Fashion is a general term used to describe prevailing styles and trends in clothing, footwear, accessories, and cosmetics. It also refers to the design and production of these items, and how they are marketed and distributed. Fashion is a multifaceted phenomenon, and its definition is constantly evolving as styles change.

It is widely believed that changes in fashion reflect societal change and the financial interests of designers and manufacturers. However, research shows that there are internal taste mechanisms that drive fashions independently of these external influences.

People who are plugged in to cultural trends often influence what is fashionable, and act as gatekeepers for the aesthetics, styles, and fashions that we see in our communities and cultures. These are people like celebrities, political figures, and royalty who are frequently featured on the front page of newspapers in their attire, or people who wear styles that are popular in the music or art that they produce.

In addition to these influences, the popularity of a style can also be affected by its length of time on the runway and in stores. Once a trend has reached its peak, it begins to decline. Eventually, a new style comes into prominence and replaces the old one. This cycle can be as short as a season, or as long as 20 years.

In addition to these factors, many different trends can be active simultaneously. This can lead to the appearance of confusion in fashion, where a mix of styles is portrayed at once. For example, the bare mid-riffs and athletic clothes of the teenagers of the early ’60s coexisted with the baggy pants of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air in the same year.