Rounding Up the Noughties: Fashion Catch Phrases of the Decade
The Noughties were a time of growing fashion consciousness thanks to the mass proliferation of fashion blogs and reality tv programmes. With that came a bevy of catch phrases, some inspiring and handy while others were cringeworthy and dated. We take a look back at the past 10 years and pick 21 catch phrases that best capture the fashion zeitgeist of the Noughties.
Blue steel
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n. Though Zoolander was released in 2001, 'blue steel' or the magnum opus of a model's pout has continued to remain tops in the realm of pop culture. We most recently dropped the catch phrase when we interviewed Tyson Ritter of All-American Rejects about his entry into the world of modeling.
Usage: "Alright picture time. Give me your best 'blue steel'!"
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Boomz
adj. (we think) When aspring Miss Singapore beauty pageant contestant Ris Low was asked to describe her fashion sense in an interview, nobody could have foresaw what an impact her answer would make and how it would reverberate and give rise to a thousand memes on the Internet. Though she eventually dropped out of the contest and the public eye accordingly, her infamy continues to live on in mockery and jest everytime someone goes, 'boomz'.
See: Phua Chu Kang parody of the Ris Low interview
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Fabulosity
[n. Describe by its creator, Kimora Lee Simmons, 'fabulosity' translates to "celebrating your beauty inside and out. It is being confident and fearless…[and fabulous]". While the catch phrase might reek of kitsch, we cannot deny the inspiring sentiments behind it.
See: Kimora Lee Simmon's book, "Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It"
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Fierce
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adj. While the original meaning of the word may have meant 'wild, violent or brave', thanks to Tyra Banks from America's Next Top Model and Christian Siriano from season 4 of Project Runway, fierce has come to mean a totally different thing. Used for personalities, shoes, accessories, outfits and basically anything and everything 'fierce' basically translates to cool and awesome things with edge. Note, the 'fiercer' something is, the more exaggerated the pronunciation is, e.g. 'fee-yarrrcee', with the ultimate fierce subject becoming 'ferosh'.
Usage: "Damn! Those shoes are fierce!"
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Fugly
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adj. An amalgamation of a curse word and 'ugly', the term 'fugly' has gained precedence in the Noughties for its simple but effective description of anything that is unattractive. Popular fashion commentary blog Go Fug Yourself has used the catch phrase as their mission to identify and chronicle the bad wardrobe choices of celebrities.
Quote: (Mean Girls) "Regina George is a fugly sl*t."
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Geek chic
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adj. The Noughties will probably go down as the year of the geek as popular culture received an influx of the niche market, be it in the popularity of conventions or revival of classic pop culture stalwarts like Star Trek. Geek chic was the fashion aspect of the geek movement and it mostly entailed classic outfits topped with ubiquitous glasses., preferably in the Rayban Wayfarers frame. No prescription were needed for these glasses and some even wore their glasses sans lenses.
Example: Singapore brand Hansel's collection entitled 'Robot Girl'
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Glamazon
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n. The 90s were all about the heroin chic look - skinny waifs like Kate Moss pouting from the covers of fashion magazine - but the Noughties saw a reversal of fortunes and the rise of the 'glamazon'. A combination of the words 'glam' and 'amazon', the word initally referred to tall Amazonian-like females who were glamorous but over time it has come to be used regarding fashionable people who rock the glamour.
See: Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Lara Stone
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Hot mess
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n. Christian Siriano not only gave us 'fierce' but he is also responsible for this catch phrase too. Though there is no specific definition behind it, common consensus applies it to someone who treads the fine line of trashiness and fabulousness.
Usage: "Ke$ha is such a hot mess."
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I. Die.
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v. Stylist to the stars, Rachel Zoe, has spawned a thousand look-alikes with her stylistic penchant for boho and vintage looks and on her reality tv show, "The Rachel Zoe Project", her signature catch phrase, "I. Die.", exclaimed upon viewing an object of lust and want has too captured the imagination of the masses.
See: Rachel Zoe-approved parody from an LA comedian
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Inspired
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v. Political correctness rears its head aroud to make designer replica sound more legit. It's common place to see 'designer-inspired' items around local fashion blogs but the question remains where the line is drawn when 'inspired' cease to become designer-influenced and outright copyright infringement.
