and the rest of the society. The US which is a liberal society often perceives short skits as a platform of creativity and courage among the wearers. This level of courage has been perceived as the driving force in the fashion industry (Ashdown, 2014). In the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia clothing has been used as an essential determinant of the social differences in the society. Dressing styles among men for instance has been used to distinguish the wearers in term of their professions and their status in the society (Howlett et al, 2013). The merchants in this society often wear long floor-length coats of plain fabric while the religious leaders often wear ample gowns. The Ashraf, who are believed to be of the lineage of Prophet Mohammed often wear long elaborate coats. These differences in dress are often used to define differences between different individuals among members of the Saudi community (Howlett et al, 2013). What changes have been evident to the clothing styles after the WWII? The end of the Second World War has often been perceived as the beginning of globalization and merging of cultures and market economies. Through these platforms, different cultures and societies were continuously able to intermingle and exchange cultural and societal aspects of clothing (Ashdown, 2014). The US, China and countries in Africa were able to access the same kinds of clothing that were available in other developed countries in terms of fashion such as France, and Britain (Ashdown, 2014). The US for instance was able to create its own dressing style such as the Clair Mc Cardell. This was considered as an important step towards the development of different styles of dressing. Clair Mc Cardell for instance was largely influential since it introduced a unique type of cotton dress. The most memorable trait of this historical design was the way the stripes on each side of the dress met and created a “W” shape on the waist (Li et al, 2012). Men’s dressing style in the period following the Second World War also changed and experienced the introduction of new trends such as the Hawaiian shirts. These were clothing that were made to suit the luxurious living on the beaches (Howlett et al, 2013). In China new fashion emerged. The fashion and dressing style in China was largely influenced by the Soviet Union considering that the two countries were united in terms of ideology (Howlett et al, 2013). The period following the Second World War was also characterized by buying clothes from coupons (Ashdown, 2014). During this period, parents bought bigger sized clothing for their children do that they could grow into them. In addition, in the Chinese society, parents bought high quality clothing that could be passed over to younger siblings (Ashdown, 2014). Military clothing was less common during this period since the effects of the Second World War led to the development of the notion that being a soldier was undesirable (Howlett et al, 2013). Japan unlike other countries in the world faced numerous challenges in its fashion industry. This was because of the devastating effects of the war that had interfered with normal operations of the country. This country was only able to borrow fashion trends from other developed countries such as the US (Ashdown, 2014). In the US fashion was largely defined by the youth especially in 1950s. The female students for example had their dressed in wool sweater, a collared shirts. In addition, these individuals also dressed in knee length skirts and shoes worn with socks. The influence was not only unique to women but also to men whose dressing was characterized by sweaters and suits. The victory of the US in the period following the end of WWII led to economic growth and the development of national pride. These feelings were reflected in the luxurious clothing styles that became popular (Howlett et al, 2013). In Africa, changes in dressing were largely inspired the decision by the African leadership to embrace the clothing styles as introduced by their colonial masters. During this period African clothing was largely defied by khaki clothing especially those in official positions such as the policemen and other administrative officials (Ashdown, 2014). Chiefs in different location were also dawned in large sheets of clothing which were inspired by both colonial and traditional practices that defined the culture of clothing. Clothing in Africa during this period was a reserve of the few who had the economic ability to purchase clothing (Li et al, 2012). Other than the economic differences, the development of the African trade was influenced by their trade relations with Arab communities and western countries. This was most especially with the North African countries such as Egypt (Khare et al, 2012). Colonialism and the desire to ensure some form of improvement in their clothing styles West African countries through the influence derived from the Arabian countries began developing clothing characterized by different designs and embroideries as part of their clothing (Patel, 2012). The boubous for instance are full length embroidery robes that are designed in accordance to the gender of the wearer (Ashdown, 2014). Since the end of World war II different countries, especially women in the Middle East have continues to question strict religious policies that define their dressing. This explains why women in countries such as Iran have continued to make political statements by blending western fashion with concepts from Islam. Many women in the Middle East have questioned the dress code as defined by their countries. This they have demonstrated by donning colourful and fashionable coats with matching head scarves (Li et al, 2012). Saudi Arabia like Iran abides by numerous traditional interpretations of the Islamic codes of dress. Despite this adherence, Saudi women have often accessed fashion from western designers. However, these designs and accessories are often donned in female settings. In addition, globalization has made Saudi Arabia one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East (Patel, 2012). This explains why the country is the leading exporter of fashion from Germany (Patel, 2012). What is the relationship between gender and changes in clothing styles across the world? The trends in fashion and dressing styles have affected both the male and female designs. This has been associated with the trends in globalization and the ability of different fashion designers to develop different clothing designs (Li et al, 2012). In addition, different levels of development and the liberal nature of the fashion industry have contributed to the growth in the nature and trends of in fashion in the US for example, women have been perceived as the most dominant in terms of popularity in the fashion industry (Howlett et al, 2013). Their popularity is largely defined by the ease in designing female clothing and the desire by females to acquire better facilities. Fashion for the male population is relatively different from that or the women. This is because it is characterized by limited changes on already existing designs such as pants and suits (Li et al, 2012). In Japan fashion is influenced is largely influenced by American trends. The prevailing trends in both male and female designs in America have been perceived to share relationship with the influences in Japan (Li et al, 2012). Japanese fashion has been perceived as detailed and comfortable. This is because the fashion trends of both and female clothes are a mixture of the American, European and Japanese fashion. In Japan women like men are in the process of seeking more exclusive clothing brands. The desire for uniqueness explains why the fashion trends by women are largely inspired by the desire to realize to acquire brands from other countries such as those in Europe and in America (Howlett et al, 2013). China is largely a conservative society with an objective of promoting the internal markets. Fashion trends have affected both the male and female designs. The effect has been major on female clothing largely because of the transition from robes to skirts and dresses. The Chinese skirts for instance are often characterized by embroideries that are in constant change and improvement. China like other countries in the Middle East and in Africa has also been affected by globalization. Globalization and the influx of designers in different parts of the world have contributed to major changes in female clothing. Women in Africa and the Middle East are obsessed with the desire to merge their cultural and religious beliefs with modern designs (Li et al, 2012). Conclusion Different societies have over the years exhibited different styles in terms of their clothing. These in most cases have been facilitated by their levels of technology and societal development. The ability of different countries to share information on fashion trends coupled by the effects of colonization in Africa has contributed to similarities in dressing styles. In Middle East and Africa, interaction with the West has contributed to the merging of western designs with those of the Islamic religion in the Middle East. In addition, African traditional designs have continuously been made in relation to USA, Asian and European fashion trends. References Howlett, N., Pine, K., Orakçioglu, I., & Fletcher, B. (2013). The influence of clothing on first impressions: Rapid and positive responses to minor changes in male attire. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 17(1), 38-48. Li, B., Lian, X. C., & Lu, B. L. (2012). Gender classification by combining clothing, hair and facial component classifiers. Neurocomputing, 76(1), 18-27. Ashdown, S. P. (2014). Creation of ready-made clothing: The development and future of sizing systems. Designing apparel for consumers: The impact of body shape and size, 17-34. Khare, A., Parveen, C., & Mishra, A. (2012). Influence of normative and informative values on fashion clothing involvement of Indian women. Journal of Customer Behaviour, 11(1), 9-32. Patel, D. S. (2012). Concealing to reveal: The informational role of Islamic dress. Rationality and Society, 24(3), 295-323. Read More