List of chics

Last updated

This is a list of notable chics .

Chics

Ashcan chic

Term used in the United States c. 2005 for a "homeless" style, similar to boho-chic , that was initially popularised in Greenwich Village. Its main features were floppy hats, sunglasses and "dust-catcher" skirts. Bobo (i.e. bourgeois -Bohemian) chic was used in a similar sense.

Contents

Beach chic

"Beach chic" was the title of an article in 2006 by the Times fashion editor Lisa Armstrong about shopping for accessories to accompany a bikini. [1] These included a "cover-up" (e.g. a kaftan), flat sandals, a hat, a fake tan and - with the comforting footnote, "No, you will not look like a WAG [wife or girlfriend of a footballer]" - denture cleaner to whiten finger-nails. The Sunday Times referred to the Moroccan resort of Essaouira as the "boho/barefoot-chic beach" (the latter possibly a play on the term, "bare-faced cheek"). [2]

Bisexual chic

A phrase used to describe the public acknowledgment of bisexuality or increased public interest or acceptance of bisexuality. [3] Another usage describes a faddish attention towards bisexuality.

Boho-chic

Trend of fashion in the early 2000s (decade) which drew on earlier Bohemian and hippie styles. It was associated in particular with actress Sienna Miller and model Kate Moss. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have both become icons for this style.

Bon chic bon genre

See Parisian chic

Camilla chic

Referring to the fashions of working class "chavs" who shared Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's taste for Burberry check. Also known as chav chic [4] or council house chic. [5]

Casual chic

Casual chic (or chic casual) is a difficult term to define, but can perhaps best be described as "dressing down" in a stylish way. In 2007, the clothing retailer Marks & Spencer suggested that some of the elements of chic casual were skinny jeans, "longline, clingy jerseys", "statement" bags and chunky jewellery, slouchy sweaters and hoodies with comfortable flats. Singer Victoria Beckham was identified as epitomising this style. [6] Easy chic ("breezy blouses, slouchy knits and sexy denim" [6] ) has similar connotations.

Checkout chic

Referring to fashion ranges promoted by major supermarkets: "Tesco has stepped up its 'checkout chic' war with Asda by launching a design-led range of clothes to tempt female shoppers". [7] Cheap chic was used in a similar sense, though more in terms of the comparison between prices at supermarkets and those of leading fashion houses: "You can achieve this season's look just by visiting your local supermarket". [8]

Chelsea chic

Used by the Sunday Times ("The Sloane gets a sexy revamp" [2] ) for fashionable trends among well-heeled "Sloane Rangers" (a portmanteau term coined in 1975 by Peter York, style editor of Harpers & Queen , from Sloane Square and the 1950s TV series The Lone Ranger [9] ) in the Chelsea area of south west London.

Communist chic

"Communist chic" are elements of popular culture such as fashion and commodities based on communist symbols and other things associated with Communism. [10] [11] A typical example is T-shirts and other memorabilia with Alberto Korda's iconic photo of Che Guevara. [12]

Cycle chic

To be well dressed and smart in everyday clothes whilst cycling for ordinary journeys. [13]

Eco Chic

Eco Chic means the use of eco-friendly textiles, such as organic cotton, silk and hemp, and also reconstructed clothing. [14]

Geek chic

"The look of a computer nerd". [15]

Goth chic

Title of a "connoisseur's guide" by Gavin Baddeley (2002) to dark or Gothic culture. Among those associated with the "goth look" were the late 1970s punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees, American punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, formed in 2000, and Betty Curse, described by The Times in 2006 as the "princess of Goth pop". [16]

Heroin chic

Heroin chic was a look popularized in mid-1990s fashion and characterized by pale skin, dark circles underneath the eyes and angular bone structure. The look, characterised by emaciated features and androgyny, was a reaction against the healthy and vibrant look of models such as Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. A 1996 article in The Los Angeles Times opened that the fashion industry had "a nihilistic vision of beauty" that was reflective of drug addiction, while U.S. News & World Report called the movement a "cynical trend".

