# Quotes about fashion - Quotes: 26 - Authors: 21 - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.json ## Quotes > It would evidently take more than a political regime, more than dire poverty to stop a woman from wanting to be well dressed: it was a desire as old as the world, as old as the desire for children. [Dai Sijie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dai-sijie.md) · [Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dai-sijie/balzac-and-the-little-chinese-seamstress.md) · p. 130 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dai-sijie/balzac-and-the-little-chinese-seamstress/it-would-evidently.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > The combined effect of so many ambulatory sticks and balls, each of whom wore an expression of complete self-satisfaction, added strength to my longstanding belief that the profession of couturier required only a good knowledge of fabric and a malicious sense of humor. [Matt Hughes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes.md) · [Hespira](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/hespira.md) · p. 9 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/hespira/the-combined-effect.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Into the Zeelotic ethos, we have injected the philosophical axiom—well known to the field of fashion—that the outmoded only remains so until it becomes unremembered, after which it may justly return as the avant-garde. [Matt Hughes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes.md) · [Fools Errant](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/fools-errant.md) · p. 70 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matt-hughes/fools-errant/into-the-zeelotic.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > As a general rule, women nowadays dedicate all their energy, all their attention to their appearance; they are not concerned with anything except wearing the latest fashion; they squander all their intelligence in trying to become more beautiful, and not even in any practical way, by some beneficial and hygienic method, like practicing gymnastics, exercising in the fresh air, or swimming every morning. But no, it must be done with ribbons and lace, by cutting their breath short from the excessive use of tight-fitting corsets. And this translates to a waste of time, health, and money. [Luisa Capetillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/luisa-capetillo.md) · [A Nation of Women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/luisa-capetillo/a-nation-of-women.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/luisa-capetillo/a-nation-of-women/as-a-general.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [appearance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearance.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > The pull of fashion has always been that of the stampeding herd. [William Tenn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-tenn.md) · [The Wooden Star](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-tenn/the-wooden-star.md) · p. 224 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-tenn/the-wooden-star/the-pull-of-fashion.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > The fashion pages have always puzzled me. In my smugly ignorant view, the articles appear to be so full of fluff and nonsense as to make the astrology columns seem insightful by comparison. [John Allen Paulos](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-allen-paulos.md) · [A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-allen-paulos/a-mathematician-reads-the-newspaper.md) · p. 173 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-allen-paulos/a-mathematician-reads-the-newspaper/the-fashion-pages.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Fashions change. Even in mythology. [Tanith Lee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee.md) · [Delirium’s Mistress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee/deliriums-mistress.md) · p. 375 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee/deliriums-mistress/fashions-change-even.md) Topics: [mythology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mythology.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Justice is as much a matter of fashion as charm is. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/justice-is-as-much.md) Topics: [justice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/justice.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > In human culture, we can see a phenomenon—changes in fashions and styles—that at first glance might appear trivial, but that in fact is quite profound, revealing a deep and fascinating part of human nature. Look at clothing styles, for instance. In the stores or in fashion shows we can perhaps detect some trends and changes from a few months before, but they are usually subtle. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/in-human-culture.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Why do only the awful things become fads? I thought. Eye-rolling and Barbie and bread pudding. Why never chocolate cheesecake or thinking for yourself? [Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 119 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/why-do-only.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [independence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/independence.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Therein lay the secret to all fads: the herd instinct. People wanted to look like everybody else. That was why they bought white bucks and pedal pushers and bikinis. But someone had to be the first one to wear platform shoes, to bob their hair, and that took the opposite of herd instinct. [Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 63 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/therein-lay-the.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Barbie’s one of those fads whose popularity makes you lose all faith in the human race. [Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 117 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/barbies-one-of-those.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Fashion made a harsh mistress. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [The Great War: Breakthroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs/fashion-made-a-harsh.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > "I believe my life has value, and I don't want to waste it thinking about clothing. I don't want to think about what I will wear in the morning. Truly, can you imagine anything more boring than fashion? Professional sports, perhaps. Grown men swatting little balls, while the rest of the world pays money to applaud. But, on the whole, I find fashion even more tedious than sports." [Michael Crichton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton.md) · [Jurassic Park](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/jurassic-park.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-crichton/jurassic-park/i-believe-my-life.