Why are so many people obsessed with fashion and style?

Question

I live and work in London. The majority of people I pass (between the ages of 16-35) in the street can be easily pidgeon-holed as a fashion sterotype. This can be anything, including the Art-Student look, the indie-kid scruffy hair and tight trousers look, the boy-band highlights-in-the-hair look, the stereotypical gay look (neatly shaved beard) and the hip-hop look, but to name a few. I think these people dress this way in order to stand out from the crowd, but it seems to me they all look like clones of one another. I fear that as time passes, everyone will bow down to the pressure of the fashion industry and dress like one another. It seems people dress according to their tastes in music, but why? I like all sorts of music, but have never felt the urge to dress to fit in with a crowd. I dress how I want to and let my personality express how I am. Why can't people think for themselves and dress how THEY want to, not how their peers want them to. What happened to originality?

Answer 1

Because they want to be fashionable and stylish. Nothing wrong with taking a bit of pride in your appearance.

Answer 2

I do not want to sound rude when i say this, but, so how do you dress then, l bet there are people out there who have your same trousers, trainers/shoes, jacket etc. YOu are a clone of someone too, the world is too big for eveyone to look different in every way. We all have the same shops on the high street.

When you look back into time, the romans wear the same stuff as do the victorians, apart from the different lengthness of the top hat, so you see, its the world that gives us these fashions, not all of us can go home play with the sowing machine and make unique clothes.

Answer 3

Because the evolution of the consciousness in human beings has formed an entity called the 'ego' which is on an endless and unachievable quest for 'more'.

It seeks to fill this void with things which enhance it's sense of identity or reduce it's sense of insiginificance. It main message is this:

'Please notice me. Please confirm that I exist'"

Some people will seek this recognition through fashion and looking good, others will seek it by having lots of money, some will seek it by becoming very skillful at a sport or an art form, others will commit mass murder.

Whehter good or bad behaviour it all originates from the bottomless hole called the 'ego' which can never be filled. Most human behaviour is controlled by this futile search for more and an underlying sense of meaningless which will always return no matter how many possesions or how good you look or how many relationships you have had.

Only through dissolution of the ego can peace and true joy be found.

Answer 4

Yeah, i wager a number of them are loopy obsessed. I do have self assurance that maximum lady quicker or later do go through some difficulty of their visual attraction it fairly is better than that's for adult males- like they are too fat, too skinny, poorly dressed, overly dressed, do not slot in, yadadadada. money is continually magnificent...I do have self assurance maximum persons have a good time with money. yet sure, that's a way in lady. i wager it is only that if it is fantastically, will make you look and experience better, and is flattering, value isn't a difficulty (except it is outrageously severe priced). Plus, i understand many lady who imagine that you get what you pay for, and doubtless that leads them to have self assurance that extra severe priced= better. i don't think of it is all those who's obsessed...yet im constructive almost all lady care and would like severe priced issues and massive style- they only do not priortize it.

Answer 5

Because they're materialistic and have to have the latest clothes and accessories in order to be considered cool, popular and liked by others their age.

I'm also going to add...it's the people that are materialistic that are the most likely to stereotype others, not the other way around. Being an individual is not something they're familiar with. As for the people who dress according to their music...I find nothing wrong with that because they are connecting with something they like, although media definitely pushes the urge to dress this way. Then again media pratically tells us everything.

Answer 6

well we have to blame the tv,and media for a lot of this.the media tells the world you should look this way and that way.and you should dress this way are that way to be excepted by people and for the most part our young one try there best to do just that.not realizing there originality is going out the window. and if you dont fit in there little mold then there is something wrong with you, because you are not keeping up with todays fashion.people wants to be told what to do and how to act and what to wear so they dont have to think for them self.its sad but true.

Answer 7

originality is dressing like an emo (indie-kid scruffy hair n tight trousers look) or like a hip hop dude. the clothes that we wear can express our personality. with our fashion we can show off who we are , wot we do and how we are.... its a way of expressiing feelings. i listen to all kinds of music too. my style reflcets that, its a mix of originality, emo, punk,classy,vintage....
most people do suffer from peer pressure but the people that are like that show through. others dress how they like. ive got emo friends and there original. there just one ''group'' of peeps that dress in a certain way, that dosent mean anything. fashion n style is the view of fashion n style. thats why peeps are obsessed with it. its a big part of you and ur personality.... xxx

Answer 8

It's true there isn't much variation between members of a group (artists, indie-kids, boy-banders, metrosexuals, hip-hoppers, etc.). These people probably think they are declaring their independence but really they are conforming to a group-think they may appeal to them but doesn't tell anyone much about what's inside. I like to mess with everyone by crossing baggy pants, a bow tie, and blue hair.

Answer 9

people want to dress how their peers dress.

why not, they are expressing their desire to be part of society, or a subset of society. They are choosing the style they want out of many available. Many aren't dressing to be part of the crowd but to claim their individuality within the crowd.

These people you see, do you see them the next day wearing something different, a new look ?

But I agree with you, Fashion is there to be enjoyed, not to be a slave to.

Answer 10

I feel the same way. People adhere to a particular dress code to define themselves. What really gets me is people obsessed with designer gear. It doesn't make you look any better, it just makes youo look desperate for attention. What bulls hit. I'd be prouder walking down the street with a top saying "Primark" rather than "dolce and gabbana" or even high street cr ap like "Gap".

Answer 11

fashion is a way of expressing yourself. art-y looking students are probably very sophisticated. indie look probably shows a sence of not caring about what other people think. the boy-band (emos) are emotional depressed and want to share that in the type of clothes they wear. it is mainly about expressing your personality.