ترجمه و مترجم

The Enigma of Fashion

 Of all the pressures young people face, the most pernicious* is that of fashion. By this is meant the current vogue* in dress. The teenagers, who are so glib when they speak of "individuality," are turned into a homogeneous mass by the latest craze in fashion. How can youngsters who vehemently* resist advice from the older generation become so malleable in the hands of those who "make" fashion? Perhaps the sudden shifts in fashion occur fortuitously*. Or is there some group who, through legerdemain, switches styles and customs on us right before our eyes? Today's teenagers seem to be quite gullible* when it comes to embracing the latest trend in fashions. But then, they have their elders as sage* examples to follow. 

In dress, the fashion appears to be "set" by a few foreign designers and a handful of affluent* individuals who purchase these designs. The fashion industry is cognizant* of the fact that fashions must change rapidly and often or their economy would become stagnant. For this industry it would prove fatal if it were not vigilant* and prepared well in advance for a new fashion trend.* As the old fashion becomes passé and a new fashion seems to be in the making, the garment manufacturers cannot afford to procrastinate. They rush large sums of money into production for a mass market. Having invested heavily, the manufacturers do everything possible to influence and motivate* the purchasers. Through every facet of publicity and advertising the industry exploits* the natural desire for people to be au courant* with the latest fashions. 

Once the fashion industry has been able to foist a new style on the teenager, the older generation tends to stigmatize it as some form of rebellion. What is often ignored is that the young consumers capitulate to what is originated* by someone outside of their group. The feelings of individuality and audacity that the teenager gets from a new style of dress result from the propensity* of their elders to disparage* them. The actual situation is that the clothing fashions soon become accepted by all; there is nothing upsetting or revolutionary about them. While people are becoming complacent* about the "new," the clothing industry is busy planning how to tantalize the teenager with next year's "fashion." This arbitrary* decision is guaranteed to foment* consternation* among adults once again in the following year. 

To the derogatory* comments from the older generation the teenagers might retort that new fashions and styles are adopted by the elders with alacrity.* Though they complain, women emulate* their daughters by shortening or lengthening their hems. They may appear reticent about the bother and expense of altering their wardrobe, but they give tacit approval to the change by rushing to the department stores where they jostle* each other to buy copies of the more expensive dresses. The conclusion one might reach after observing how women countenance* the arbitrary* changes year after year is that they are naïve* or victims of some chicanery practiced by the clothing industry. Women may appear hapless* before the intimidation* of ''style," but the real truth may lie in the fact that they are so docile because they secretly enjoy the yearly excitement around the latest fashions.