WHAT MOVES THE TRENDS OF FASHION ?

      This time, the admiration of the tanned body attribute was due equally to the attribute itself (a tan) and to the admiration of the persons bearing the attribute (celebrities). Those among the 'common' members of society were inspired to tan their skin either to look more affluent, or to look like an admired celebrity. This trend spawned technological invention and commerce - tanning booths, tanning beds, and tanning salons - as well as advances in cosmetic and skin care sciences - artificial tanning lotions, bronzers, spray-on tans.

      These latter advances for fake tans have come to the forefront of fashion trend with the discovery that extensive exposure to the sun is harmful to the skin. Even this can be categorized with the same rules: people seek artificial tanning means because they still admire the attribute of the tanned body, but they hold the potential harm caused by sun damage in disdain.

      Another fashion trend - sculptured and acrylic nails - follows the same path as tanning in its emergence as a fashion trend. Before the development of sculptured nail techniques, only wealthy affluent women had the kind of leisurely lifestyles conducive to growing and caring for long fingernails. Movie stars and socialites would be seen with long lacquered nails living lives of luxury and glamour, while the common working woman who tried to keep her nails long would find them quickly chipped and broken.

      But acrylics allowed women who normally would never be able to grow long beautiful nails to get them in an hour's time. The development of nail tips cut this time in half. Now, even the smallest communities often have multiple nail salons. These artificial nails are even stronger than natural nails in most cases and can endure the kinds of punishment that would have destroyed natural nails under the same stresses. Yet, even the trend for artificial nails stems from the admiration of those whose lifestyles were conducive to long nails, and the disdain for the look of the nails a woman might naturally have.

      Setting trends by inspiring admiration, envy or disdain, is the basic technique of advertising. The next time you see or hear a television, radio or print ad, pay attention and ask yourself which of the emotions - admiration, envy or disdain - the ad is trying to inspire about its featured product or service. Sometimes the focus will be on the product itself, while other times the ad may use a spokesperson - perhaps a celebrity or attractive model - with attributes they want to associate with the product or service.

      Being able to understand how trends develop may help you avoid following the ones that are ill-suited to you. There is a lot to be said for independence of thought in a society driven by trends, and who knows, maybe you can set a trend of your own. 



Source ; Greateslooks.com