|
|
FASHION IN THE UNITED STATES
Apart from professional business attire, fashion in the United States is
eclectic and predominantly informal. While Americans' diverse cultural roots are
reflected in their clothing, particularly those of recent immigrants, cowboy
hats and boots and leather motorcycle jackets are emblematic of specifically
American styles. Blue jeans were popularized as work clothes in the 1850s by
merchant Levi Strauss, a German immigrant in San Francisco, and adopted by many
American teenagers a century later. They are now widely worn on every continent
by people of all ages and social classes. Along with mass-marketed informal wear
in general, blue jeans are arguably U.S. culture's primary contribution to
global fashion. The country is also home to the headquarters of many leading
designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Labels such as
Abercrombie & Fitch and Eckō cater to various
niche markets.
Dress norms in the United States are generally consistent with those of other
post-industrial western nations and has become largely informal since the mid
20th century. Clothing in the United States also depends on a variety of factors
including location, venue, and demographic factors such as ethnicity. Blue jeans
are a consistent fashion trend among all classes. The western states are
commonly noted for being more informal in their manner of dress than those
closer to the eastern seaboard. Furthermore, individuals belonging to certain
ethnic groups such as some Native American tribal members and individuals of
Scottish descent may wear clothing to represent their ethnic identity at certain
events. Conspicuous consumption and a desire for quality have also lead to a
strong preference for designer label clothing among many in the middle and upper
classes.
Fashion norms have changed greatly from decade to decade. The United States
has generally followed and in some cases led trends in the history of Western
fashion. It has some unique regional clothing styles, such as western wear.
The toleration for body expression that deviates from the mainstream such as
complete body tattoos or nudism is strongly linked to the sub-culture and
location in which an individual may find him or herself. Generally speaking the
United States tends to be less tolerant towards nudity than Western Europe, even
in more tolerant areas such as California. As stated above the tolerance shown
for personal expression such as cross-dressing, piercing, etc... varies greatly
with location and sub-culture and may be completely appropriate in one venue
while being taboo in another.
|
|
