fashion

A style of clothing or appearance that is popular at a particular time.

• Long skirts are back in fashion.
• He follows the latest fashions.
• These shoes went out of fashion years ago.

How to use it: in/out of fashion (Bright colors are in fashion this summer.)

Similar words: style, trend

Common phrases: in fashion, out of fashion, latest fashion

The business of designing, making, and selling clothes.

• She works in fashion.
• The fashion industry creates thousands of jobs.
• He hopes to join a famous fashion house.

Common phrases: fashion industry, fashion designer, fashion house, fashion show

The way in which something is done or happens.

• The crowd left in orderly fashion.
• She answered in her usual fashion.
• Both machines work in a similar fashion.

How to use it: in a … fashion (The files were arranged in a logical fashion.)

Similar words: way, manner

Common phrases: in orderly fashion, in similar fashion, in timely fashion

A changing trend that people follow because it is popular, rather than useful or sensible.

• The craze was just a passing fashion.
• He dismissed the new diet as a fashion.
• There is a fashion for giving businesses strange names.

How to use it: fashion for something (There is a fashion for painting every room gray.)

Similar words: fad, craze, trend

Common phrases: passing fashion, current fashion, fashion for something

To make or shape something, usually by hand and with care.

• He fashioned a bowl from clay.
• They fashioned the branches into a shelter.
• She fashions tiny animals out of wire.

How to use it: fashion something from/out of something (She fashioned a hat out of newspaper.); fashion something into something (He fashioned the wood into a small boat.)

Similar words: make, shape, craft

Common phrases: fashion something from something, fashion something into something