What is Fashion?
The big fashion houses lead the way in new trends
It's not that easy to answer the question, "what is fashion?"
because it means different things to different people. Fashion is
an art. It's a religion. It's a job. It's a peek into a personality. It's
playfulness. It's an escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the
eyes. But ultimately, fashion is an individual statement of
expression for each of us.French fashion designer Coco Chanel
once said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is
happening."It's true. Fashion isn't defined solely by our clothing choices, but is also conveyed
through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world.At its most
fundamental (and straight from the dictionary), fashion is simply the prevailing style or
custom, as in dress or behavior.
Fashion Designers
The iconic fashion houses - Prada, Gucci, Chanel - are referred to as haute couture, French for
"high sewing." These designers lead the way in creating trend-setting fashion. While some of
their designs are outrageous and completely unrealistic when it comes to everyday wear,
generally the theme is adapted into versions suitable for wearing.
Media
Fashion trends are often sparked by characters on popular television shows and movies as
well as adopted from magazine pages. "Sex and the City," "The Devil Wears Prada," these
shows introduced us to new, cutting-edge designs. While you might not be caught dead
wearing a Carrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas inspired from her look and piece
together your own creation.
Celebrities
A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until Kate Hudson and Jessica
Simpson were spotted wearing them around L.A. several years ago, no one had given any
thought to UGG boots. Now they are everywhere.
Musicians
Musicians have always been very influential when it comes to dictating fashion. Rock 'n'
roll is fashion.Elvis is an iconic example. In the 1950s, everyone wanted to dress like Elvis.
What about the heavy metal hair bands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose reinvented the head
bandana while Poison, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, rocker hair.
Just because you don't know if a Prada bag is fall 2007 or spring 2008 doesn't matter (unless
you work in the fashion industry, of course). All that matters is that you like it and it's an
expression of you. That is fashion.
Instruction:
Here is a reading text about "What is Fashion". Read the text carefully and then start
doing the exercises
1. What is the meaning of fashion in dictionaries?
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2. What is a prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend?
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3. Which one has a very influential factor on dictating fashion?
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4. What is the final conclusion of the passage about, what is fashion?
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5. Who is Elvis?
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6. Who lead the way in creating trend-setting fashion?
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7. Who were spotted wearing UGGs around L.A.?
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8. Who set the pace for big, rocker hair?
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