The Art of Fashion: Forward and Backward

To some, fashion is an art. Not to everyone, of course.

The majority of people consider clothing to be utilitarian as they notice styles come and go. Until research unveiled that dressing for success was a definite reality, people did not necessarily know that within thirty seconds first impressions are made and likely to be kept. A surprising source made the investment for major research on the impact of fashion: litigation lawyers. Trial lawyers who wanted to sway the jury needed to know how to make their witnesses "look good" in order to win their case!

Many young girls and women have an innate sense of style and of what clothing is appropriate for any specific occasion. More often, this effort requires study, experimentation, trial and error. In our world of videos and digital communications, most everyone will be visible or televised at some point in their career. The arts of public speaking and achieving good fashion sense are more important than ever.

Louisa May Alcott may have had an inkling of how to make an effective fashion statement when she wrote, "She had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners." Every well dressed woman is aware of the effects of proportion and color, accessorizing and harmonious dressing.

Anyone going shopping today will find a variety of styles to choose from. Lately, we've been seeing hints of the 1960's and early 1970's in fabrics and accessories. Mixing and matching is fun but can be tricky, and, yes, especially as women age, changes must be made. Actress Sharon Stone knocked the international fashion world off its axis in 1998, when she arrived to the Oscars wearing a man's white cotton shirt and a long lavender Vera Wang skirt. This opened the door to pairing mass produced merchandise with designer clothing. A wonderful way to update a suit or sports look is to simply add a t-shirt in the season's newest color.

Shoppers at Von Maur can find cutting edge clothing and accessories to go with the basics in their closets. Vintage touches can add so much to a casual or formal outfit. Sketched below are examples of that illustrate the influence of yesterday's styles on fashions today.