How Fashion Is a Social Process and Method for Producing - Essay Example

FASHION AS A SOCIAL PROCESS AND THE METHOD FOR PRODUCING DISTINCTION Name of the Class Professor Name of the School City and state where it is located Date Fashion As A Social Process And The Method For Producing Distinction. Fashion can be defined as a style that is affiliated with a certain group of people or place. Fashion as a social process can be termed as an ideal and also as an idea that finds its expression materially and visually in forms that are colored, branded, having different textures and shapes and is produced within limits of cultural, local and global systems where it is also circulated. It does not only involve clothing but rather has expressions of one’s individuality (Wolf 1950, p. 24). When it came to the suffragette movement started in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst to fight for women’s rights the representation of habits, ideas and even the clothes they wore all worked together to make their cause raise attention and be heard by the relevant authorities who could institute change (Rolley 1990, p. 47). This paper discusses fashion as a social process and the methods for producing distinction. Georg Simmel thinks of fashion not just as a single realm of social life but rather as a general occurrence of all societies that are modern in nature. He terms is as a social horizon where the interests of individuals come up together collectively (Simmel 1971, p 133). Social customs and their stability are challenged by new and more innovative aesthetics and behavioral forms. In that case any other object can represent fashion such as clothes, habits and even ideas. Fashion represents the need for social equalization with the need for individual differentiation. In this case we find that people adopt new ways of doing things and carrying themselves as they emerge. They seek individualism by the way they represent themselves in their dressing and mannerisms while also wanting to join with others in the society. The ever changing trends and habits of people form the societies we live in and as such different types of fashion emerge that people choose to take upon which are sometimes materialistic such as clothes and sometimes behavioral such as how one carries themselves in public gatherings and even modes of interaction. These adaptations help individuals to express themselves however they see fit by the way they chose to dress or behave. It brings a sense of their identity and individualism, while also bringing the people together as a society. During WW1, as men went off to help and fight in the war women took on the roles of men. Women and young girls who had worked as domestic servants in the past took on jobs in factories, administrative positions, worked as nurses , drivers, on farms and joined volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross and even joined the army (Wolf 1950, p 16). Thus began a new image of women, one that had freedom, and self respect leading women away from the traditional gender roles they had played. Most of these new jobs required the wearing of uniforms that included trousers. Military looks found their way into fashion with the emergence of military style tunic jackets and belts. This was after Paris lost its leading role in fashion when the war began attributed to the lack of communication between the US and Europe (Capalbo 2016, p. 411) . As the women adopted their new roles, fashion changed and women wore less lavish clothes and jewelry and dress codes became lenient. Skirts became shorter instead of the long narrow skirts they were used to while colors became sober. In this era we see the society changing in terms of fashion and behavior due to the new roles of women during the war. From hence forward we see changes in clothing with outcries from traditionalists who sometimes thought they were too revealing or too short (wolff 1950: p 16). It was also the time when trousers emerged in women’s fashion notably the harem pants being worn together with evening wear for ladies (Capalbo 2016, p 413). Fashion moved away from the Victorian and Edwardian eras of layers and bulk and became more flexible and light. The changes in fashion and roles of women continued to influence the society leading to women demanding for the right to vote and using fashion in the suffragettes movement to represent a more refined and independent woman. The new type of woman was active, bolder and more outspoken than their mother’s generation. The embracing of new activities and fashion of conducting their lives did not come without resistance as the men thought women could not do anything on their own and had to be guided by the men. Looking at Simmels thoughts on fashion we find that the changes became more of social processes dictating the way people dressed and behaved. Suffragettes were expected to dress in their best attires so as to put across their messages and also to be taken serious while at it. White was a popular color of dress perhaps indicating the purity of their goals. Sleeves on dresses were shorter and hemlines higher above the ankle (Parkins 1995, p. 69). Collars were not as high as before and showed a little collar bone. All this went to indicate the changes that had taken place in women roles and reflected on their modes of dressing which was now a little more lenient even having loose fitting skirts compared to the hobble skirts that restricted movement. Instead of taking on strategies that showed resistance by refusal they picked ones that showed resistance by reversal. They chose not to dispute the contemporary changes in ideals on femininity but decided to conform them. Instead of putting on an image of strong minded women with masculine clothes they chose more feminine and fashionable outfits. They made it so that they appealed to the eye especially when the media was upon them (Simmel 1971: 133). They avoided sartorial affront and dressed decently causing their numbers to grow and their cause to raise attention. They chose the colors purple for loyalty, green for hope and white for purity with the color schemes being designed in 1908 by Emmeline Pethick. As fashion changed during the Second World War women took to wearing their husbands altered trousers when their men had gone to fight in the war. The clothes were mainly use for working in gardening and other chores. As the clothes got worn out more pants were made with designs that suited women making it part of their fashion in the 1940’s. The trends became accepted in society and became part of their everyday occurrence further releasing the hold that tradition had on women and their modes of dressing and behavior. Trousers, short