The Greatest Era for Fashion?

It’s easy to complain about today’s culture (admittedly, I do it all the time), but some aspects have actually improved from when I was growing up and it’s important to recognize those things too. One such example that comes to mind is fashion. And I don’t mean a particular trend, but more about when it comes to our attitude towards fashion in general. I remember in my school days that there were very specific fashions people followed and certain brands were definitely a mark of being cool — jeans, shoes, coats, you name it. You would suffer no small humiliation if anyone were to find out your clothing was used or bought at some discount department store.

But currently, that no longer seems to be the case. As I look around at people of all ages, it appears the social pressure to conform to the trends of the day has faded significantly. Never before has the ability to enjoy different eras and styles of fashion been so acceptable. Heck, this even applies to those who choose to have no style at all. And gone are the days when people are afraid to admit they go to thrift stores, instead, we actually brag about our findings and the deals we scored. At least I do.

But even if you are a person who never cared much what others thought, this newfound attitude has greatly increased our options as stores are more likely to carry a larger array of styles to suit your taste. So that’s fun for me as I’ve always taken the “variety is the spice of life” attitude when it comes to my personal fashion choices. But more importantly, doing away with these shallow expectations for everyone to keep up with the latest is a great thing as it was only ever a means of feeling superior to those who struggled to do so. How much better to appreciate each individual for who they are?

Now I recognize there will always be some amount of social perks for looking a certain way (there’s a reason for the enduring proverb, “clothes make the man”) but I am glad that at the very least there are not so many restrictions on what it means to look presentable in society. We may not don the timeless elegance of the 30s and 40s, but greater flexibility encourages more creativity for fashion when there are fewer rules to follow, for both the consumer and those with the gift of design. And that freedom, in my opinion, makes this the greatest era for fashion.

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”
—Yves Saint Laurent