Did the Ancient Greeks and Romans have a sense of fashion Historians of dress have traditionally claimed that fashion in the modern sense did not exist in Greece and Rome, but this assertion rests upon a misconception of rather sophisticated Greco-Roman attitudes toward physical appearance, as well as upon definitions of "dress" and "fashion" that are too limited.
As is abundantly clear from their art and literature, the ancients attached great importance to ideals of bodily perfection and to outward appearance in general. Both the Greeks and the Romans demonstrated, from their earliest history, an extraordinary awareness of the potential of the body (and various modifications that could be made to it) as a means of marking social, political, religious, and even moral distinctions, aside from the opportunities dress and body decoration represent for self-expression or the pursuit of beauty. The ancients manipulated the expressive potential of clothing and adornments in a myriad of contexts: in their rituals, in theatre, and in the political arena, as well as in literature. There is also considerable evidence of innovation, experimentation, and the determined expression of personal style, even in Republican Rome where societal norms or expectations were apparently rigid in regard to clothing, correct grooming(梳洗), or the use of jewelry, perfume or cosmetics.
"Fashion" may be said to encompass any of four forms. First, there is a conscious manipulation of dress that strives for effect, a "momentary instance" of fashion, "fashion statement" or "fad". Second, fashion may designate innovations in dress that are more enduring than simple fads. Some of these changes occur abruptly, whether due to political upheavals, economic fluctuations, or even the sudden abundance (or scarcity) of certain materials; other innovations may develop more deliberately. Third is the phenomenon whereby styles in a particular area of dress change swiftly and repeatedly, with the new ones replacing the old in rapid succession. Finally, fashion may refer specifically to the use of such adornments as cosmetics, fragrance, and jewelry, whose primary purpose is to enhance a wearer’’s natural features. Primarily considered the preserve of women, this aspect also plays a significant role in the lives of men, especially in the male-dominated societies of Greece and Rome, in which the "correct" appearance was often a necessary prerequisite to a man’’s political success.
Why did the fourth aspect mentioned by the author play a significant role in the lives of men in Ancient Greece and Rome
A.Because men had a sense of fashion. B.Because jewelry was primarily the preserve of women. C.Because political success could depend on a man’’s appearance. D.Because grooming was particularly important in ancient societies.