Hick chic

Hick chic" was the subject of an article in Country Life in 2006 by Carla Carlisle, American-born wife of former British Member of Parliament, Sir Kenneth Carlisle. Lady Carlisle cited a friend's description of the term: "it's farmers' markets, four-wheel drive cars, labradors, Harris Tweed, Shaker furniture, Emma Bridgewater [tableware] ...". [17] "Hick" derives from "Old Hickory", a nickname for Andrew Jackson, US President 1829–37, a frontiersman who, like hickory wood, was known for his toughness.

High Street chic

Applied to the sort of "everyday" sense of style that might be spotted in any metropolitan or provincial setting; most likely to be associated with prevailing "shop window" fashions. In 2004 the Observer wrote of the singer Dido that "she drifts on stage dressed in high-street chic: faded denim and a tracksuit top, which she slips off to reveal a pink camisole vest". [18] Samantha Cameron, wife of British Conservative Party leader and future Prime Minister David Cameron was described in 2006 as "spurn[ing] the designers ... for high street chic". [19]

Hippie chic

Also known as Art-school chic and Talitha Getty chic

Broadly similar to boho-chic (see e.g. London Evening Standard Magazine, 11 March 2005), the Hippie chic was associated in the mid-1990s with Tom Ford's collections for the Italian house of Gucci and, indeed, various aspects of hippie fashion re-appeared periodically after the "Summer of Love" of 1967 when hippiedom and psychedelia were at their peak. Art-school chic [20] had roughly similar connotations. Talitha Getty chic was applied by Hedley Freeman in the Guardian [21] to the hippie style associated in the late 1960s (and since) with the actress wife (died 1971) of John Paul Getty. Talitha Getty is said to have inspired Ford's hippie-style creations.

Marzahn chic

Also known as Lichtenberg chic

Refers to the clothing style seen in some eastern and northern parts of Germany. It is composed of sweatpants or tracksuits, baseball caps and running shoes, commonly in bright colors like neon pink or yellow. The name originates from the locality Berlin-Marzahn where this style can frequently be seen. It also refers to the clothing style of Cindy aus Marzahn, a fictional character played by German comedian Ilka Bessin.

Military chic

Also known as Soldier chic

Adoption of military gear such as camouflage patterned clothing, war medals, military insignia, surplus clothing or dog tag necklaces into fashion. The term and the similar soldier chic were widely applied c.2003-5, although in fact military apparel, such as the flight jackets worn by pilots during the Second World War, had frequently influenced fashion and paradoxically was often in vogue at times of anti-war feeling, such as in the late 1960s when protests against the Vietnam War were at their height (as, indeed, after the Iraq War of 2003): "One would have thought, given the unpopularity of armed forces activity in some quarters, that 'military chic' would not be, well, chic". [22]

Nazi chic

Nazi chic is the incorporation of Nazi style clothing and culture, often used for shock value, as a form of rebellion against the status quo, although it is sometimes accompanied by a genuine sympathy for or adherence to the ideology of National Socialism.

Northern chic

Occasionally applied retrospectively [23] to aspects of the musical and cultural boom generated by the rock group, the Beatles, and other artists such as Gerry & The Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas in 1962-4 (the "Mersey Sound"). "Northern" is a reference both to Northern England (as also with "Northern soul") and Northern Songs, which published compositions by the Beatles' John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Parisian chic

Also known as Bon chic bon genre

Frequently applied to anything stylish connected with the French capital Paris or to the style of French celebrities (e.g. actress Charlotte Gainsbourg [24] or others living in Paris, such as the English actress Kristin Scott Thomas [25] ). Variants included "Left Bank " or "Right Bank " chic (or even "Left Bank chic versus Right Bank polish"). [26] Gainsbourg's mother, the British-born actress Jane Birkin, remarked that she would choose "English eccentricity over Parisian chic every time", adding, "chic you can learn - it's just a form of grooming". [27]

The term bon chic bon genre or BCBG ["good style, good class"] was applied in the early 1980s to the French equivalent of British "Sloane Rangers", their typical "uniform" including a mackintosh, ballet shoes, trousers, a cashmere sweater, and accessories such as a "Birkin bag" and a Cartier Tank Française wrist-watch. [28] To a large extent, it refers to upper-class, or upper-middle-class, young men and women who are well-bred, or appear so, with good bones, slim bodies, and a sophisticated, but restrained and elegant, sense of style. In the U.S., the Ralph Lauren sense of style would be the equivalent.

