The Factors That Influence Taste Cultural Studies Essay

The Factors That Influence Taste Cultural Studies EssayWhat is gustatory modality. Taste is heathen pheno handson that is based on the choice in ethnical method and reference. It is an govern mental orientation and non just purely aesthetic, take down cultural cordial and political processes whoremaster create it. Taste and mapping canister be affiliatedtogether because the choices of consumers in the market be directly affected by the grasp for certain types of products or raiment. The relationship between taste and consumption is however more complicated than a direct chain of events in which taste creates demand that, thus creates supply. Taste has been studied in umpteen scientific fields, especially within the fields of psychology, economics and sociology. Gijs Bakker state that taste is an individual choice, which has nothing to do with good or bad taste. So what are the influences of taste? To explain such influences, I shall use graduate(prenominal) contrive as the backbone for discussion.What is haute couture? In French, Haute couture agency High style. Haute means High or elegant and couture means dressmaking. But the term haute couture not only means spirited dressmaking or elegant dressmaking, the term Haute Couture represents and consists of scoop shovel chore of introductioning, making, and selling custom handmade womens habiliment (David Johnson, infoplease.com). Haute Couture is the top of the fashion market because the prestige commands the spiritedest expenses. Designers leave alone use the expensive materials like Toile and by all odds pay attention to the details to make high-quality dresses for their consumers. It is a time-consuming work up because the dresses are usually hand-stitched. High fashion is always a initiate on their design process and idea in the fashion attention. Nowadays, the examples of famous couture houses that are considered as high fashion are Valentino, Lacroix, Chanel, Balmain, Dior, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Yves Saint Laurent.The price of a simple blouse could cost from about 10,000 to 40,000. Sometimes the price would even get higher For example, a Chanel suit that was sold in the year 2002 had cost 20,000 withal an evening frock cost 50,000 in the mid(prenominal) 2004. Due to the craftsmanship, services, originality of the design and the finest quality of superb materials, it is actually hard to convey the price by those quite a little who cant afford it(Pauline Weston Thomas, fashion-era.com). Nowadays on that point are only around 2,000 women are buys couture clothing in the world, 60 percent of them are Americans, and only 200 of them are regular customers. Designers allow always loan clothing to celebrities or well known people for publicity. After World struggle II, it was the golden age of high fashion, at that place were around 15,000 women wearing couture. (David Johnson, infoplease.com). Although it was the golden age of high fashio n, but and the market was very small so that the designers had to be forced to use their prestige to help sell separate products, such as cosmetics, perfume, and their off-the-peg lines (David Johnson, infoplease.com). In this essay, I will argue that major economic and social changes have been important factors that influenced the taste in high fashion.World War II was one of the factors that had the greatest influence on haute couture in the 1940s. The struggle had brought many restrictions on it. During the war, the need for parachutes and other materials had caused the low supply in nylon textile. Not only that, the Nazi forces likewise occupied the primary couture design center that is Paris during that time. This occupation had caused the couture houses to be unable to do business in that locationfore many people were looking for bare-ass designers at other places instead of Paris. By 1947, the couture houses in Paris were still continuously ascendant the high fashion industry by and by it had reopened. After the war, designers started using novel fabrics. Women were encouraged to become homemakers after the war. They were moving out of the workplace, and the Western countries were also encouraged the female and ornate fashion. (www.ladyjojosboutique.wordpress.com) Dior stated that War had passed out of sight, and there were no other wars on the horizon. What did the weight of my sumptuous materials, my heavy velvets and brocades issue? When hearts were light, mere fabrics could not weigh the body down. (Christian Dior, 1947) The short skirts and fledge shoulders (Fig. 1) were replaced by the Christian Diors cutting Look (Fig. 2). It included sweeping weeklong skirts, fitter waist and travel shoulders. I wanted my dresses to be constructed, melded upon the curves of the feminine body, whose sweep they would stylize, stated by Christian Dior in his autobiography.Utility suithttp//4.bp.blogspot.com/_hbt9GjYeW0Q/TTjrh4-jSRI/AAAAAAAAAVA/ngkBmG A3-Jw/s320/fashion_1940s.jpgFig. 1 The fashion during World War IIhttp//trixiefantastic.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/theoldnewlook.jpg?w=600h=249Fig. 2 The New LookOnce the New Look had appeared, the designs of Dior were veryinfluential in the decade which refers to the silhouette of broad hips, small waists, and breasts pushed up and out rounded shoulders (Fig. 3) of the 50s style.Big day for fashion designersChristian Dior (Jan. 21,1905 1957), was an influential French fashion designer, who despite his short life did more than anyone to revive fashion after WW II with his modern New LookPhoto Suzy Parker in Christian Dior, 1952 http//adrianasassoon.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/christian-dior1.jpg?w=720Fig. 3 The style of Dior of the 50sThe emergence of Hippies culture in 1960s also influenced the design of high fashion. The Hippies rebelled against the established institutions and also criticized middle class values. The trend of Hippies look (Fig. 4) was popularized by in general musicians, such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and the Beatles.http//www.asjcollection.com/current/graphics/pd361.jpgtalitha gettyFig. 