The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (2024)

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (1)

She walks in her well-tailored black blazer and slacks, paired with pointed-toe pump heels, while her hair is neatly packed into a top-knot bun. You, undoubtedly, think of her to be a powerful or confident woman. That’s the power outfits possess.

Clothing is a very influential tool in the fashion industry, a tool that helps project a self-image that you want to display. It’s a wordless means to communicate a powerful message to those around you. Fashion, in turn, becomes your language, which speaks a certain story about you.

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (2)

You can put on an outfit and it can make you appear a specific way. It is why wearing luxury brands impacts the social power of many, compared to the ordinary branded labels.

For some people, fashion becomes a drug-free boost that alters a terrible day they went through, or it can be a form of escapism, which lets them speak with wild convictions and return to something else later. It can make anything appear exciting or extremely boring. Your clothes also indicate how you want to be treated or what social group you would fit into.

But it’s not just limited to that, it also changes the way you feel about ‘yourself’. It’s a novel concept, a term coined as enclothed cognition, that people have now started to acknowledge and recognise.

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (3)

Your feelings are the real barometer of your fashion. You arm yourself with your best outfit, when you want things to go a certain way. It’s an extension of one’s self, a way of syncing the internal with the external.

The cuts, designs, patterns and colours, all play starring role in making an outfit to be what it is.

Enclothed cognition provides scientific proof to the notion of dressing how you want to feel, instead of how you already feel, as it influences your mood. You subconsciously experience a change in your behavior, a mental shift, when you dress a certain way.

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (4)

For instance, power dressing, a very popular concept, increases dominance hormones in your body, which plays a role towards making you a better negotiator or an abstract thinker; while wearing active wear is most likely to encourage you to exercise or work out. It’s precisely why some people consider investing in active wear a good idea.

Similarly, uniforms are a symbol of unity, used to conceal differences. It serves to unite people and enhance relationship satisfaction in tremendous ways: there is a feeling of unity and collectivity set into your being.

That’s how dressing in different ways affects your mood and behavior in different ways.

You can use the concept to your advantage by making your day more exciting or fun with the choice of your outfits.

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (5)

We need to familiarise ourselves with the enclothed cognition phenomenon and be mindful of incorporating it to shape your psychological experience or performance everyday, according to what the situation or event (job interview, exam, night out, etc) asks for. Mix and match or experiment with your outfits and make the world your runway.

Dressing a certain way will not only help you embody a self-expression or a state of mind you seek, but it will also shape other people’s perception of you, which in turn will affect your mental well being. So, putting thought into dressing a certain way becomes very essential.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

The Language of Fashion | The Express Tribune (2024)

FAQs

How fashion is a language? ›

It's a wordless means to communicate a powerful message to those around you. Fashion, in turn, becomes your language, which speaks a certain story about you.

What are fashion terms? ›

Fashion terminology is the vocabulary for the fashion industry, from the design studio to the runway to retail stores.

Why is fashion powerful? ›

It makes us feel especially powerful to communicate our values through the stories our garments tell. “Clothing allows us to adjust, to shift, to evolve, and to be whoever we want to be at any given moment.”

How do clothes help with communication? ›

Dress is considered an aspect of non-verbal communication and has social significance for the audience. Dress also includes the things that people wear such as jewelry, ties, handbags, hats and glasses. Clothing conveys nonverbal clues about a speaker's personality, background and financial status.

What is the most useful language in fashion? ›

French. If you want to specialize in the luxury industry, French is a great language to learn. Many phrases used in fashion design are French, trust it or not. Around 10,000 terms in English come from the French tongue.

Which language is used in fashion industry? ›

Speaking another language allows for more seamless collaborations and business partnerships. Obvious choices for language knowledge and study include the big three: English, French, and Italian.

What is the 3 word rule fashion? ›

What is the three-word method? The three-word method is as simple as it sounds: identifying your personal style with three adjectives. Maybe your style is cool, elevated, and comfortable, or maybe it's colorful, classic, and bold.

