Fashion is any particular mode of behavior, attitude, and dress in a given time and context and at a given situation. It can be an art form or a marketplace. In its broader sense, it means a style defined by the fashion business as what is popular at that moment. Thus, every trend or fad is regarded as part of the larger trend which may also include the general culture, social changes, or individual choices. The popularity of certain fashions may either be authentic (a product of widespread cultural acceptance) or manufactured for the purpose of selling as trendy or fashionable.
The term “high fashion” has been used often to describe a style that is highly fashionable and characterized by cutting edge designs, often with a certain amount of sex appeal. As high fashion becomes more recognized as a genuine art form and established designers become respected for their originality and skill, the field tends to be referred to as high fashion rather than just fashion. However, there are many areas of overlap between the terms. For instance, some fashions and/or ideas are clearly identified as high fashion regardless of whether they are worn by the rich or poor. Still, there are many trends within high fashion that are considered to be highly fashionable even though the designers producing them may belong to a lower class.
High fashion usually refers to the domain of designers who work in a particular, well-known fashion house or agency. Though some fashion designers create and/or market their own clothing lines independently, many others work under a larger company, which finances and produces the clothes. Though these companies have a strong financial base, they tend to rely on independent fashion houses for the design concepts and sales promotion. Many of these companies own and operate their own fashion shows, which show off their clothing lines to the public. Companies will sometimes sponsor specific fashion shows in order to promote and raise awareness of their designs.
The primary driver behind the development of high fashion is the ever-changing consumer demand for new, innovative products. This also contributes to the high number of designers, master’s, tailors, manufacturers, merchandisers, and distributors working in the fashion industry. Since many designers started out making clothes for other people, they often come into contact with similar clients and situations over many different projects and years. As a result, many designers develop a “style” that can be adopted for any situation; however, all fashion designs have a timeless quality and common thread.
High fashion boutiques are located in high-end and busy areas of the city, such as ritzy neighborhoods and shopping centers, whereas haute couture boutiques are often found in small, boutique-style boutiques or small trendy shops. Shopping at haute couture stores entails standing in line to see what is available and purchase only the items you like. Because of their unique design style, some items cannot be found anywhere else, which makes them even more special.
Since high fashion began, there have been many different styles and designs made for women’s clothing. However, over time, certain areas of the fashion industry have become very popular. One area that has had a tremendous impact on the fashion industry is the fashion of lingerie. Lingerie has always been considered one of the most sexy, luxurious, and “developed” areas of the clothing industry, which has made it very popular.