Arts & Culture
The Sociology of Fashion as a Mechanism of Class Distinction
Quick fact
The classic theory of fashion as class distinction, proposed by sociologist Georg Simmel, explains that new styles are adopted by the elite to mark their exclusive status, but are soon copied by lower classes, forcing the elite to move on to ever-new fashions to maintain their distinction.
Why this is interesting
Why do the clothes we wear today go out of style so quickly? It's not just about aesthetics—it's a silent war for social position, fought with hemlines and color palettes.