The media is one of the most, if not the most, powerful modes of communication we are exposed to. It is full of subliminal messages, influential images and highly controversial concepts.

It is no wonder, then, that the media and the fashion industry go hand-in-hand. Like the proverbial chicken and egg, it is hard to tell which came first — but in this day and age, it doesn't really matter. What matters is the fact that they influence, promote and reflect each other.

In fact, the amount of influence being brought to the surface is so great, it can sometimes be overwhelming. With so many movies, television shows, musicians, artists, books and magazines weighing in, the fashion industry is being bombarded with ideas for the "next big thing" in style. How do they — the big, fashionably influential people who rule the industry — decide what makes the cut and what doesn't? And how does this help in terms of promotion for the media chosen?

The answers to these questions are extremely difficult to pinpoint, since the information available to the outside world is limited. But it all goes back to trendspotting, a phenomenon that is present in everything that might, probably will and is predictably going to become popular or influential. In the fashion industry, trendspotting is used to evaluate different forms of possible influence years into the future in everything from specific colors to movies. When it comes to the advanced forms of technology that the industry and the media have access to, the answers to these questions lay seasons or even years in the future.

Trendspotters turn toward numerous outlets to determine what's going to become popular: historical trends with you (the consumer) and your general interests. A great example of this is exhibited in the aesthetically gorgeous and exhilarating pre-French Revolution movie by Sophia Coppola, "Marie Antoinette." It is the assumption of the trendspotter that a movie set in the lavish Versailles palace, directed by Marc Jacob's muse and starring the fabulous and widely recognized Kirsten Dunst, is going to attract a fashionable audience. It comes back to the chicken and the egg: Does the movie promote the Rococo clothing that grace the pages of magazines and catwalks worldwide? Or do the Rococo-esque styles that are gracing the magazines and catwalks actually promote the movie?

Regardless of the real answer, it seems reasonable to assume that they help to promote each other. Another example of this was in the once popular, still controversial show "The OC." Okay, so they killed Marissa Cooper off and now all style is lost, but at one point in time, the show was at the height of the fashion scene. Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) and Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) were basking in more than that glorious Southern California sun, with designers like Chanel at their fingertips.

It is no surprise that as the media continues to prosper, so does the fashion industry. It is also not surprising that fashion is influenced by more than just movies and TV alone. Celebrities set many fashion trends. In fact, celebrities are the ones sitting front row at all the world-class catwalks, and have become, themselves, walking promotion and influence. Evidence of this can be seen flooding across the pages of Us Weekly in the extremely emaciated form of an Olsen twin covered in hundreds of grungy layers, carrying that now-famous worn leather Balenciaga bag.

All of this raises the question, "Why are we (the consumer) so influenced by the media? Why do we look toward magazines, movies, celebrities and designers for that "next big thing" in fashion? Why do we care?"

The answer: "Why not?" Fashion is fun; it's not supposed to take over our lives, or turn us into walking Mary-Kate replicas. It's supposed to thrill us, excite us and add a little something extra in our lives. Fashion is like those great little French lavender macaroons: delicious, delectably dangerous and promoted to us in the most sensual of ways. And we just eat it up! So in the spirit of Marie Antoinette, who might not have been as evil as portrayed, indulge in fashion, allow yourself to be a tiny bit influenced and live a little!