skirts and dresses that had natural waist lines without the use of corsets made for more comfortable attire. The end of World War One saw a change in almost all aspects of human activity. Morals and customs were relaxed and women entered the workforce in great numbers. During the revolution fashion was not left behind and transitioned with the rest of the changes. Different attires were worn on different hours of the day, there was the morning dress that was simple cotton dress with low oxford heels and an apron. There was street wear that was higher quality than the cotton prints (Taylor 2002, p 40). Suits made of skirts, blouses and sweaters matched with oxford mid heels. Dresses made of silk and crepe were also appropriate. Accessories were simple matching the outfit with matte stockings. Hats and gloves were worn together with matching purses to accessorize (Mc Robbie 1998:p 94) . After that there was afternoon tea which was the most common social activity amongst friends. Here people dressed in lighter dresses, with brighter material and even more trim. Accessories were more elegant and dramatic with higher shoes and strappy heels. Gentlemen wore linen suits or clothing of sporty nature for country tea parties. In college people wore sportswear which comprised of knit wear for just about everything. Girls were expected to change their attires for dinner and have different dresses for the purposes with men wearing looser suits mostly without jackets but shirts and pants, ties and belts with hats being optional. Dinner and dancing also called for a different type of attire with the dresses being more semi-formal, hats were not worn but only turbans were appropriate and purses had to be formal too (Turner 2012, p 486). Men’s formal wear included tuxedos with tails, top hats and patent leather shoes. In recent times fashion has evolved from what used to be worn in the nineteen twenties which later saw the birth of attires like the trench coat which are a fashion staple for today’s men and women. For women clothes have become more revealing creating a kind of mass culture where body hugging clothes are worn with high hem lines and low neck lines. Women are showing their bodies more and more with many different kinds of clothing emerging like jeans, denim and chiffon. (Turner 2012, p 486). They are unable to form strategies that involve collaboration of these activities. Many cultural entrepreneurs of small scale nature rely on self employed and freelance designers and if graduates cannot mange to master the traditions dressmaking together with their deigning skills they find it very hard to find their footing in the industry. The media over the years has also played its role in promoting fashion designs. They show environments where fashion is luxurious and expensive but never cover the plight of the people working in the fashion industry and the struggles they go through. All this comes from the capitalism of culture that reeks of low pay and hard labor for the exchange of rewards for personal creativity. Dressing and covering up is seen as a form of alteration of the human form following social cultures and notions in everyday life as described by Simmel. The body is regarded as a boundary showing one’s individuality both biologically and psychologically and is used socially to represent us. Cultures differ and vary in the way they define the aspects of individuality. When a man is in harmony with fashion there is a measure of security that has not been derived from other faces of one’s life. Man should regard fashion and dressing with criticism and both interest. In doing so he maintains his appearance in the same consistency as those he associates himself with and lives with and as such he can define himself as a man of sense (Ritzer 2000:chap 1, p 66). He must be careful not to criticize it too much but also adapt to the culture of dressing and behavior that is adopted by others. This is how society dictates the fashion and manner in which we dress, carry ourselves and even interact with others. One must also understand that neglecting such cultures keeps one out of interaction circles in society due to resistance of change. As much as fashion and behaviors have changed over the years we find that the aim is one (McRobbie 1997:p 73). To cover one’s body in attires that are deemed appropriate by the public eye and also in terms of culture. This way society comes together by doing this common thing and making it a culture that they uphold. Changes in world events and ideals of living are what keep the fabric of society changing. In conclusion we find that fashion is a social process that conforms to cultures and norms and changes with evolving ideas and ways of living. Distinction is seen in the differences in interaction, behavior and dressing and the changes are evident with time. Sometimes new ideas are embraced for many years while others are discarded in a short while as new trends emerge and mass cultures crave to try them out. Fashion in terms of dressing and behavior is judged by its popularity and its usefulness at the time when it emerges. Sometimes it is judged by its moral standing and whether people view it as good or bad and sometimes it faces resistance. What we see as the constant factor is change itself as we look back to the 1920’s till now, change is what has kept the social cultures taking on new angles and new aspects as people try to define their individuality while also wanting to be part of the society. References. George simmel’s ‘ the stranger’ and ‘fashion’ in D. Levine (ed) (1971) George Simmel, on individuality and social forms, university of Chicago, pp. 133-139, 324-339. K. wolff (ed)(1950), the sociology of george simmel, free press. British Fashion Design: Rag Trade or Image Industry? by Angela McRobbie.(1998) pp 94-117 Terence Turner the social skin.(2012).pp. 486-504. B. Nedelmann, ‘the continuing relevance of George Simmel: staking out anew the field of sociology ‘ in ritzer and smart (eds) (2000) handbook of social theory. Bridging the Gap: Feminism, Fashion and Consumption by Angela McRobbie. Feminist Review, No. 55, Consuming Cultures. (Spring, 1997), pp. 73-89.  Taylor, L., 2002. The study of dress history. Manchester University Press. Rolley, K., 1990. Fashion, femininity and the fight for the vote. Art History, 13(1), pp.47-71. CAPALBO, C., 2016. DRESSING UP IN TIME OF WAR: WOMEN AND FASHION DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. The First World War: Analysis and Interpretation. Volume 2, p.409. Parkins, W., 1995. What to wear to a protest march: identity politics and fashion in the suffragette movement. Southern Review: Communication, Politics & Culture, 28(1), p.69. Read More