What are the 5 C's of fashion? ›

Five strategies, called the "Five C's of Style," can help you revise a draft: cut, check for action, connect, commit, and choose your words.

What are the 5 elements of fashion? ›

5 Important Elements of Fashion Design
  • Colour.
  • Silhouettes.
  • Fabric.
  • Body Shape.
  • Balance and Rhythm.
Jan 6, 2021

What influences fashion the most? ›

Social factor is one of the most significant factors that influence fashion frequently and expansively. Its area is pretty wide and includes many factors, such as place of living (urban area or rural area), educational and cultural background, status in society, gender, profession, and, of course, occasions.

Why is fashion a luxury? ›

Being different from mass production brands, luxury fashion brands focus on excellent quality, high prices, scarcity, and exceptional storytelling. From luxury fashion logos to lifestyle accessories design, everything will be designed in a way that your brand doesn't chase the consumer but the other way around.

How does fashion express identity? ›

Fashion is a non-verbal communication that can represent one's political and religious beliefs, gender identity, occupation, and essence. Whether intentional or not, the way that you dress can send a message to others about how you view yourself and how you want to be seen.

What can fashion express? ›

Fashion is an incredibly powerful form of self-expression. It can be used to express identity, beliefs, and personal style. By embracing individuality in fashion, individuals are able to set themselves apart from others in ways that make them feel unique and confident.

What is dress code in communication? ›

Answer: Our dress code is an example of nonverbal communication.

What is a good sense of fashion style? ›

Having a good fashion sense is having an instinct for how clothes look when worn together and how those clothes can make an outfit that both looks good and expresses something about you. It isn't about knowing any sort of formula or the absolute and only correct way to dress.

What is fashion in easy language? ›

Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion industry as that which is trending.

Why is fashion important to some people speaking? ›

They help create an idea of what we think about their personality. Wearing what makes you comfortable is a statement, and people will respect your individuality.

How do fashion brands communicate? ›

The base for your fashion communication is branded messages. That includes producing messages about the product, the price, the collection structure, the styling, the runway shows, and point of purchase ads, to name a few.

How do fashion designers communicate? ›

The fashion industry is a highly visual marketplace. Most designers communicate design ideas through many different mediums. These include drawing, toiling and sampling.

Is fashion a creative expression? ›

As a creative medium, fashion crosses boundaries in ways that most others don't: it puts us out there for all to see, come night or day, rain or shine. By nature, fashion bridges the gap between the extraordinary and the mundane; where daily life meets the elements of design.

What are the 7 Rs of fashion? ›

The 7Rs of Fashion
  • Reduce.
  • Reuse.
  • Repurpose.
  • Repair.

What is the golden rule in fashion? ›

When it comes to getting dressed, many experts consult the Golden Ratio to help balance proportions between different garments. It may be tough to eyeball a 1:1.618 ratio in the mirror, but balancing upper and lower pieces according to a 2:3 or 3:5 ratio creates a naturally aesthetic outfit.

What is the ABC rule in fashion? ›

ABC stands for accentuate, balance, and camouflage.

What are the 4 fashion personalities? ›

There are four main style personalities—expressive, romantic, classic, and relaxed— but most people will display aspects of two or three personalities. The varying fashion personalities explain why people have different tastes in clothing and styling.

What are the big four in fashion? ›

The Big Four, sometimes referred to as The Big 4, is the name given in fashion to the four most notable Vogue covers; American Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue France and Vogue Italia. The term is commonly used when a model completes all four covers and is considered one of the biggest achievements in the fashion industry.

What are the 4 basic shapes in fashion? ›

The majority of garments are in one of the following four basic shapes: natural, rectangular, tent and full. Natural shape is the classic shape that follows the body outline. Clothes of this silhouette emphasise the natural waistline. Rectangular shape is tubular with an emphasis in a vertical sense.