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > This makeover would make piercings and tattoos and brandings look so lame, all those little fashion revolts so safe that they themselves only became fashionable. Those little paper tiger attempts to reject looking good that only end up reinforcing it. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Invisible Monsters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters/this-makeover-would.md) Topics: [rebellion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/rebellion.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > It is almost better to be an impulse shirt-buyer than an impulse shoe-buyer. I have worn shirts that made people think I was a retired Mafia hit-man or a Yugoslavian sports convener from Split, but I have worn shoes that made people think I was insane. [Clive James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clive-james.md) · [Falling Towards England](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clive-james/falling-towards-england.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clive-james/falling-towards-england/it-is-almost.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > People used to wear ordinary clothes weekdays, and formal attire on Sunday. Today it is the exact reverse. [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [The Bed of Procrustes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes.md) · p. 19 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-bed-of-procrustes/people-used-to-wear.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > She had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners. [Louisa May Alcott](https://www.leafyquotes.com/louisa-may-alcott.md) · [Little Women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/louisa-may-alcott/little-women.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/louisa-may-alcott/little-women/she-had-a-womanly.md) Topics: [character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Thus, there is much to support the view that it is clothes that wear us and not we them; we may make them take the mould of arm or breast, but they mould our hearts, our brains, our tongues to their liking. [Virginia Woolf](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virginia-woolf.md) · [Orlando](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virginia-woolf/orlando.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virginia-woolf/orlando/thus-there-is-much.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Sometimes I wore a fringe so deep it obscured the way ahead. This hardly mattered. There were always others to look where I was going. [Quentin Crisp](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp.md) · [The Naked Civil Servant](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp/the-naked-civil-servant.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/quentin-crisp/the-naked-civil-servant/sometimes-i-wore.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Coretti didn't know how to dress. Clothing was a language and Coretti a kind of sartorial stutterer, unable to make the kind of basic coherent fashion statement that would put strangers at their ease. [William Gibson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson.md) · [Burning Chrome](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/burning-chrome.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/burning-chrome/coretti-didnt-know.md) Topics: [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Nothing wears clothes, but Man; nothing doth need > > But he to wear them. [George Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-herbert.md) · [The Temple](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-herbert/the-temple.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-herbert/the-temple/nothing-wears-clothes.md) Topics: [human nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/human-nature.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Moreover, I maintain that the charm which these corsets are supposed to produce is in the worst possible taste; it is not a pleasant thing to see a woman cut in two like a wasp—it offends both the eye and the imagination. A slender waist has its limits, like everything else, in proportion and suitability, and beyond these limits it becomes a defect. This defect would be a glaring one in the nude; why should it be beautiful under the costume? [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/moreover-i-maintain.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [the body](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-body.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > The toilet may attract notice, but it is the person that wins our hearts. Our finery is not us; its very artificiality often offends, and that which is least noticeable in itself often wins the most attention. The education of our girls is, in this respect, absolutely topsy-turvy. Ornaments are promised them as rewards, and they are taught to delight in elaborate finery. "How lovely she is!" people say when she is most dressed up. On the contrary, they should be taught that so much finery is only required to hide their defects, and that beauty's real triumph is to shine alone. > > Moreover, though there are figures that require adornment there are none that require expensive clothes. Extravagance in dress is the folly of the class rather than the individual, it is merely conventional. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-toilet-may.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Not only do short-sighted mothers offer ornaments as rewards to their children, but there are foolish tutors who threaten to make their pupils wear the plainest and coarsest clothes as a punishment. "If you do not do your lessons better, if you do not take more care of your clothes, you shall be dressed like that little peasant boy." This is like saying to them, "Understand that clothes make the man." Is it to be wondered at that our young people profit by such wise teaching, that they care for nothing but dress, and that they only judge of merit by its outside. > > Before the child is enslaved by our prejudices his first wish is always to be free and comfortable. The plainest and most comfortable clothes, those which leave him most liberty, are what he always likes best. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/not-only-do-short-sighted.md) Topics: [appearances](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearances.md), [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md) > Now there are some forms of apparel that may be worn or discarded as the fancy pleases with no other ill effects than a possible loss of social prestige. But spacesuits are not among them. [Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke.md) · [The Collected Stories Of Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/the-collected-stories-of-arthur-c-clarke.md) · p. 184 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/the-collected-stories-of-arthur-c-clarke/now-there-are.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [fashion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fashion.md)