Many people, mostly women, are interested in fashion. Fashion is the style of dress or behaviour that is common or popular at a certain time. New styles, materials, shapes and patterns appear, last for a certain time, disappear and later come back. Many young people are fashion-conscious and try to follow the latest trends in fashion.

Fashion styles change often. Woman started to shorten their skirts and mini-skirts were very popular for long time. Narrow trousers were replaced by wide trousers and flat shoes by high-heeled shoes.

The materials used are important and each fabric has its own special qualities. Almost everything used to wear was made of canvas, then cotton, but later those textiles were replaced by synthetic fibres.

A person s choice of suitable clothing is also influenced by climate and weather. In colder countries, people prefer to wear clothes which protect their body from the cold. They wear fur coats, boots and fur caps in winter. In hot countries, people put on light clothes, use materials which allow sweat to evaporate and cool their bodies.

People working in banks and offices are usually more dressed up: men in suits, shirts, ties and black or brown shoes. Woman wear suits too, fashionable tops or blouses, various accessories and leather shoes. For special occasions we usually put on something more formal: long dresses or gowns for the ladies; and tuxedos for man. Official ceremonies require that people wear gowns or robes, long loose.

Most people prefer buying clothes in shops because they can suit them. Some women like clothes made by dressmakers or they make them themselves. Coats and other clothing made of fur are very expensive and in the past show that people were rich. However, many people think that it is cruel to kill animals for their fur.

Colours play an important role in fashion. White is typical colour for babies because it is represents parity and virginity. A baby’s sex is distinguished by colours: little girls are dressed in pink and red while boys in blue or green, but today like to have a free choice.

Some colours suit some people more then others. We distinguishes colour for warm and cold. Cold types prefer darker colours gray navy blue, and warm types cream white light blue. Some people choose colours according to their current mood, when they are happy wear light and when they are sad dark.