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]
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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.
