The European idea of fashion as a personal statement rather than a cultural expression begins in the 16th century: ten portraits of German or Italian gentlemen may show ten entirely different hats.But the local culture still set the bounds, as Albrecht Dürer recorded in his actual or composite contrast of Nuremberg and Venetian fashions at the close of the 15th century (illustration, right).

　　欧洲时尚理念作为一个个人陈述，而不是一种文化表达开始于16世纪:十幅德国或者意大利绅士的肖像图，可能会展示了十顶完全不同的帽子。但是当地文化仍然是主要的内容，就像阿尔布雷希特·丢勒在15世纪末时，记录他真实的和综合的对纽伦堡和威尼斯时尚的比较。