This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(December 2018)
Chic is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English dictionaries classified it as slang and New Zealand-born lexicographerEric Partridge noted, with reference to its colloquial meaning, that it was "not so used in Fr[ench]."[1]Gustave Flaubert notes in Madame Bovary (published in 1856) that "chicard" (one who is chic) is then Parisian very current slang for "classy" noting, perhaps derisively, perhaps not, that it was bourgeois. There is a similar word in German, schick, with a meaning similar to chic, which may be the origin of the word in French; another theory links chic to the word chicane.[2] Although the French pronunciation (/ˈʃiːk/ or "sheek") is now virtually standard and was that given by Fowler,[3]chic was often rendered in the anglicised form of "chick".[4]
In a fictional vignette for Punch (c. 1932) Mrs F. A. Kilpatrick attributed to a young woman who 70 years later would have been called a "chavette" the following assertion: "It 'asn't go no buttons neither ... That's the latest ideer. If you want to be chick you just 'ang on to it, it seems".[5]
By contrast, in Anita Loos' novel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1925), the diarist Lorelei Lee recorded that "the French use the word 'sheik' for everything, while we only seem to use it for gentlemen when they seem to resemble Rudolf Valentino" (a pun derived from the latter's being the star of the 1921 silent film, The Sheik).
The Oxford Dictionary[clarification needed] gives the comparative and superlative forms of chic as chicer and chicest. These are wholly English words: the French equivalents would be plus chic and le/la plus chic. Super-chic is sometimes used: "super-chic Incline bucket in mouth-blown, moulded glass".[6]
An adverb chicly has also appeared: "Pamela Gross ... turned up chicly dressed down".[7]
The use of the French très chic (very chic) by an English speaker – "Luckily it's très chic to be neurotic in New York"[8] – is usually rather pretentious, but sometimes merely facetious – Micky Dolenz of The Monkees described the American Indian-style suit he wore at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 as "très chic".[9]Über-chic is roughly the mock-German equivalent: "Like his clubs, it's super-modern, über-chic, yet still comfortable".[10]
The opposite of "chic" is unchic: "the then uncrowded, unchic little port of St Tropez".[11]
Chelsea chic – Lalique Garden, designed by Shahriar Mazandi, May 2005.
Quotesedit
Over the years "chic" has been applied to, among other things, social events, situations, individuals, and modes or styles of dress. It was one of a number of "slang words" that H. W. Fowler linked to particular professions – specifically, to "society journalism" – with the advice that, if used in such a context, "familiarity will disguise and sometimes it will bring out its slanginess."[12]
In 1887 The Lady noted that "the ladies of New York ... think no form of entertainment so chic as a luncheon party."[13]
Forty years later, in E. F. Benson's novel Lucia in London (1927), Lucia was aware that the arrival of a glittering array of guests before their hostess for an impromptu post-opera gathering was "the most chic informality that it was possible to conceive."
In the 1950s, Edith Head designed a classic dress, worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Sabrina (1954), of which she remarked, "If it had been worn by somebody with no chic it would never have become a style."[14]
By the turn of the 21st century, the travel company Thomas Cook was advising those wishing to sample the nightlife of the sophisticated Mediterranean resort of Monte Carlo that "casual is fine (except at the Casino) but make it expensive, and very chic, casual if you want to blend in."[15]
According to American magazine Harper's Bazaar (referring to the "dramatic simplicity" of the day-wear of couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1895–1972), "elimination is the secret of chic."[16]
^An example was in Simon Raven's Edward and Mrs Simpson (Thames, 1978), a television drama based on the events leading to the Abdication crisis of 1936, when the leader of the Labour Party, Clement Attlee (played by Patrick Troughton), used the word slightly contemptuously during a meeting with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin (David Waller).
