Between Fashion And Style

Over the years, over-use and abuse of the key word-Style and Fashion have tended to transform their original meanings to suit the errors of the abusers. Also their inter-changeable usages have compounded their meanings.

The Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition), defines Fashion as the prevailing (dress) Style during a particular time: and Style as a distinctive manner of (dressing). (Emphasis on dress, dressing for the purpose of this article)

From these meanings, we see that Fashion is an offshoot of Style. Fashion is the prevailing Style of a particular period. People of Style are not necessarily subject to Fashion, but Fashionable people must of necessity conform to the prevailing Style.

Another thing to note is that Fashion revolves, while Style evolves. The evolution of Style has brought about bell-bottoms, jump-ups, high waistbands, etc for men. In the late 60s and early 70s, crazy after Style icon James Brown, men wore bell-buttons trousers and tight-fitting shirts with shoes so high they were variously nicknamed, five foot above sea level, upstairs etc.

In the early 80s, young men copied Michael Jackson's high waist band, jump-up black trouser (show me your stockings) and a white pair of stocks to contrast. Figure out what man will wear those things today.

Several times, attempts have been made to strike a come back for these old skools, but the truth is that better taste will never let them prevail. This is what I mean by evolution.

Shoes are very important, clearly, they protect feet from the harsh terrain of everyday life, but over the years, they have come to mean more than simply foot-protection, they tell people a little bit about the kind of person you are. Over the years, shoes have changed significantly due to the twin pressures of culture and fashion - today, they are not only practical, but symbolic too they tell people whether you care about fashion, or whether you have your own style. Jelly shoes are a great example, they are extremely practical for wearing to the beach, but this season, they are also spectacularly current and trendy.

There are many different considerations that must be kept in mind when choosing a good pair of shoes, for example, what style and size should I wear? But there are other important factors too, how many people are aware, for instance, that wearing the wrong shoes can cause all kinds of physical symptoms, including leg cramps, headaches and backache. It is extremely important to wear the right kind of shoes, after all, it is estimated that in a lifetime, a human being will walk an average of 70,000 miles! Imagine doing that with an ill-fitting pair of shoes!

The above paragraph highlights the importance of wearing shoes that strike a good balance between fashion and comfort, there is no point in damaging your feet for the sake of a trend that will only last a couple of months. Some shoes, for example court shoes, are never far from the fashion trend, these make the perfect shoes because in one form or another, they are practically always in fashion, and yet are supremely comfortable. Examples of shoes to avoid are the huge 5-7inch platforms of the 1970's; many a broken ankle was caused by that formidable shoe. If you want to stay fashionable this season, without sacrificing comfort or fit, then boat shoes will be perfect for you.

The relative complexities of women's and men's fashion

Both men and women can feel the pressures of keeping their wardrobe up-to-date and in season, yet men's fashion often feels a lot less complicated. Of course, for both genders, outfits and fashion choices can be equally as intricate, and there are many 'trendy' items that can quickly become fashion faux pas - who can say they often see people walking around in 70s flares? On the other hand, men's fashion has a few staple items which will exist forever - which man is going to look out of place with a good-quality, tailored suit, for example? Choose classic cuts, colours and fabrics and you'll never look out-of-place.

Why classic men's fashion is timeless

The classic man's suit has barely changed for over a hundred years. True, there are several varieties for different occasions, but they are all common in their pursuit of a smart, sharp look for the wearer. The great thing about classic fashion for men is that it is effortlessly stylish; effortlessly cool. A well-groomed gentleman will almost always look his sharpest in a well-tailored suit, and this is a testament to the design of such clothing. A suit will be worn to work in many careers because of the professional look it affords to the wearer, instilling a sense of respect and trust. Equally a suit will be worn to many social occasions, such as a tuxedo to a black-tie event. This incredible versatility that allows suits to be worn in almost all occasions is what gives it its timeless edge and a permanent place in men's fashion.

Contemporary trends in classic men's fashion

Whilst classic men's styles will never be replaced, it is interesting to note that shifts in men's fashion trends have brought certain classic garments back into fashion. The popularity of vintage clothing, particularly, has brought back a wide-variety of classic styles into men's wardrobes, such as that of the dandy gentleman. 'Dandy' is a term used to refer to men who dress in a classic yet extravagant way, placing importance on appearance and acting in a refined manner. This trend for almost 'over-the-top' classic fashion for men is evident from events such as the 'Tweed Run', where men and women of all ages dress in notably Victorian-style attire and take to the streets on vintage bicycles - with many of the men sporting impeccable mustaches! This is just one of many examples of evidence displaying the resurgence of such styles. There are also numerous blogs online which focus on gentlemanly style - such as 'The Dandy Project' and 'Dandyism' - as well as entire websites such as 'The Art of Manliness' dedicated to providing articles on classic men's fashion and grooming.

Earlier the trend and fashion was something attached only for the women's attire. No matter whether it was an outer or inner fit the concentration of designers and manufactures was sticked only on women's clothing. And fashion for man had limitation. For a man hardly new designs and styles were available and hilted in the market. They were forced to stick with one kind of wear and go on without giving any importance to their style and body structure.

But today, the word fashion has no limitations. The word fashion is getting attached with men's attire too. Whether it is clothing for men or women, inner wear or outwear, designers and manufactures are experimenting the old fashion and trend with new style, deigns, looks, color mix and with the latest innovation in fabrics too. Today every man is becoming conscious about their style and looks of their outfits which show off their dazzling personality. The competition is huge in the men's underwear market.The market is finally grabbing the attention and it deserves for it.

So now when it comes for purchasing men's underwear it is not needed to stick with the simple style between boxer briefs, boxers and brief. Males can now grab the whole new range of men's underwear which is truly unique and outstanding. While selecting a best comfort wear the physique has to be kept in mind. Whether you are going to chose for yourself or for someone else the body structure of the man has to be remembered and then it has to be bought. As many styles and varieties are coming up in the market be specific in selecting the style of wear which suits your personality and or its better to know the man for whom you are buying it for them.

Women and fashion are synonymous with each other. They go hand in hand. As a matter of fact, women's apparel is far trendier as compared to that of men, and hence there is more scope of innovation and style in this section as compared to others. Fashion is the most dynamic component of lifestyle, and what is in today may already be out of fashion in some other part of the world.

Most sports and physical activities are performed wearing special clothing, for comfort or safety reasons. There are a variety of options for women to choose from to make a part of their sports apparel. These include shorts, track suits, which can be either full-length or until the knee, T-shirts, tennis shirts, trainers, short skirts for tennis or badminton, pull over, sweatshirts and a variety of sports shoes. There are special garments for swimming, wet suits, salopettes for skiing and leotards for gymnastics or aerobics.

There are several brands which offer the most stylish and comfortable sports apparel and at reasonable prices. They offer choices ranging from yoga suits, running and jogging suits, up to gym, winter training, adventure travel, swimming, and golf, tennis, cycling and skiing. There is an ocean of choices for one sport itself. For example, tennis apparel includes several kinds of skirts with various styles and length, material, color, sizes and fitting, one piece dresses for playing, some loose fitting while others skin fit, shorts trousers, sleeveless tops, small socks, headgear, caps, head bands, armbands, shoes and other such accessories. Even sports mats, water bottles, etc have become an essential part of sports gear.