ion. Casual clothes that are both versatile and dura-
ble may be one of the lasting legacies of the
decade’s fashion.
Further Reading
Bryant, Michele Wesen.WWD Illustrated: 1960’s to
1990’s. New York: Fairchild, 2004. A chapter on
the 1990’s defines many of the social trends that
influenced fashions. Illustrated with sketches
fromWomen’s Wear Daily(WWD).
Cox, Caroline, and Lee Widdows.Hair and Fashion.
London: V & A, 2004. A beautifully photo-
graphed book tracing trends from the 1920’s
through the 1990’s.
Oxoby, Marc.The 1990’s. Westport, Conn.: Green-
wood Press, 2003. An excellent overview of the
1990’s that includes an informative chapter on
fashion.
Sheila Golburgh Johnson
See also Advertising; Casual Fridays; Cell phones;
Coffeehouses; DeGeneres, Ellen; Fads; Grunge fash-
ion; Hairstyles; Lewinsky scandal; Madonna; Mall
of America; Morissette, Alanis;Murphy Brown; Out-
sourcing; Photography; Roberts, Julia; Ryan, Meg;
Silicone implant ban; Versace murder; Victoria’s Se-
cret; Women in the workforce.
Feng shui
Definition The ancient Chinese practice of
arranging objects in an environment to
maximize good fortune
Feng shui became popular in the United States and Canada
at a time when interest in Eastern philosophies and the New
Age movement was growing.
Feng shui is part of an ancient Eastern philosophy
based on principles from the ancient divination text
theI Ching. The practice of feng shui is designed to
create harmony in an environment and to increase
good fortune through careful implementation of
feng shui formulas, guidelines, and instructions.
The principles of feng shui can be found on a map
called thebagua, with nine directions that represent
all areas of life: north (career), south (fame and
reputation), east (health and family), west (creativ-
ity and children), northeast (knowledge and self-
cultivation), northwest (helpful people and travel),
southeast (wealth and prosperity), southwest (love
and relationships), and center (linking the eight
aspects). Each location on the map is symbolically as-
sociated with an element (fire, water, metal, wood,
earth), certain shades of color, and an animal (phoe-
nix, dragon, turtle, tiger). Symbols, numbers, the
concepts of yin and yang, and Chinese astrology are
all part of the practice of feng shui.
It is thought that by using thebaguato arrange ob-
jects in order to maximize chi, or life energy, one en-
hances the harmony in one’s environment and
thereby the quality of one’s life. When the flow of en-
ergy is just right, good fortune is maximized. If there
is an excess or lack of chi, then good fortune is di-
minished. For example, placing red objects in the
southern part of a room should increase fame since
the color red is associated with the south and the at-
tributes of fame. Feng shui can be applied to the lo-
cation of a building or house, to rooms in a house, to
an office, and even to the arrangement of items on
an office desk.Impact Feng shui gained widespread acceptance
in the 1990’s. The Westernized version of creating a
balanced, comfortable, and harmonious living envi-
ronment to solve problems with relationships, fi-
nances, or even health by simply rearranging furni-
ture or adding or subtracting objects such as
mirrors, plants, or wind chimes seemed attractive to
those seeking quick fixes to life’s problems. Feng
shui’s growing appeal spawned an entire industry,
with numerous publications on the art and its incor-
poration into television design shows. In broader ap-
plications, it began to influence architecture and
building construction. In North America, feng shui
has become more than just a method of creating
comfortable surroundings in harmony with the en-
vironment; it has evolved into a personal philosophy
for creating a better life.Further Reading
Hale, Gill.The Practical Encyclopedia of Feng Shui. Lon-
don: Hermes House, 1999.
Lam, Kam Chuen.Feng Shui Handbook: How to Create
a Healthier Living and Working Environment.New
York: Henry Holt, 1996.
Too, Lillian.Essential Feng Shui: A Step-By-Step Guide to
Enhancing Your Relationships, Health, and Prosperity.
New York: Ballantine Wellspring, 1998.
Susan E. ThomasThe Nineties in America Feng shui 327