APAD: Fashion statement

Meaning:

    An item someone wears to draw attention to themselves. (Usually an unusual

    or eccentric item.)

 

Background:

   The word `fashion' is derived from the Latin word `facere' which means `to

   make, do', which in Old French became `fa n', meaning `a making, style,

   appearance, behaviour. Then, in Middle French it became `fashion' which meant

   `shape, manner and appearance'.

 

   Today, the word `fashion' is used, more generally, to describe the making and

   wearing of clothing items. In narrower terms, fashion can also be described

   as an expression of someone's personality and/or culture.

 

   For instance, wearing trousers as opposed to jeans may be considered formal

   attire, for business or for significant events, while wearing leggings is

   considered casual attire for more informal gatherings.

 

   When someone is making a fashion statement, they are said to be wearing

   something unexpected, so as to stand out in a crowd. This would usually be to

   achieve a bold look, such as by wearing something that was previously deemed

   unfashionable by the general population.

 

   There were fashion trends that occurred prior to the 20th century that we

   would now consider to have been the `fashion statements' of the time, such as

   the introduction of women's bloomers in 1851, named after Amelia Bloomer,

   which allowed for better freedom of movement for women.

 

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

It took me a while to change my mind about my left `cauliflower' ear from

grappling. I won't bore you, friends, with the details. Suffice it to say that

my favorite takedown position also exposes the neck for grab and most people are

right-handed.

 

A clinic visit felt like a hassle, none of the three nearby pharmacies, friendly

as they were, was willing to give me a syringe to drain the initial swell on the

tip and, once it firmed up, I decided to embrace it.

 

It's now a fashion statement, I told myself, blazoning to the world: ``I don't

just pay bills and die.'' Of course, many people have done much more, but few

have an ear to show for it.