Embedded deeply in social class and culture, fashion is a complex phenomenon. Georg Simmel observed that, “changes in fashion reflect the dullness of nervous impulses: the more nervous the age, the more rapidly its fashions change, simply because of desire for differentiation” and that “as soon as anything that was originally done by few has really come to be practiced by all…we no longer speak of fashion.” Thus, fashion is in constant flux according to human behavioral practices (amongst other factors: economic, etc.) and can be an effective a way to measure the shifting cultural climate. It’s powerful because it can transform the mundane into glamour and cause one to feel like a million bucks. Its power can be quite strong.
Furthermore, we can use fashion as a gauge because it captures “the zeitgeist”, which refers to “the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.”2 Each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all others. Zeitgeist (in German, Zeit “time” and Geist” spirit or ghost) is the spirit of the times, of the age. In other words, it tells us “what is in,” what is fashionable, what is trending. This term has also been adopted by the fashion community and designers in their work. The great propagator of the zeitgeist is social media, particularly through content creators who post hauls and shopping videos, creating a sense of urgency or instilling a desire for an item. It is a variation of keeping up with the Joneses and acquiring what others have due to a fear of missing out.
Philosopher Friedrich Nieztsche noted that people tend to fall into a herd mentality; they follow what others are doing and get what others get. Consequently, they become slaves to the zeitgeist. Nietzsche’s concept of a superman, the ubermensch, would dare to think for him/herself. This person would leave the herd and be a sort of non-conformist.
This concept of non-conformity is a good place to start for the Christian. However, we are not only called to be non-conformists, we are called to surpass conformity: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” How are we transformed? By changing into another form by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Just as a moth changes into a butterfly, leaving its dead form behind and assumes a new form, we too are being transformed. Before, the moth was only able to hang and be imprisoned in its shell, but now it forms wings that enable it to fly and a more appealing form. By walking in step with the Spirit, we are able to not yield to the spirit of the age.
Sources:
1. Georg Simmel, On Individuality And Social Forms, 303.
2. Online Meriem Webster dictionary.