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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!
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Thanks for saying so, Anneli! ❤
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The truth!
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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.
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Yes, and I don’t wear a sari, so always looking for suitable for this oldish guy. 😊
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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. 😄)
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Very interesting, friend
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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!
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I remember that line in your book. I had to look it up–have never heard of a ‘frippery’ before.
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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 . . . 🙂
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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!
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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! 🙂
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Thanks for your comment. It must have been fun having a grandmother who owned a millinery shop! 🙂
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I actually never saw the shop, but saw many hats when I was growing up!
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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.
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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.
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Exactly!
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I love frippery shops.. I include DIY in that lampshades, wallpaper, paint colours.. frippery for the home..
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