Fashion: Who Decides What’s Hot and What’s Not?

By Billy Jackson Arellano

We all know what fashion is. Fashion is basically how we dress and how we want others to perceive us. But who decides what is hot and what is not in fashion?

Elite fashion designers spearhead the decision as to what is hot in fashion for a particular season. We think that they are the most knowledgeable one in this field that we, as common people, tend to just follow or go with the flow to the trend that these designers set for us for a season.

Another persona who has a ‘say’ to what’s hot in fashion would probably be the celebrities who wear and endorse the clothes that the designers have made. The designers think that since we idolize these celebrities and we see that a garment looks great on her, this should make us feel that that particular clothing must be so “hot” and “in” this season.

The magazines and the stores that feature particular clothing lines also play a big role in deciding what is “in” this season. The clothes that they feature would probably be the ones that they think that the readers and buyers would like to read and buy. As consumers, we end up thinking that why would these magazines and shops present a particular clothing line if it isn’t what is “hot” this season. They won’t feature it if they think they won’t profit from it.

Just how exactly it has come to this? That we let these people and institutions decide what is hot and what is not in fashion?

As individuals, we try to avoid taking risks as much as possible. Because we know that if we fail or screw up in trying to oppose the standards set by these personas, we might end up ruining our image and credibility to the people surrounding us. And we all don’t want that to happen. Hence, we often tend to just leave it to the “experts” as to what should be hot for a particular season and we just follow or go with flow.

This whole idea as to who decide what is “in” and what is “out” in fashion in general could relatively be applied to specifics like the uniforms that people wear whether at work or in school.

The persona who decides what is acceptable to wear and not to wear is often the head, the chief officer or the owner of that particular institution. Though in some cases, it is the institution itself that decides what you should wear to avoid conflicts.

The chief officer often tells you what attire you should wear and how you should present yourself to the public during your line of work. This is because he thinks you carry his “name” and his reputation to what you are wearing. Thus, you shouldn’t wear unrespectable uniforms when in public because the people might think that the institution you are working for is also a person that does not deserve to be respected.

Just like Pauline Weston Thomas would say it, “Wearing an occupational uniform puts an employee in the position of being a visual metaphor.” We learn quickly to associate different uniforms with different roles in life and different role expectations from it. We connect the policeman’s uniform with authority. We associate the paramedic’s uniform with help and care; the student’s uniform with responsibility and neatness; and the bank teller’s uniform with conservativeness and security of our money.

Deciding not to obey or deciding to oppose the dress code may lead to disruptions to your institution’s image or to your occupation’s role expectation.

Minor alterations to maintain one’s unique self-identity might be tolerable but major alterations might cause you a fortune and credibility-lose in your occupation.

With all that said, it is important to note that it is still us, the consumers, who are the ultimate decider on to what is hot and what is not in fashion. You decide what suits you the best and what can express your self-identity to the fullest.

Just be sure to know your limitations when making your own fashion statement. Because who knows? It could make or break you……

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