Daisy Perez

Professor Florian
English 114
April 3, 2014
Imagine Perfection and Youll Reach Utopia
Every individual and society has their own concept of Utopia. Whether it is similar or
different from one to another, everyone has thought about it at some point in life. Utopia is a
place where everything is seen as perfect. Every single feature and problem that can arise has
been thought out. This can be compared to fashion because fashion is a process that undergoes
building and fixing until its result is perfect. Every season designers come up with new
glamorous trends. Fashion is an illusion that advertises the product that the designer is trying to
sell to you. Although Utopia may have its glamour it has its downside just like fashion. Fashion
is a type of Utopia that is common in many individuals and groups. Fashion and Utopia are
places where people unite to build this perfect environment.
For starters fashion, whether one is interested in it or not it get ones attention. Some get
persuaded by the advertisements, social life or celebrities we see on TV/billboard. For instance,
Fashion is conceived as a body technique which displays markers of social conduct expressed
and displayed through clothes (Craik). Through the usage of celebrities daily life events the first
and last thing people tend to focus on is what they are wearing, who the designer is and where
they wore it. Celebrities socialize with the same level and social status as themselves and when
people tend to stand out they are outcast. For one to fit in the perfect social environment, they
must follow the level of trend. Just like in Utopia, people were to follow the rules or they would
become a slave. For example, All the convicts, & they alone, are dressed in garments of
distinctive colour; their hair is not shaved but clipped a little above the ears, the tip of one ear is
cut off (More). Their own people would turn their backs on them and enslave them for acting
out. In this way utopians out casted the slaves on how they dressed and looked symbolizing their
rebellion. Utopians wanted nothing to do with them because they were disobeying the laws, but
more than that they rebelled upon their own government and beliefs. This is the case in fashion
when people/individuals do not follow a trend among the groups or people they socialize with
they get outcast.
Fashion is transmitted as a higher/upper class status. Meaning, if you buy what the
advertisements are persuading you to buy, then youll fit in. For example, Fashion offers
woman fantasies, identities and momentary escape from the contradictions and pain of everyday
life (Craik). When you look at all the pictures of model and celebrities they are perfect. Whether
its the color, the lighting or whatever it is its always on point. Their photos are so unrealistic,
showing the glamour luxury life you would have just by having those certain items. They make
people imagine an unrealistic society. When in reality it does not matter if you have a certain
designer brand or what not, because this is not going to help you succeed or social with a
particular group, just like what the ads claim.
Although the new set of designer clothes, shoes, brands that just came out are glamorous
and one of the kind; there is always something new and better. Once that season is over its out
with the old in with the new. This is seen year around when fall ends, and summer begins.
Everything is half price because the stores are trying to get rid of last seasons clothes. Although
sometimes the designs and trends may not vary from one another that much from seasons there is
always something that catches individuals attention. Whether its the color, the pattern, the
material whatever it is, its always better than the previous one. For example in Utopia, With
everybody engaged in useful occupations and these in turn requires less labour, there is such
abundance. Every community has their own set of needs. Their particular structure set of rules
and values they go by. Every community varies from one another in some ways but they always
have to work together to get things done. This is also seen in fashion advertisement, marketing
and sellers, because they have to work together to convince, persuade people to buy new
products. Just like in, Elle Magazine, Style.com and Fall/Winter Trends.
Often times designers contact celebrities, artists or sports players to advertise their set of
clothes. As a illustration, The attractiveness models contends that the effectiveness of a
message depends on the sources familiarity, likeability, similarity, attractiveness to the
respondent (Chiosa). This is one of the many ways consumers fall for the message designers are
trying to get out to the consumers. They use high power individuals that can influence others to
follow their footsteps. Just like in Utopia, it took one leader to lead others into forming a perfect
utopia. It takes one role model to make or pursue others to follow and not question the
products/community. It also has to do with the way beauty is defined, the attraction of a new
shiny car may have less to do with its pure beauty than with the pride we have owning it (Paul).
Just like in this example, people feel worthy and satisfied being able to have the same type of
items as celebrities have, making them feel like they too have the same level of status and
perfect life. Just like in utopia no one is better than another because there is an establish
equality.
In Utopia every member contributes into labor to provide for materials for their daily
needs. They do not take or desire for more than is necessary. They are happy with just having
enough for that day, not worrying about tomorrows needs. Yes, Utopia sounds like a perfect
world but nothing is perfect. Everything has its flaws, problems and can be improved just like
fashion. Fashion is always on a creative move, looking for new ideas and styles. But just like the
clothes are not always sewed accordingly so is utopia. For example a stylist loves,
Experimenting with different looks, patterns and colors for her everyday outfits fueled her love
for fashion (Aquino). Fashion is one of the ways people can express themselves, and even
distinguish themselves from another individual. . But fashion, can also have its down side.
Fashion is not as simple as magazine, advertisements and TV displays it to be. Fashion is an
ongoing industry that does not pay in glamour. The only way to be successful in the industry is
by connections and proving yourself. There is a lot of internship that has to done, as well as
poorly bad jobs not like the ones claimed on TV. Yes people may get free clothes and bags once
in a while, but the fashion industry does not work together instead its like the survival of the
fittest.
However Utopia may not be as perfect as the book may state but it does have its humble
side. Such as, Again, they are astonished that gold, which of itself is perfectly useless, is
everywhere so highly prized man, who imposed value on it for his purposes, is himself valued at
a lower rate (More). They do not value the importance in gold as much as others do. They see
gold just as gold, they do not put much importance in it neither do they urge to have more. In
utopia they use gold as a punishment for slaves so when they see the three ambassadors wearing
them, they believe they look like fools and are no better than them. But compared to fashion, the
more gold you have, the more expensive popular brands you own, the more youll fit in their so
called society. Many people get so caught up in this fantasy world, revolving and trying to meet
this so called world of theirs.
Fashion is always on a move to expand and evolve in new ways. Fashion has its own set
of rules and ways of operating their business. For one, they use brands and logos that are known.
Symbols and objects that people are familiar with attracting their attention. Fashion builds its
own perfect world, but that does not mean its perfect. The way they transmit their ideals and
trends are not always the best way to do things but thats what makes fashion different. Fashion
has their own description of their perfect utopia within its boundaries. Just like in Utopia, not
everything they do is perfect in my point of view. But it worked for them, it made them be
unique because of the way they honored and kept things running without questioning it. But then
again people were ignorant and described this perfect world that had slavery, no freedom of
speech, no private property and no realistic evolutionary future. No matter what type of Utopia it
is there is an endless amount of possibilities for a perfect world, no one can really judge the
outcome except the creator.








Work Cited
Altshuler, Richard Paul and Thelma. The Art of Being Human . Pearson Education Inc., 2012.
Aquino, Elisa. Street Fashion. 19 September 2013. 7 March 2014 <www.interaksyon.com>.
Craik, Jennifer. The face of fashion: cultural studies in fashion. 1994.
More, Thomas. Utopia. Penguin Group , 2012.