My Reflection on Diana Crane’s chapter ‘Fashion, Identity and Social Change’

1. As Western societies industrialised, what was the impact on the clothing people wore?

Clothes for specific occupations disappeared and were replaced by clothing for types of occupations and by uniforms that signified a particular rank in an organization. Regional identification became less salient. (Crane, 2000:4)

2. Explain, in your own words, Simmel’s theory of fashion change as a process of imitation – who is imitating who?

Lower class people try to look and imitate upper class fashion, style, clothes.

3. Explain what you understand by Bourdieu’s theory of class reproduction – how does Bourdieu think fashion is disseminated?

People in specific social class compete for social distinction and cultural capital based on the taste formed by their class. The taste, manners are formed during the childhood, by the educational system and it contributes to the reproduction of that specific social class.

Fashion is disseminated then people expand their social life, contacts become more diverse. Then there are more chances that people will adopt something new from other culture.

4. In modern times, what role does the consumption of cultural goods, such as fashionable clothing, perform in the construction of personal identity?

Consumption of cultural goods performs as entertainer, as tool to form identity of yours rather then yours as a part of some social class.

5. How do you use clothing to express your own identity?

I wear clothes that probably could tell what kind of person I am. It characterizes me, shows my personality. I use particular clothes for specific type of reaction or greeting that I expect or want to get from other people.