What are the 11 principles of design in fashion? ›

The Principles of Fashion Design
  • Rhythm. In fashion design, rhythm refers to the repetition of visual patterns. ...
  • Emphasis (Focal Point or Center of Attraction) This essential element of design in fashion draws attention to a specific part of the body or garment. ...
  • Balance. ...
  • Proportion. ...
  • Unity (Harmony)
Apr 5, 2021

What are the 9 principles of design in fashion? ›

The 9 Principles of Design are: Contrast, Emphasis, Movement, Repetition, Proportion, Rhythm, Balance, Unity, and Variety.

What are the basic principles of fashion? ›

The five basic principles of fashion design include emphasis, balance, proportion, rhythm, and harmony.

What is fashion a symbol of? ›

Fashion symbolises much more than just clothing and accessories. It reflects cultural, social, and personal identity, values, and beliefs. It can be a tool for self-expression, political and social activism, and a way to distinguish oneself from others.

What are good short quotes? ›

Quotes by Famous People
  • The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - ...
  • The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - ...
  • Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ...
  • If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. -
Apr 6, 2023

What is a good quote about fast fashion? ›

20 Fast Fashion Quotes
  • “Fast fashion is like fast food. ...
  • “Fast fashion is not free. ...
  • “As consumers we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy” – Emma Watson, actress and environmental activist.

What are the 3 key influences on fashion? ›

Fashion Designing Basics: Factors Influencing Popular Fashion
  • Fashion Forecast (Colour & Fabric) Deciding the colour, fabric and look for the upcoming season is something that every designer works on. ...
  • Movies & Music. The entertainment world is a major influencer of fashion. ...
  • Fashion Stylist. ...
  • Economy of a Country.
Dec 20, 2017

What are the 3 basic reasons that people wear clothes? ›

Well, there are three big reasons why.
  • Firstly, clothes provide us with physical safeguards against climatic conditions, like rain, heat, dust and other factors.
  • Secondly, clothes establish our identities, and social status, and help maintain modesty.
  • Lastly, clothes also protect us from various occupational hazards.
Aug 16, 2022

Why do the poor buy luxury items? ›

And people living in low-income neighborhoods–the ones who are relatively well-off compared to their neighbors–are nevertheless worried that they'll be misperceived as resource-poor. So they purchase expensive and conspicuous goods, to make sure their resources are visible to outsiders.

Why does luxury feel so good? ›

For some consumers, a luxury good can go a long way in increasing self-esteem or providing a sense of belonging. A sense of accomplishment is another reason why some people buy luxury goods.

What is the difference between fashion and luxury? ›

The wait for the product to be built/created/fully matured contributes to the overall luxury experience. As seen above there are many differences between fashion and luxury products. High quality materials, state of the art manufacturing, and high prices are not enough credentials to justify the “luxury” label.

How does fashion express emotions? ›

Clothes are one of the main ways we express our personalities to the world. They are a reflection of who we are and give signals to people about what we stand for. People make assumptions about us based on what we are wearing and our clothes can impact our own emotions and feelings.

What does fashion tell you about a person? ›

The type of clothes you wear – and the kinds of accessories you use to either jazz them up or tone them down – says a lot about who you are, where you're from, what you do and how you feel about yourself and others.

What is the personality of a fashion brand? ›

Brand personality needs to be an extension of a brand's values, views, and story – all of which are often driven by how the brand wants to be perceived. Spending a considerable amount of time figuring this out can help a fashion brand bring out a personality that consumers are bound to remember.

How do you dress as your authentic self? ›

If being authentic is new to your style vocabulary, try these tips to get moving in the right direction.
  1. Keep It Simple. Beauty doesn't have to be complicated. ...
  2. Don't Fight Mother Nature. Learn to go with the flow of what God gave you. ...
  3. Wear Your Colors. ...
  4. Keep it Real. ...
  5. Be Courageous. ...
  6. Have Fun With It.

What age group is express clothing for? ›

Express is a specialty retailer of men's and women's apparel and accessories. It targets the younger demographic aged 20 to 30 years old.

