CAE/FCE Reading Part 5 Template

A)New fashions and styles appear in all societies. First, we must understand the difference between fashion and style and how the changes in fashion and style happen for different reasons. The former are driven by insiders to prevent others from copying the insiders’ style. The latter are created by outsiders trying to invent alternative styles to the mainstream; the style of most people in a society. In order to succeed, a new style needs to completely reject one of the main indicators of the mainstream style.This rejection means that most people will not accept or choose the new style, and it also means that it is rarely driven by big business.

B)Let us identify the main factor that shapes a particular style before returning to the topic of fashion. Many suggest that style is the main visible or outward component of group identity. However, research reveals that it goes deeper than that. Most studies conclude, and it is also my view, that style is the expression of certain underlying principles and viewpoints. People decide to adopt a style only after careful thought. It is unlike buying a new coat to get a new look. Moreover, a new style does not necessarily involve showing wealth or class.

C) Turing to nature, we all know that the male peacock bird displays his beautiful tail to attract a female. For a male peacock, having a long shiny tail shows strength and energy. Therefore, the strongest male peacocks have a better chance of attracting a mate than weaker males. In humans, in extreme cases, some people spend an unreasonable amount of time grooming themselves and may even do without more essential items in order to be fashionable.

D) Humans differ from animals in their ability to deceive. Almost as soon as a new garment by a top designer appears on the catwalk, fakes turn up on market stalls. The original is out of financial reach of the majority.Ans so copies are born. Some are so true to the original that they may be mistaken for the genuine article even by dedicated followers of fashion. Those who knowingly buy fakes rarely concern themselves with the reaction of those who purchase the original article. The fake, in fact, carries with it so much of the image of the original that it becomes attractive in itself.

E) Another interesting phenomenon is what is called ‘counter-signalling’. We can divide society into three groups: high, middle, and low. The middle group can easily imitate the fashion of the high group, so the middle group can be confused with the high group, to the detriment of the high group. Counter-signalling occurs when the high group imitates the fashion of the low group. However, if the middle group imitates the low group, they take the risk of being confused with the lower one. A typical example of counter-signalling is wearing jeans. Eventually, wearing jeans became popular with everyone. This partly explains why fashion goes in cycles.

F) The concept of changes in fashion relates to a much wider sphere that just clothes. It is evident in the evolution of language. What once was considered slang may become an accepted phrase. Interestingly, music plays an important role in the development of fashion. It brings people together at festivals and people can see how others dress and speak. In other words, it provides a chance for people to be influenced by others. I do not argue that music alone creates a new fashion. But music, dress and speech all work together to spread new ideas and trends.