Fashion is the prevailing styles, trends and clothing choices of a particular period or culture. It covers not only the clothes people wear, but also shoes, bags and accessories. The way one dresses tells other people about their background, ambition and personality. Some people like to express themselves by wearing fashionable outfits, while others prefer a more classic look. Fashions can be very short-lived, but can also be extremely influential.

What is fashionable can change from season to season and from country to country. Trends in fashion can be influenced by popular musicians, movie stars and political figures. Fashion designers are always looking for new ways to inspire people to purchase their clothing lines. They do this by creating a fashion show to display their latest designs. These shows are televised and advertised to a large audience. The clothing is also available to buy in stores and online.

The clothing industry is a multibillion dollar business. It employs millions of people to design, sew, glue, dye and transport clothes. People are constantly being exposed to advertisements on buses, billboards and magazines. These ads influence the fashion choices of many people, either consciously or subconsciously.

In addition, people are influenced by their own friends and family. They often follow the fashions of their parents and other older relatives. This is especially true of women. It is important for them to maintain a certain image in order to get married and have children.

For men, the most popular fashions are tailored shirts and suits. They are usually dark in color and made from materials that will stand up to a lot of wear and tear. These clothes are worn by professionals and can give a person a sense of status and power.

People will often dress in the latest fads to impress other people or fit in with the crowd. This can be dangerous because it can make you lose your own identity. For example, some people will dress in revealing outfits because they think that it will impress their peers. However, this will only cause other people to be annoyed by them.

In the past, fashions have varied greatly depending on social class, gender, age, occupation and geography. For example, wealthy Europeans in the seventeenth century wore garments dyed with Tyrian purple; Hawaiian chiefs wore feather cloaks; and the French court favored elaborate laces. Fashions have changed even more rapidly in the last few decades as a result of mass media, such as movies, TV sitcoms and music videos.