started to use a noun fashion in the meaning of «Shape, manner, mode» from the
ancient French word facon and from the Latin factionem in the sense of «Group of
people acting together» (a group of people with common interests) [8, p. 12].
In the sense of «prevailing custom» (dominant, common custom; common style
of clothing or lifestyle, primarily characteristic of the upper class of the society) the
notion fashion is used since 1489, in the meaning of «style of attire» (fashion for
clothes and ornaments) – since 1529. The first mention of the verb to fashion dates
back to 1413. The adjective fashionable in the sense of «stylish» (fashionable, elegant)
appeared in the speech in 1608. In the modern sense, the meaning of this word has
expanded and replicated with a number of synonyms and antonyms.
An analysis of English-language explanatory dictionaries has shown that the most
common meaning of the notion fashion in English has the lexeme fashion which has
the following definitions: 1) action or process of making; 2) manner, a prevailing
custom; 3) a current usage, conventional usage in dress and mode of life; 4) mode of
dress, etiquette; 5) furniture and style of speech adopted in society for the time being
[9]. So, taking into consideration all the meanings of the notion fashion, we may speak
about a process of production, traditions in clothes and lifestyle, certain preferences in
clothes, rules of conduct, manner of speech adopted in a society at a specific time
period. If the noun fashion is used with the definite article the – the fashion, it means
«the smart set, a high society».
Recently, the meaning of the lexeme has expanded. So, in the newest dictionaries
released after 2000, the noun fashion has got an additional meaning – «the business
or study of making and selling clothes, shoes, etc. in new and changing styles» [10].
Now, we may speak about the manufacture and sale of clothing or footwear of a new
or advanced style.
Synonymic rows of the concept «Fashion» in English contain the following
notions: style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze, dernier cri. These synonyms have a
general meaning: «A certain way or manner of behavior, imitation of the style in
clothes, adherence to the appropriate tastes and interests in everyday life, but too short-
term and fleeting phenomenon».
Synonyms vary by signs: 1) the nature of the assessment of the fashion, depending
on the timing; 2) the properties of clothes and manners to dress (a good taste is opposed
to lack of taste and extravagance); 3) the style and characteristics of trendy trends.
Thus, we have synonyms with shades of meaning:
Fashion – a dominant, common custom. The noun fashion contains several semes
that point to the most popular clothing, hairstyles and manners of behavior to date.
Style – a notion that is interchangeable with the noun fashion, provides an elegant
and sophisticated style in clothing, a way of life in a certain period of time. The lexeme
contains a seme of fashion trends that are perceived by the broad masses of people.
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