It brings a sense of their identity and individualism, while also bringing the people together as a society. During WW1, as men went off to help and fight in the war women took on the roles of men. Women and young girls who had worked as domestic servants in the past took on jobs in factories, administrative positions, worked as nurses , drivers, on farms and joined volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross and even joined the army (Wolf 1950, p 16). Thus began a new image of women, one that had freedom, and self respect leading women away from the traditional gender roles they had played.

Most of these new jobs required the wearing of uniforms that included trousers. Military looks found their way into fashion with the emergence of military style tunic jackets and belts. This was after Paris lost its leading role in fashion when the war began attributed to the lack of communication between the US and Europe (Capalbo 2016, p. 411) . As the women adopted their new roles, fashion changed and women wore less lavish clothes and jewelry and dress codes became lenient. Skirts became shorter instead of the long narrow skirts they were used to while colors became sober.

In this era we see the society changing in terms of fashion and behavior due to the new roles of women during the war. From hence forward we see changes in clothing with outcries from traditionalists who sometimes thought they were too revealing or too short (wolff 1950: p 16). It was also the time when trousers emerged in women’s fashion notably the harem pants being worn together with evening wear for ladies (Capalbo 2016, p 413). Fashion moved away from the Victorian and Edwardian eras of layers and bulk and became more flexible and light.

The changes in fashion and roles of women continued to influence the society leading to women demanding for the right to vote and using fashion in the suffragettes movement to represent a more refined and independent woman. The new type of woman was active, bolder and more outspoken than their mother’s generation. The embracing of new activities and fashion of conducting their lives did not come without resistance as the men thought women could not do anything on their own and had to be guided by the men.

Looking at Simmels thoughts on fashion we find that the changes became more of social processes dictating the way people dressed and behaved. Suffragettes were expected to dress in their best attires so as to put across their messages and also to be taken serious while at it. White was a popular color of dress perhaps indicating the purity of their goals. Sleeves on dresses were shorter and hemlines higher above the ankle (Parkins 1995, p. 69). Collars were not as high as before and showed a little collar bone.

All this went to indicate the changes that had taken place in women roles and reflected on their modes of dressing which was now a little more lenient even having loose fitting skirts compared to the hobble skirts that restricted movement. Instead of taking on strategies that showed resistance by refusal they picked ones that showed resistance by reversal. They chose not to dispute the contemporary changes in ideals on femininity but decided to conform them. Instead of putting on an image of strong minded women with masculine clothes they chose more feminine and fashionable outfits.

They made it so that they appealed to the eye especially when the media was upon them (Simmel 1971: 133). They avoided sartorial affront and dressed decently causing their numbers to grow and their cause to raise attention. They chose the colors purple for loyalty, green for hope and white for purity with the color schemes being designed in 1908 by Emmeline Pethick. As fashion changed during the Second World War women took to wearing their husbands altered trousers when their men had gone to fight in the war.

The clothes were mainly use for working in gardening and other chores. As the clothes got worn out more pants were made with designs that suited women making it part of their fashion in the 1940’s.

Read More