4 Hippie looksAs a youth movement, the ideology of Hippie started in the United States it was a protest against a society that was increasingly graceful conformist and restrictive. Finding their own ways and their own meanings to life were the aims of the Hippies, which were rivet on going back to nature and freedom. As cultural anthropologist and source Margaret Mead said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world, indeed its the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead, 1964) The styles and cuts of the fabric of their clothing reflected their thoughts even the fabrics were natural fibres like hemp and cotton. The Hippies used their clothes to express their individualism. The spirit of youthful exuberance animate forward-thinking high fashion designer. They began designing mini-skirts and blowuits beca use they saw the creative and financial potentials in the youth market. For example, the cause jacket of Yves Saint Laurent (Fig. 5) from his Rive Gauche boutique.http//www.stylebizportal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ysl-1.jpgFig. 5 Yves Saint Laurent The crusade jacket 1967During the 1980s there were great economic growth and prosperity. It was a period of wealthiness, excess and desire. Many women had entered the workforce and some have been travel to higher positions. The office clothings that women usually wore had made them feel uncomfortable, impractical and deficient due to being in the business industry. This causes mens styles of clothing to become very popular among women.Women value unique products and brands that they can use to define their individuality. Females actively seek new styles and fashion trends to a larger extent than men. Women are more sensitive to clothing needs and possess a great clothing awareness than men. (Adjei, Griffith Noble, 2006, p.177)T he large shoulder pads and tailored suit pants were created stronger silhouette of women in their new success. One of the examples is Giorgio Armanis Power Suit (Fig. 6). As fashion editor forVogue,Harpers BazaarandThe New York Times Magazine Carrie Donovan said that, Giorgio Armani was the first to float the idea. When the Milanese maestro of the tailored suit pertinacious to soften his precise shapes a few seasons ago, he also began gainful special attention to the blouses that accompanied them. Adding details like delicate collars or a bit of draping, and making the blouses from semi sheer silky fabrics, he started a trend that has bloomed into an American fashion statement. (http//garmentozine.com/tag/giorgio-armani/) Armanis suits were applauded by administrator women in the 1980s as a method of casually take a firm stand their status and talent, because of their high quality materials, beautiful tailoring, and comfortableness. Shoulder pads increased the sizes of shoulders . overly that, they also wore the extend pants and tight skirts that waist and hips were trimmed in. These can help them to conceal their femininity and thus having the ability to defeat men in the business world.The term gender can be nurture developed with the terms gender individuality and gender role attitudes. However, to just measure sex cannot be a guarantee of capturing gender identity or gender role attitudes. Gender identity can be explained as to which degree a man or a muliebrity identifies with masculine and feminine personality traits. Gender role attitudes refer to differences regarding the responsibilities, roles, and rights of men and women. (Fischer Arnold, 1994, p.163)http//garmentozine.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/armani1988.jpg?w=500 CUsersUserDesktopVisual CultureDetail of collections 1980s KCI Digital Archives_files207_l_AC10191.jpgFig. 6 Giorgio Armanis advocate suitIn 2000s, natural disasters prompted human to accept that the earth was sick. So, the ec o-friendly construct has been used in high fashion to improve the health of the purlieu. In the mid-late 2000s, recycled vintage clothing styles from 1940s to 1980s and also ethnical clothing such as fake furs were predominant in this decade. The fashion industry has the biggest support on the eco-friendly fashions. Designers started using the organic fabrics such as wool, organic cotton, soy silk and bamboo. (http//stylechicago.com) Linda Loudermilk was the pioneer of the green fashion movement. She merges the skills of high fashion and environment awareness with the materials made from sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell and soybeans. Linda Loudermilk urged that Look for three-dimensional designs and fabric embellishments, unusual insets fashioned from vintage laces and trims transform frocks from classic to collectable. Venture beyond the plain and simple to luxury-eco artistic designs that usher in a new era of environmentalism fresh from an artists palette of sophisticated styles. (Mi chael Lackman, 2005) Her fall 2007 collection to a fault Hot to Handle (Fig. 7) was a corn fibre volume come up with wood pulp leggings on the left and Japanese rice wallpaper ice blue-falling floor length train coat on the right. It was inspired by icebergs, the rock stars of nature. Nature is the inspiration for Loudermilk. Her adroit design turns the backfire into stylish punk and it all goes back to the nature. Her official websites claimed that We aim to realise eco glamour legs, a fabulous look and a slammings attitude that kale traffic and shouts the message eco can be edgy, loud, fun, playful, feminine (or not) and hyper-cool. (http//www.lindaloudermilk.com)http//www.lasplash.com/uploads/1/linda_loudermilk-fall_2007-collection-4.jpgFig. 7 Linda Loudermilk Fall 2007 CollectionIn conclusion, high fashion is the sign of wealth and elegance. Major social and economic changes are important factors that influenced the design concepts and taste in high fashion. One of the bes t ways for designers to predict trends of high fashion is perhaps to understand the key events of a decade. panache reflects society. Fashion is always of the time in which you live. quoted by Coco Chanel. Some events will change the style of high fashion, but some will bushel on the usage of materials in design. Similar to a piece of artwork, the designs of high fashion are the artistic expressions of designers. It represents the social symbol through its cultural connotations. I believe that high fashion will always be the pioneer in the fashion industry.(2115 words)