Fashion requires both the impulse to union and to isolation
Evidence
Two social tendencies are essential to the establishment of fashion, namely, the need of union on the one hand and the need of isolation on the other. Should one of these be absent, fashion will not be formed—its sway will abruptly end. Consequently the lower classes possess very few modes and those they have are seldom specific; for this reason the modes of primitive races are much more stable than ours. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 721
Categorization
- DEFINE: Simmel’s definition of fashion’s necessary twin social functions — union and isolation — is the precise, citable theoretical framework the essay needs for its causal chain.
- XREF: connects to: Fashion is abandoned by a class once it diffuses to other classes — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 618; Opposing fashion is itself a form of conforming — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 728; Fashion substitutes for class and profession as a source of individual differentiation. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 732 (+4 more)
Related
- Fashion is abandoned by a class once it diffuses to other classes (similarity 0.87)
- Fashion substitutes for class and profession as a source of individual differentiation. (similarity 0.86)
- Fashion dictates styles with no objective, aesthetic, or practical justification. (similarity 0.83)
- Conformity to fashion can shield and protect an individual’s inner difference. (similarity 0.83)
- Opposing fashion is itself a form of conforming (similarity 0.82)
- Fashion arose to reconcile individual identity with mass-produced industrial aesthetics (similarity 0.81)
- Societies require a mix of discord and harmony to take determinate shape (similarity 0.80)
- Dress regulations and political strategy made even ‘straight’ appearance misleading (similarity 0.80)
- Elites lost a sustained battle to mark status through dress (similarity 0.79)
- Anti-conformity movements reproduce the conformity they reject (similarity 0.78)
Broader Connections
- Anti-conformity movements reproduce the conformity they reject
#corroborates(0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 728 - Opposing fashion is itself a form of conforming
#corroborates(0.70) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 728 - Conformity to fashion can shield and protect an individual’s inner difference.
#expands(0.70) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 734 - Conforming to dress conventions creates a sense of belonging in social settings.
#exemplifies(0.60) — Hamlin Garland Munseys, A Daughter of the Middle Border, 462 - Fashion substitutes for class and profession as a source of individual differentiation.
#expands(0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 732 - Societies require a mix of discord and harmony to take determinate shape
#exemplifies(0.40) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 85