Essay Research - The Independent - Debate: Is fashion a con?

Reading an article in the Independent regarding the purpose of fashion and Sherwood and Vee suggest that Fashion is an Artform, which is something I agree with, and that it speaks volumes about modern culture.
This made me think of what Couture speaks of modern culture and whether anyone is still speaking the same language as Couture does.
Sherwood and Vee also suggest that Fashion is fed by contemporary culture.
Perhaps they are suggesting that fashion is no longer a direct result of Haute Couture but has a life of its own, and no longer lives in the shadow of Haute Couture, awaiting its next move before it decides what is and what isn't deemed as fashionable anymore.
Sherwood and Vee go on to say that Fashion is, in fact, the most accurate litmus test of the now.
Fashion is now and can not by its own definition be an investment for the future, what is now can not reflect what is yet to come

TAKE A walk down the high street, follow it up with a round trip of designer shops, and flick through a glossy mag en route. And there you have it, the sum total of fashion freedom: grey, long, hoods, pleats, dashes of red and Mary Jane shoes.

This time six months ago, when the autumn/winter catwalk reports filled the column inches, all the above were touted as revolutionary. Now that even Top Shop has copied the Marc Jacobs pleated skirt for less than a night out, it all amounts to a uniform. They might as well dish it out to us, price it according to our means, and save us the trawl.

Sherwood and Vee seem to think that the high street only offers a uniform of similar items to everyone and that choice is not an option when it comes to fast fashion or high street trends. I would argue that this is far from the truth. High street fashion allows you to pick and choose which trends and items you wish to follow, it allows for the mix and match of items, last years sale items with this years key pieces and freedom to decorate how you wish, perhaps it is actually Couture that is a uniform? Couture has to be worn as intended. Its all about the dress and not the wearer, is this not the ultimate uniform? When the person inside becomes invisible and all you see is the branded outfit they are wearing?

The Independent
Debate: Is fashion a culteral force to be reckoned with, or just a sophisticated con?
James Sherwook & Lorna Vee
27th Sept 1998
infoweb.newsbank.com