See: Alexander McQueen Motorcycle Booties - the original, the high street knockoffs and the locally 'inspired' version.
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It girl
[n. Perhaps one of the most overused catch phrase of the decade, 'It girl' has been applied to models, actresses, tv presenters, singers, basically a female in the limelight who is noteworthy for her fashion prowess. Funnily enough the catch phrase which came about in 1927 was created literally to describe, Clara Bow, an actress who starred in the movie It.
Usage: "Alexa Chung is the 'It' girl of 2009 according to Vogue."
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Major
adj. Made popular by Victoria Beckham in her Coming to America tv series and then her guest star role on Ugly Betty, 'major' or as she pronounces it 'may-juh', is used to describe a thing that is of incredible cool and panache.
Quote: (Victoria Beckham on Ugly Betty) "This is major."
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Make it work
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v. Tim Gunn has released a ton of gems to the aspiring designers in the course of six seasons of Project Runway but none has quite caught on as 'make it work' has. Basically meaning, keep striving till you execute your vision or alternatively fake it like you've got it, 'make it work' is certainly good advice for life!
Usage: "That dress is looking more trashy than high fashion. Make it work!"
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Pre-loved
[n. Political correctness strikes again in this word that refers to second-hand items. This catch phrase is most often seen on selling blogs and eBay pages online as well as bazaars or flea markets.
Example: "Raiding the pre-loved bin is hard work but can often reap great finds!"
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Recessionista
[n. 'Fashionista' may have been the buzzword of the 90s, but with the economic downturn this decade, it has been a few banner years for the 'recessionista' instead. A blend of the word 'recession' and 'fashionista', a recessionista is someone who combines fashion with finance. Tighter budgets are no excuse for a lapse in style and the recessionista walks the line between the two.
See: 50 Ways to be a Recessionista, Times Online
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Shopaholic
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n. In 2001, Sophie Kinsella wrote a book that would introduce one of the most famous terms of the decade, the 'shopaholic'. Derived from the word 'alcoholic', 'shopaholic' refers to a less lethal but equally as serious form of addiction, that of shopping.
See: Confessions of a Shopaholic (book), Confessions of a Shopaholic (movie)
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Smize
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v. If there's one thing to take away from 13 seasons of America's Next Top Model, is that in a photo one should always smize, that is 'smile with your eyes'. Although no explicit definition has ever been given on what it means exactly to smize, Tyra has tried valiantly to use a wide range of wacky movements to try to demonstrate it.
Usage: "I'm so happy I could smize!"
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Street style
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n. As fashion moves past the runway, the decade has seen a greater emphasis on personal style. With style photographers like The Sartorialist and Facehunter acting as curators of style around the globe, we've come to find that the streets are a perpetual fountain of inspiration - widely varied but always real.
See: KL Streetstyle, The Sartorialist, The Facehunter, Garance Dore
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That's hot
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n. While the UK may have Posh Beckham as their catch phrase queen, on the other side of the pond in America lies one Paris Hilton and her expression that she has tried to patent, "That's hot". Although the phrase is not strictly used for fashion, it works perfectly in the context and loses its triteness, hence it's immense value.
Example: (upon viewing Nicholas Kirkwood shoes) "That's hot".
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Tights/Leggings are not pants
[phrase. Whether referring to the sheer pantyhose or the footless 80s-revived leggings, the fact remains that neither are suitable replacements for pants. Leggings and tights should always be paired with a longer top that reaches your bum (at least!) to avoid camel toes and exhibitionistic peeks of your underwear. A movement has even risen up to spread the holy word, with printable propaganda at the site!
Usage: "Lindsay Lohan is the poster child for the leggings are not pants movement."
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Vintage
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adj. Probably the most incorrectly used word on this list, 'vintage' actually refers to clothing that was made between 1920 to 1980. However blogshops and clothes store alike use the word to describe any old clothes or bags with very little care for the historical sentiments.
See: Mad Men for an example of vintage clothes from the 60s.
Which of these catch phrases have a place in your daily vernacular?
