Fashion is important for society, but not for the reasons most people think.

Help me refine this argument by telling me why you agree or disagree.

The primary societal purpose of fashion is not to express yourself. Fashion is useful within society as a visual indicator of who has enough resources to be worthy of deference.

What is considered fashionable is constantly changing. An individual has to constantly chase the trends and update their wardrobe to keep up. Only people who have enough time, money and other resources to devote to this task are able to remain fashionable. Therefore, anyone who is conspicuously fashionable, regardless of whatever fashion is currently in style, is someone with enough resources that it might be to your benefit to befriend them.

Of course, fashion is not a reliable indicator of value and getting to know someone would provide a much more accurate assessment. However, that takes more time. In its absence, people use the immediate visual perception of fashion to evaluate someone’s worth quickly.

Tell me if you agree or disagree and why.