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For other uses see Chic disambiguation This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article December 2018 Chic ˈ ʃ iː k French ʃik meaning stylish or smart is an element of fashion It was originally a French word Contents 1 Etymology 2 Quotes 3 See also 4 ReferencesEtymology editChic is a French word established in English since at least the 1870s Early references in English dictionaries classified it as slang and New Zealand born lexicographer Eric Partridge noted with reference to its colloquial meaning that it was not so used in Fr ench 1 Gustave Flaubert notes in Madame Bovary published in 1856 that chicard one who is chic is then Parisian very current slang for classy noting perhaps derisively perhaps not that it was bourgeois There is a similar word in German schick with a meaning similar to chic which may be the origin of the word in French another theory links chic to the word chicane 2 Although the French pronunciation ˈʃiːk or sheek is now virtually standard and was that given by Fowler 3 chic was often rendered in the anglicised form of chick 4 nbsp Riviera chic Monte Carlo In a fictional vignette for Punch c 1932 Mrs F A Kilpatrick attributed to a young woman who 70 years later would have been called a chavette the following assertion It asn t go no buttons neither That s the latest ideer If you want to be chick you just ang on to it it seems 5 By contrast in Anita Loos novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1925 the diarist Lorelei Lee recorded that the French use the word sheik for everything while we only seem to use it for gentlemen when they seem to resemble Rudolf Valentino a pun derived from the latter s being the star of the 1921 silent film The Sheik The Oxford Dictionary clarification needed gives the comparative and superlative forms of chic as chicer and chicest These are wholly English words the French equivalents would be plus chic and le la plus chic Super chic is sometimes used super chic Incline bucket in mouth blown moulded glass 6 An adverb chicly has also appeared Pamela Gross turned up chicly dressed down 7 The use of the French tres chic very chic by an English speaker Luckily it s tres chic to be neurotic in New York 8 is usually rather pretentious but sometimes merely facetious Micky Dolenz of The Monkees described the American Indian style suit he wore at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 as tres chic 9 Uber chic is roughly the mock German equivalent Like his clubs it s super modern uber chic yet still comfortable 10 The opposite of chic is unchic the then uncrowded unchic little port of St Tropez 11 nbsp Chelsea chic Lalique Garden designed by Shahriar Mazandi May 2005 Quotes editOver the years chic has been applied to among other things social events situations individuals and modes or styles of dress It was one of a number of slang words that H W Fowler linked to particular professions specifically to society journalism with the advice that if used in such a context familiarity will disguise and sometimes it will bring out its slanginess 12 In 1887 The Lady noted that the ladies of New York think no form of entertainment so chic as a luncheon party 13 Forty years later in E F Benson s novel Lucia in London 1927 Lucia was aware that the arrival of a glittering array of guests before their hostess for an impromptu post opera gathering was the most chic informality that it was possible to conceive In the 1950s Edith Head designed a classic dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Sabrina 1954 of which she remarked If it had been worn by somebody with no chic it would never have become a style 14 By the turn of the 21st century the travel company Thomas Cook was advising those wishing to sample the nightlife of the sophisticated Mediterranean resort of Monte Carlo that casual is fine except at the Casino but make it expensive and very chic casual if you want to blend in 15 According to American magazine Harper s Bazaar referring to the dramatic simplicity of the day wear of couturier Cristobal Balenciaga 1895 1972 elimination is the secret of chic 16 See also edit nbsp Novels portalList of chics SuperficialityReferences edit nbsp Look up chic in Wiktionary the free dictionary Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English several ed 1937 61 full citation needed Harper Douglas chic Online Etymology Dictionary Modern English Usage 1926 An example was in Simon Raven s Edward and Mrs Simpson Thames 1978 a television drama based on the events leading to the Abdication crisis of 1936 when the leader of the Labour Party Clement Attlee played by Patrick Troughton used the word slightly contemptuously during a meeting with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin David Waller Round the Year with Mr Punch vol XIX Times Magazine 8 July 2006 Tatler May 2006 Plum Sykes 2004 Bergdorf Blondes Micky Dolenz amp Mark Bego 1993 I m a Believer Times Magazine 24 June 2006 Peter Lewis 1978 The Fifties H W amp F G Fowler The King s English 3rd ed revised H W Fowler 1930 The Lady 20 January 1887 Ian Woodward 1984 Audrey Hepburn Paul Medbourne 2006 City Spots Monte Carlo See New Yorker 3 July 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chic amp oldid 1193380256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
