One of the most constant social pressures on individuals is the desire to appear attractive or appealing. This pressure might be manifested in a desire for clothing that is stylish or trendy, or by an obsession with physical fitness or appearance, or in a desire to please others by conforming to their expectations of behavior. Indeed, in our modern society, there is a constant battle waged between reality and image, between what is real and what is imagined. The prevalence of image and reality in art, fashion, media, and advertising is never ending. The struggle between image and reality in our everyday lives is no less pervasive

The modern desire to appear appealing can be traced to the early development of the fashion industry during the Renaissance. In the late 15th century, clothing began to be manufactured and worn in larger quantities than before, and the demand for clothing quickly outstripped the supply. To satisfy this demand, designers began to create fashionable clothing, often using references to classical or religious art for inspiration. Unfortunately, Europeans of the period were obsessed with images of naked, idealized figures. Many of these garments were clearly not meant to be worn in real-life circumstances, and they often cut off circulation, causing gangrene or tissue damage. They created such dangerous clothing that the fashion for impractical attire was short lived, and people returned to more practical clothing

However, the desire to appear attractive did not disappear with the invention of the sewing machine. Rather, it morphed into an endless cycle of making fashion statements in order to appear appealing and fashionable. In the 18th and 19th centuries, fashion was much more restrained than it was during the Renaissance, and people generally wore clothing that covered their entire bodies. However, clothing designers still found ways to create eye-catching garments that became popular with wealthy women. An example of this is the invention of corsets, which tightly wrapped the torso, creating a small waist and a narrow chest, thus accentuating a woman’s figure. Corsets were wildly popular for both men and women, but they remained impractical for everyday wear. Women continued to wear corsets when they went dancing, for feminine purposes, but they didn’t wear them while working in the field, because corsets restricted breathing and could result in permanent organ damage if the wearer was constantly constricted. However, women were so enamored with their corsets that they made corsets fashionable even when they were not necessary

Women often refused to wear practical clothing in order to look fashionable. During the 1910s and 1920s, tight, short skirts and sleeveless dresses were the height of fashion. Women refused to wear blouses with buttons, preferring instead to wear shirts that exposed their cleavage. Some women even went so far as to wear skirts that barely covered their knees, pushing the limits of fashion even further

Men’s fashion during this same period was more restrained. Rather than creating fashion statements, men’s designers focused on creating practical clothing. For example, casual shirts with button-down collars and pleated, wide-legged pants were popular. However, because men’s clothing was still impractical, they continued to favor the tight, short, and sleeveless garments that had become fashionable for women

The desire for fashion and beauty has persisted in modern society. However, unlike in previous periods, fashion and beauty are valued more for their practicality than their aesthetics. Today, clothing that restricts the body’s movement, or exposes sensitive parts of the body, is frowned upon in social settings, and people are expected to look and act professionally at all times. Because people are willing to go to great lengths to appear attractive, the fashion and beauty industries are thriving, as are other media in which people express their love for beauty. For example, millions of people spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery and makeup in order to appear more appealing and fashionable. Despite this, the desire for fashion and beauty is still pervasive in society, and people continue to try to convince themselves that appearing attractive is more important than the truth and reality of their situation.