Porn chic

"Porn chic" was first applied to films such as Deep Throat (1972) and Emmanuelle (1974) which were commercially successful and thus tended to bring "soft" pornography into the mainstream. Subsequently, it has been used to refer more generally to pornography in popular culture.

Prairie chic

Flat caps and floral dresses or aprons over jeans. [29]

Radical chic

Also known as Terrorist chic

First coined by journalist Tom Wolfe in 1970, radical chic has since entered broad usage as a derogatory term for the pretentious adoption of radical causes by celebrities, socialites, and high society.

Rock-girl chic

"Rock-girl chic" has meant different things during differing periods of music and fashion, but was often associated with a hippie image and was similar enough as a phrase to the slightly patronising "rock chick" to convey a sense of being a "groupie". This and similar terms, such as "boho-rock" (2006), were often applied to model Kate Moss, about whom Rebecca Ley from Times Online wrote that "Kate veers effortlessly between rock-girl chic and dripping-in-diamonds elegance". [30] Moss's relationship in 2005–7 with Pete Doherty of the group Babyshambles tended to emphasise the tag.

Rural chic

Applied by the Sunday Times to a fashion collection designed and modelled by Savannah Miller, Cotswold-based sister of actress and 2000s (decade) "boho-queen" Sienna Miller, for the Hong Kong based label, Shanghai Tang. [31]

Shabby chic

The deliberate use of worn and shabby materials in interior design or fashion. The effect of limewashing timber-framed buildings has been described as "shabby chic". [32]

Soldier chic

See Military chic

Talitha Getty

See Hippie chic

Terrorist chic

See Radical chic

Tropical Chic

Tropical and Beach themed home accents that are influenced by island styles and tropical designs. Tropical Chic style includes modern appointments, yet casual island style living. [33]

Wilderness chic

Fashion trend inspired by clothing typical of hikers, climbers, and mountaineers.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punk fashion</span> Fashion of punk subculture

Punk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewellery, and body modifications of the punk counterculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited to the dressed-down look of North American hardcore. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including glam rock, skinheads, greasers, and mods have influenced punk fashion. Punk fashion has likewise influenced the styles of these groups, as well as those of popular culture. Many punks use clothing as a way of making a statement.

In the United Kingdom, a Sloane Ranger, or simply a Sloane, is a stereotypical upper-middle or upper-class person, typically although not necessarily a young one, who embodies a very particular upbringing and outlook. The Sloane Ranger style is a uniform, effortless, and unambitious although sophisticated one. Its counterpart in the US is the preppy style and in France is bon chic bon genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preppy</span> Modern, widespread subculture in the United States

Preppy is an American subculture associated with the alumni of college-preparatory schools in the Northeastern United States. The term, which is an abbreviation of "preparatory", is used to denote a person seen as characteristic of a student or alumnus of these schools. Characteristics of preppy individuals include a particular subcultural speech, vocabulary, dress, mannerisms and etiquette reflective of an upper class and old money upbringing.

"Chav", also "charver", "scally" and "roadman" in parts of England, is a British term, usually used in a pejorative way. The term is used to describe an anti-social lower-class youth dressed in sportswear. The use of the word has been described as a form of "social racism". "Chavette" is a related term referring to female chavs, and the adjectives "chavvy", "chavvish", and "chavtastic" are used to describe things associated with chavs, such as fashion, slang, etc. In other countries like Ireland, "Skanger" is used in a similar manner. In Canada, in the province of British Columbia they're known as "Surrey jacks". In Ontario, the term is "hoodman", an equivalent of the term "roadman" used in England. In Newfoundland, "skeet" is used in a similar way, while in Australia, "eshay" or "adlay" is used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrift store chic</span> Styles of dress where clothes are cheap and/or used

Thrift store chic refers to a style of dressing where clothes are cheap and/or used. Clothes are often bought from thrift stores such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Value Village. Originally popular among the hippies of the late 1960s, this fashion movement resurfaced during the mid-1980s among teenagers, and expanded into the 1990s with the growing popularity of such music and style influences including the grunge band Nirvana. Thrift store chic can be considered as an anti-fashion statement because it does not follow fashion trends and does not attempt to look expensive or new.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casual wear</span> Western dress code suited for everyday use