Is express clothing still popular? ›

Express reported that Q4 net sales rose 38% year over year to $594.9 million, as comps (stores plus e-commerce) rose 43% from 2020 and 4% from 2019.

What are the four C's dress code? ›

Only this time, it's the four C's: cute, chic, classic and comfortable.

What are the three types of dress codes? ›

There are generally four types of corporate dress codes: Business formal, business professional, business casual, and casual.

What are the 3 V's of communication? ›

These are three V's that are visual, vocal, and verbal aspects of communication.

How is fashion a form of communication? ›

Fashion is a non-verbal communication that can represent one's political and religious beliefs, gender identity, occupation, and essence. Whether intentional or not, the way that you dress can send a message to others about how you view yourself and how you want to be seen.

How is design a language? ›

Design is a language that can be learned. Moreover, it's a language that must be learned to communicate the desired meaning to an audience. We often say that each product has a different design language. Google's industrial design language is soft, inviting, homely.

How can fashion represent a culture? ›

The clothes we wear tell stories of our culture and our heritage – things that can't easily be shrugged on and taken off at will. Tradition is also passed down in the creation and construction of our clothes. The way things are made, the materials, and the process, are all embedded into our communities and cultures.

Is fashion a language of nonverbal communication? ›

Clothing itself does have a 'language', a nonverbal one. The communication by clothing is through specific symbols and rules which are determined by social groups in society. This entails, not every social groups holds the same symbols, rules or codes in order to evaluate clothing.

What is fashion communication in simple words? ›

Fashion communication meaning can be understood as the backbone of the fashion industry. The fashion communication field focuses on marketing the business through advertising, styling, press release, and visual and verbal communication.

What are the examples of fashion communication? ›

Fashion Communication

Fashion Blogs, newspaper articles, fashion magazines, promotional videos, movies – any audio-visual medium that showcases the designs by designers, is a source of information about the latest happenings in the industry.

How does fashion connect people? ›

The sense of purpose that dressing in a particular style provides meaningful connections that help others to discover who they are. We shape each others being by the way we dress: “I did it for myself, but when you can influence others, well, I'm a bit of a local celebrity and I can help others express themselves.

What are the six language of design? ›

Start with the six principles of design: balance, pattern, rhythm, emphasis, contrast, and unity.

What are the 7 design features of language? ›

In A Course in Modern Linguistics, Hockett doesn't refer to these properties as “design features of language” but calls them “the key properties of language”. He enumerates seven of them: duality, productivity, arbitrariness, interchangeability, specialisation, displacement and cultural transmission (1958: 574).

What are examples of language of design? ›

Fonts, colors, shapes, visual elements such as icons — those are elements of design language.

What can fashion symbolize? ›

Fashion symbols can reflect personal identity, social status, cultural norms and values, historical and political context, gender roles, mood and emotion, group membership, life stages, seasonal changes, fantasy and imagination, and ethical and sustainable values.

What is fashion symbolism? ›

Clothing symbolism is thus use of clothes to express person's character, position and status of life through use of visual or nonverbal symbols. One can have a visual perception of sex, age, size, nationality, profession, social caste, etc. of a person by observing his clothes.

How does fashion express personality? ›

Clothes reflect who you are, how you feel at the moment and sometimes even what you want to achieve in life? Always remember whatever you wear should reflect the real you. Your dressing sense reflects your personality, character, mood, style and what actually you are as an individual.

Why is clothing a language? ›

Dress is a silent language, full of meaning and nuances that come in all shapes and sizes, colours and textures. It is a language with many variant forms, different vocabularies and sometimes complicated grammatical rules, which are all, as with every language, constantly changing.

Is fashion a form of artistic expression? ›

So, is fashion a form of art? Yes, it is. It is the newest addition under the umbrella of art. However strict the criticism may be, every design is the result of serious thought and great artistic research.

Is clothing a body language? ›

When people think of body language, they often think of subliminal signs such as crossed arms, dilated pupils, and fake smiles. But, the type of clothing a person wears can also serve as a form of body language.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 5544

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.