What and How does Fashion Communicates?

Communication helps in creating clarity of thoughts and expression, however, this communication is not restricted to words only. One can express his or her ideas, thoughts or even personality through what he or she wears. Yes! Fashion is a compelling way of communicating without actually saying anything.

Fashion is a universal language understand by fashion and trend lovers all around the globe. It is a means of self-expression. Fashion helps an individual to express its identity and its sense of style and aesthetics to the outside world. Without actually saying anything our clothes sends a message regarding one’s sense of style, culture, beliefs and a lot more things.

Fashion assists in communicating the social status, class, occupation, marital status, culture and religion of an individual. If a person is wearing high fashion one can say he or she belongs to high class. Although it is very subjective from people to people, as what is luxury for a person may not be for another, but to some extent we can tell about the social status of an individual through fashion. Coming to occupation, tell me what comes to your mind when you see a person wearing a white coat? It’s a Doctor! Right?! This is how our clothes signifies our profession rather than naming it directly .Also, different styles and clothing denotes that a person belongs to a particular community, religion and culture.

Like any other language, fashion also has its elements. It communicates through clothing, accessories, hair and make up etc. These are the building blocks of fashion language.

I think fashion helps in reinforcing the sense of freedom through self expression as clothes can also be used to show dissent from certain beliefs, social messages and breaking age old taboos. For instance, the LGBTQ community Queer Fashion movement. Fashion has been a secret language and a medium to connect with each other for the peoples of LGBTQ community. Queer fashion is a lot more than just being a trend. It is a social message and protest by LGBTQ peope for being who they are.