Clothing and fashion

A. Fashion is the way of dressing that is popular at certain time. It is the main concern of all people who whant to be in. Fashion changes very fast and sometimes it is difficullt to say what is trendy and what is out of fashion. The way we dress is connected with the weather. In summer we prefer light and airy materials, such as cotton or silk. We also wear shor-sleeved or sleeveless shirts, loose blouses, skirts gathered at the waist, shorts, bermudas, sandals or flip-flops. When we go swimming, we wear a swimming costume, such as bikiny or trunks and sometimes a hat. In winter on the other hand we wear warmer materials, such as cotton, wool and nylon. Mostly people wear long-sleeved T-shirts, sweaters, jumpers, pullovers, polo necks, jackets, anoraks, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and boots.

B. People dress differently for various occasions. Formal situations, such as public parties, balls require formal, smart clothes. Women especially want to look good at these occasions. Some of them are willing to spend a lot of money on ball dresses, shoes, accessories and jewellery, such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings or rings. Ladie’s handbags shoud match the dress and the shoes. Gentlemen are expected to wear a dark suit or tuxedo, a white shirt with cuff llinks and a bow tie and dark shoes.
In some jobs poeple wear uniforms, white coats, costumes. In some private schools children wear school uniforms too. The main reason for this is to hide social and financial difference among children.
Another important part of our image is hair. Nowadyas there is a great freedom in hairstyles and colors. Some people grow their hair long, have highlights, others have their hare very short, spiky and often dyed or bleeched.

C. In some religions the way of dressing is the sign of faith. Islamic women have to wear long, dark clothes and veils to cover their whole body. Men are expected to wear a tunic. Another example is the Amish population in USA. They follow a set of rules that prescribe behaviour, appearance and other aspects of their culture. Amish men wear dark-lcolored suits, straight-cut coats, wide trousers, black fabric. The dresses are usually made with long sleeves and covered with a cape and apron. Their hair is never cut but worn in a bun. Amish women are not permitted to wear jewellery. All these limitations would mean a disaster for modern people. If we all got dressed according to some rules, fashion would never develop.
We can say that fashion is also a way of self-expression, especially for young people. They can show their mood, interests and status in society through styles, colors, patterns, accessories and materials. The young people often experiment with different combinations of colors and designs to show their freedom, beliefs and feelings. The most popular clothes among the young are jeans, baggy trousers, loose sweatshirts, baseball caps, sneakers.
All clothes require special care if we want to wear them for a longer time. Therefore we should follow the washing and ironing instructions on the clothes labels. Some clothes wash easily, while others require dry cleaning or must be washed vy hand. If they are washed in a wasching maschine they coould shrink or become larger. Greasy stains caan be washed by stain removers. If you wash together colored and whithe clothes, they can get all colored by different colors.

D. People can follow new fashion trends through fashion magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Vogue or from fashion shows. Fashion is created by proffesionals called fashion designers. They invent new styles, patterns and looks. Names such as Calvin Klein, Versace, Armani, Guess, Hilfiger are known all over the world.
Peoples attitudes towards fashion are quite different. Some people care a lot about themselves. They are willing to spend a fortune on clothes in brand name shops and boutiques. On the other hand there are people who are not interested in fashion at all. They wear clothes according to their own taste. There are also those who want to be in but cannot afford to buy expensive and brand name clothes. Therefore, they buy imitations or cheapers clothes in markets. Sometimes it is worth waiting for good sales, which are often after Christmas and during summer.

E. A few years ago, the possibilities to follow fashion in Slovakia were limited. Stores were only selling a few models. Therefore many women sewed the clothes themselves. Nowadays people prefer ready made clothes instead of making them or having them made by tailors and dressmakers. If women want to have a unique dress for a special accasion, such as ball, they often go to dressmakers and have their dresses made. Tailors take measurements of the entire body:waist, hips, sleeves and bust. Customers can choose the cut, design, material and pattern. The finest tailors can charge you a lot of money for designing and sewing.
Many styles of clothes have changed since the past. Long skirts were alternated by short ones. Wide trousers with narrow ones. But what is old fashioned today, may look romantic and trendy in few years. The old saying“Clothes make the man is very true, because clothes reveal people’s origin, religions and even financial situation. They indicate their status in society.