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It’s interesting how the meaning of frippery has evolved from cast-off clothes to an elegant garment.
Definition of FRIPPERY (Merriam-Webster)
plural fripperies
1 obsolete
a : cast-off clothes
b archaic : a place where old clothes are sold
2 a : FINERY; also : an elegant or showy garment
b : something showy, frivolous, or nonessential
c : OSTENTATION; especially : something foolish or affectedly elegant
“To take my mind off Chand’s awful words, I google maternity clothing. I’ve never been a fashionista; one of the advantages of wearing a sari was not having to develop my own style. Still, I feel a twinge of guilt in abandoning it. I take a sip of coffee as I scroll down the screen and come upon a frippery that sells maternity clothes. It’s close to where Suzy lives and I feel like company.” p. 9 in The Longest Nine months
Do you shop in fripperies?
I didn’t know what a frippery was but when I was reading your book I couldn’t stop to look it up. I had to keep turning pages!
Thanks for saying so, Anneli! ❤
The truth!
What a great name! We have consignment shops and Good Will stores where used clothes are sold. Since I typically donate to these places, trying to get rid of things I no longer wear, I don’t usually shop in these store. I do have a friend who finds wonderful things.
Yes, and I don’t wear a sari, so always looking for suitable for this oldish guy. 😊
I’d never heard of the word until I read your book. It’s always fun to learn new words, but no, I do not shop in fripperies. (Unless Target counts. 😄)
Very interesting, friend
Carol, when I read your book I only knew of the older version of the word…this explains a lot!! 😀 I couldn’t resist a shop like the one pictured…so attractive. My friend is a fan of vintage clothes and always dresses in interesting and diverse skirts, tops and dresses!
I remember that line in your book. I had to look it up–have never heard of a ‘frippery’ before.
As soon as I throw out my vintage clothes they come back into style. I do have a couple of 1969 hippie outfits and a pair of bellbottom slacks and yes, they still fit! Wish I had the short purple, orange, blue and pink tunic which we wore as a dress but alas it got lost in one of our moves. Oh well, those were the days my friend . . . 🙂
I only vaguely remember hearing this word before–and it related somehow to extravagance or something that is not a necessity. So thanks for this lesson in a “new” word! Your book sounds great, especially with Anneli’s recommendation!
Love it! It reminds me of a “millinery” shop, of which my grandmother owned! I do remember the word in the book, but tried to use “context clues” to guess the meaning. Or, I was to into the book to stop and look it up! 🙂
Thanks for your comment. It must have been fun having a grandmother who owned a millinery shop! 🙂
I actually never saw the shop, but saw many hats when I was growing up!
Though I don’t shop in fripperies, I do love browsing. My goal in life is to continue to get rid of the way too much stuff we brought with us when we downsized.
Good luck getting rid of stuff. I moved a few months ago (an effort to downsize) and got rid of a lot of stuff and still my locker is packed with things I no longer need.
Exactly!
I love frippery shops.. I include DIY in that lampshades, wallpaper, paint colours.. frippery for the home..