What Is the Meaning of Fashionista?
Fashionista is a popular word, peppering many articles and blog posts that relate to the style industry. To understand the definition and proper usage of the word, it's necessary to trace the origins and meaning of fashionista. Does this Spark an idea?
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Definition
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Online spell-checkers haven't quite come around to recognizing the word fashionista, but standard English dictionaries have. According to Merriam-Webster, fashionista is a noun that denotes a fashion follower, designer or promoter. Other sources are a bit looser, defining fashionista as any well-dressed female, or anyone who is involved in the fashion industry, whether through career or hobby. In some connotations and uses, fashionista may carry somewhat negative undertones, implying slavish, ludicrous devotion to hot trends and looks.
Popular Media
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Above all else, the meaning of fashionista is steeped in popular clothing trends and styles. Editor Elizabeth Spiers, popular fashion blogger, currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for Fashionista!, an online blog that details the world of changing styles. Generally focused on female fashions, the blog observes and reports upon hot trends, new designers and fashion events.
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Origin
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The word fashionista, defined as any fashionable person or fashion industry employee, was officially recognized in the 1990s. The word is derived from terms such as fashionist and fashion-monger, both words that were used in the 16th and 17th centuries. Designers, models, fashion show attendees and stylish dressers may all be labeled as fashionistas in popular usage of the word.
Etymology
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The word "fashion" first came into existence in the 1300s, derived from the Latin "factionem," which literally translates into "group of people acting together." Fashion was linked with style in the 1520s, around the same time the word was first used as a verb. The suffix "-ist" is also derived from Latin, used to denote individuals or groups who subscribe to certain beliefs or faiths--fashionist. A "fashionista" would properly be the feminine form, although it is applied to males and females alike.
Invention
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Author Stephen Fried is believed to have been the first person to use the word fashionista. He created the word for his book "Thing of Beauty" to describe fashion stylists, editors, photographers, models and other professionals linked to the fashion industry. The word caught on in popular culture, so much so that it was included in the Oxford English Dictionary's 2010 edition. Oxford's official definition credits the word as being invented in 1993.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit fashion show hot girls image by Kirubeshwaran from Fotolia.com
