1. Ch. 1.1

2. To many people fashion means a precise style of dress or behavior that may be acceptable in one year buy not in another. Retailers believe fashion represents a way of social interaction and status seeking. No matter what fashion means to various groups, it represents billions of dollars in sales to businesses involved with the design, production, distribution, and marketing of fashion merchandise. What does fashion mean to you?

3. Fashion retailers group merchandise into categories: Staple Items: basic merchandise items that customers purchase on a regular basis, such as mens socks or childrens sleepwear. Fashion Merchandise: includes goods that are popular at a particular time. Customers may see merchandise advertised in print and through the internet or displayed in stores, and then purchase it.

4. Style: Style is a particular shape or type of apparel item, such as a mini-skirt or Capri pants, identified by the distinct features that make it unique. It remains a fashion as long as it is accepted. While fashion constantly changes, style remains constant. A style such as a mini-skirt may gain and lose popularity, but it maintains its identification as a particular style. What can you think of that falls in this category?

5. Design: Design is a particular or unique version of a style because of a specific arrangement of the basic design elements. The four basic elements of design are: Color Line Shape Texture

6. Color: Color is a critical elements of design and may be the most important. A retail customer may select a garment based on its color. The three dimensions of color are: Hue: the quality of the color Value: the lightness or darkness of a color Intensity: the brightness or dullness of a color.

7. Line: Line is an element of design that directs the path of eye movement. A line is a distinct, elongated mark that directs the eye up and down, side to side, or around an object. Construction details of a garment, such as the seams and darts, create lines. The popularity of these structural decorative lines changes with fashion trends.

8. Shape: Shape, or silhouette, is the overall form or outline of a garment. Shape is often the key design feature that occupies the minds of the designers, manufacturers, and retailers. There are three basic shapes in fashion: Straight, or Tubular Bell-Shaped, or bouffant Bustle-Shaped, or back full.

9. Texture: Texture is how the surface of a material, or fabric feels and looks. Fibers, yarns, and the method of fabric construction can determine texture. Terms that describe texture: Smooth Rough Dull Shiny Delicate Fine Shaggy Flat Texture can affect the appearance of shape, giving a bulky or slender look, depending on the roughness or smoothness of the materials. Texture can also influence the drape, or how a garment falls.

10. Clothing: is a garment used to cover the body. Accessories: are additional articles that complete or enhance outfits. Ex: shoes, handbags, leather goods, jewelry, scarves/neckwear, eyeglasses, undergarments, and fragrances. Home Furnishings: include window treatments, furniture coverings, miscellaneous decorative home accessories (throw pillows, lampshades, artificial flowers, and wall hangings).

11. Economic and political trends, current events, and social issues are often reflected in fashion. Changes in fashion reflect shifts in the economy and the makeup of the population. Fashion serves as a historical record of culture and lifestyle, and it can be an indicator of what is occurring in a society at a particular time.

12. Importance to People: Throughout history, fashion and clothing have played important roles in personal appearance. Appearance can identify social position. It can also reflect a persons self-image. At every level of society, people care about appearance as it affects self-esteem and their interactions with others.

13. Economic Importance: As one of the largest industries in the world, fashion affects global and local economies. Many types of fashion businesses benefit from the fashion industry in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco as well as Paris, Milan, London, and Tokyo. For Example: The fashion industry in New York City has a sales volume of over $14 billion per year. Besides creating revenue from fashion businesses, such as textile, manufacturing, and apparel retailers, fashion generates indirect income from other sources, such as transportation, hotels, restaurants, and other non-fashion businesses.

14. You will need to create your own rendition of Figure 1.1 on Page 7. Make it your own! There are plenty of magazines to get ideas and pictures from! Use the Internet! Be creative and modern!!!