Low Fashion and High Fashion

Fashion is a mode of individuality and self-expression in a certain time and geographical area and at a certain context, expressed by clothing, footwear, cosmetics, hairstyle, makeup, and body language. In its general usage, however, the word means a stylish appearance defined by the fashion industry. Thus, for example, to wear pants that are fashionable today means to wear trousers that have been designed in such a way as to be fashionable. Or, to wear a tie with a nice shirt without looking over-the-top is to dress casually. The term has various other meanings, but it usually refers to a certain style or look that is regarded as being fashionable by the majority of people.

While high fashion is more about striving to be the most attractive and the most well dressed in the most fashionable manner, low fashion is more about being comfortable, often without pretense, about what one is wearing. Low fashion fashions may include ethnic clothing, Chinese garments, traditional dresses from various regions, or popular designs of the time. They are all fashion, though without the pretense of high fashion. One can, however, be daring and wear anything on the skin as long as it is considered to be appropriate by the culture concerned, whatever that culture may be. A classical example of a low fashion item would be to wear sandals and a short skirt to the beach.

High fashion, on the other hand, often includes expensive clothing of a very exclusive type. It is about being in the best of form, as it were, without being in complete disregard of what the rest of the world may think. However, high fashion is very separate from the culture concerned, even if the items of clothing do bear a very similar stamp of creativity and quality with regards to fashion. High fashion fashions often include clothing that are imported from countries like France or Italy. This allows people from these countries to have designer clothes at little more money than the average person.