Fashion is a Key Resource for establishing Identity in Late Modernity

Fashion is a Key Resource for establishing Identity in Late Modernity

Introduction

Fashion has always been one of the parameters for the measurement of standing points and excelling of societies; it always has been a significant mean of establishing and shaping identities; defining, analyzing and criticizing cultural or literary values. On the other hand, we opened our eyes in the era where we are evident of rapid growth of post modernity at an impetuous rate that ultimately gives rise to an eagerness for establishing ones identity in a very highly competitive world. Fashion is the variable that is not just limited to clothing, make up and accessories. It encompassed an individual's behaviour. The person expresses himself through fashion. It denotes his state of mind and how he sees and incorporates different perspectives in his day to day life. He expresses communication through his personality, where he belongs, where he intends to and where he does not want to be allied.

Discussion

Identity

Identity can be defined as distinctive characteristics of an individual within society that connects self respect and his idealistic approach which an individual carries in society. In this sense, it is deemed an important aspect of an individual to survive with various issues and retain and gain individualism. As Bennett discusses the behaviour of individuals with respect to identity as, “Individuals demonstrated their membership to a particular social group and their distance from groups who held a lower social position” (Bennett, 2005, p.100). With an intention of intermingling in society of higher level social position; an individual tends to spend on fashionable and snobbish items. This consumption does not only give him a chance to show his knowledge about current fashion and social style, provide him an ability to express his good taste but also enable him to convey his distinctive attitude from others.

Positioning

The position of Fashion industry is not possible to bring into the canvas while structuring the body of identity of an individual of late modernity; instead it can be interlinked through the factors. The factors which act in production, consumption, worldwide admiration;

ultimately the matters which lead to maintenance or establishment of headship. As Joanne Entwistle suggests that the relationship among different societies, associations and individuals is supposed to give the better perceptive of fashion (Entwistle, 2000, p.3). Joanne Entwistle also puts a great importance of fashion and dresses and be likely to overlook the 'body'. She argues that dressing a body is a sense of life; it has been dressed always irrespective of the state of an individual which is being followed in every culture and thus becomes an essential factor of social status (Entwistle, 2000, p.32).

Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde in his sole novel 'Picture of Dorian Gray' (1890) portrayed the character of Dorian Gray, a very young and innocent, who gets agree to sell his soul for worldly and material things and gets diverted towards immorality and pride. His life gets drooled over pleasures resultantly his sinful ...