Casual wear is a Western dress code that is relaxed, occasional, spontaneous and suited for everyday use. Casual wear became popular in the Western world following the counterculture of the 1960s. When emphasising casual wear's comfort, it may be referred to as leisurewear or loungewear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart casual</span> Ambiguously defined Western dress code

Smart casual is an ambiguously defined Western dress code that is generally considered casual wear but with smart components of a proper lounge suit from traditional informal wear. For men, this interpretation typically includes dress shirt, necktie, trousers, and dress shoes, possibly worn with an odd-coloured blazer or a sports coat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980s in fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the 1980s

Fashion of the 1980s was characterized by a rejection of 1970s fashion. Punk fashion began as a reaction against both the hippie movement of the past decades and the materialist values of the current decade. The first half of the decade was relatively tame in comparison to the second half, which was when apparel became very bright and vivid in appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000s in fashion</span> Fashion in the decade 2000–2009

The fashion of the 2000's is often described as a global mash up, where trends saw the fusion of vintage styles, global and ethnic clothing, as well as the fashions of numerous music-based subcultures. Hip-hop fashion generally was the most popular among young people of all sexes, followed by the retro inspired indie look later in the decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boho-chic</span> Fashion style

Boho-chic is a style of fashion drawing on various bohemian and hippie influences, which, at its height in late 2005 was associated particularly with actress Sienna Miller, model Kate Moss in the United Kingdom and actress/businesswoman Mary-Kate Olsen in the United States. It has been seen since the early 1990s and, although appearing to wane from time to time, has repeatedly re-surfaced in varying guises. Many elements of boho-chic became popular in the late 1960s and some date back much further, being associated, for example, with pre-Raphaelite women of the mid-to-late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960s in fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the 1960s

Fashion of the 1960s featured a number of diverse trends, as part of a decade that broke many fashion traditions, adopted new cultures, and launched a new age of social movements. Around the middle of the decade, fashions arising from small pockets of young people in a few urban centers received large amounts of media publicity, and began to heavily influence both the haute couture of elite designers and the mass-market manufacturers. Examples include the mini skirt, culottes, go-go boots, and more experimental fashions, less often seen on the street, such as curved PVC dresses and other PVC clothes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talitha Getty</span> Dutch actress

Talitha Dina Getty was a Dutch actress, socialite, and model who was regarded as a style icon of the late 1960s. She lived much of her adult life in Britain and, in her final years, was closely associated with the Moroccan city of Marrakesh. Her husband was the oil heir and subsequent philanthropist John Paul Getty Jr.

WAGs is an acronym used to refer to wives and girlfriends of high-profile sportsmen and women. The term may also be used in the singular form, WAG, to refer to a specific female partner or life partner who is in a relationship with an athlete. The term was first used by the British tabloid press to refer to the wives and girlfriends of high-profile footballers, originally the England national football team. The WAGs acronym came about following an increasing focus on the coverage of athletes' partners in the late-20th century, and it came into common use during the 2006 FIFA World Cup to refer to Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole, although the term had been used occasionally before that.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bohemian style</span> Non-conformist, ungrounded lifestyle

The Bohemian style, often termed 'Boho chic', is a fashion and lifestyle choice characterized by its unconventional and free-spirited essence. While its precise origins are debated, Bohemian style is believed to have been influenced by the nomadic lifestyle of the Romani people during the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The term 'Bohemian' itself derives from the French 'Bohémien,' originally associated with the Roma community due to a historical misconception that they originated from Bohemia, a region in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Zoe</span> American fashion stylist

Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig is an American fashion designer, businesswoman and author who rose to prominence as a celebrity wardrobe stylist. She has been credited with the creation of "the boho-meets-rock chic look that came to define a new breed of Hollywood ‘it’-girls who were as adept at setting trends as they were at causing trouble" in the mid-2000s. Describing her signature look to Vogue magazine, Zoe said: "It's very 60s to 70s glamour. It's Mod meets Grecian. A lot of gold and a lot of bronze, shimmer and glamour, but relaxed glamour, very unstructured, bold accessories." Zoe's clients as a stylist have included Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Kate Beckinsale, Debra Messing, Demi Moore, Liv Tyler, Joy Bryant, Molly Sims, Beau Garett, Eva Mendes, Paula Patton, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus, and Pauly Shore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy League (clothes)</span> Style of 1950s northeastern USA fashion

Ivy League is a style of men's dress, popular during the late 1950s in the Northeastern United States, and said to have originated on college campuses, particularly those of the Ivy League. It was the predecessor to the preppy style of dress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grunge fashion</span> Fashion trend peaking in the mid-1990s

Grunge fashion refers to the clothing, accessories and hairstyles of the grunge music genre. This subculture emerged in mid-1980s Seattle, and had reached wide popularity by the mid 1990s. Grunge fashion is characterized by durable and timeless thrift-store clothing, often worn in a loose, androgynous manner to de-emphasize the silhouette. The style was popularized by music bands Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street style</span> Fashion movement based on individualism

Street style is fashion that is considered to have emerged not from studios, but from the grassroots. Street fashion is generally associated with youth culture, and is most often seen in major urban centers. Magazines and newspapers commonly feature candid photographs of individuals wearing urban, stylish clothing. Mainstream fashion often appropriates street fashion trends as influences. Most major youth subcultures have had an associated street fashion. Street style is different all around the globe.

Bon chic, bon genre is an expression used in France to refer to a subculture of stylish members of the Parisian upper class. They are typically well-educated, well-connected, and descended from "old money" families, preferably with some aristocratic ancestry. The style combines certain fashionable tastes with the appearance of social respectability. The expression is sometimes shortened to BCBG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savannah Miller</span> British-American fashion designer (born 1978)

Savannah Elizabeth Louise Miller is a British and American fashion designer. After working with Alexander McQueen and Matthew Williamson, she created the label "Twenty8Twelve" with her sister, Sienna Miller. In October 2012 she launched her own collection, "Savannah".

References

  1. Times Magazine, 22 July 2006
  2. 1 2 Style, 18 June 2006
  3. Luscombe, Richard (4 January 2004). "US girls949401 embrace gay passion fashion". The Observer. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013.
  4. The Times Magazine, 26 June 2005
  5. Susie Dent (2004) Larpers and Shroomers
  6. 1 2 Your M&S, Spring 2007
  7. Metro, 29 August 2006
  8. Metro, 31 August 2006
  9. See Oxford Dictionary of New Words, 1991
  10. Jacoby, Jeff (30 April 2006). "Communist chic". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  11. "Hoisting a few to the ghost of Stalin". Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  12. Clayfield, Matthew (29 April 2016). "Some backgrounding for anyone who's ever worn a Ernesto "Che" Guevara t-shirt because it's "ironic"". SBS News . Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  13. Colville-Andersen, Mikael (14 April 2008). "Cycle Chic Manifesto". Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011.
  14. "World Environment News - A model displays an outfit during the EcoChic Shanghai fashion show". Planet Ark. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  15. Dent (2003) The Language Report
  16. The Times Knowledge, 3 June 2006
  17. Country Life, 23 November 2006
  18. Observer, 1 August 2004
  19. London Lite, 2 October 2006
  20. Sunday Times Style, 1 May 2005
  21. Guardian, 24 June 2005
  22. Ken Kessler, The Times, 17 June 2006
  23. For example, The 60s: the Beatles' Decade, UKtv 2006
  24. London Evening Standard magazine, 15 September 2006
  25. See, e.g., The Times Guide to Paris Style & Fashion, October 2006
  26. The Times Guide to Paris Style & Fashion, October 2006
  27. Sunday Times Style, 22 October 2006
  28. Carola Long in The Times Guide to Paris Style & Fashion, October 2006
  29. For example, The Daily Telegraph, 16 July 2003
  30. Ley, Rebecca (15 July 2006). "Mother's day". The Times . Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  31. Sunday Times Style, 20 August 2006
  32. James Boutwood, letter, Country Life, 19 October 2006
  33. Tropical Chic Style, Home Decorating News, 2 October 2008