Verboticism: Hautefacadism

DEFINITION: n. A fashion accessory or style of dress which purports to improve one's appearance and attitude, but actually does the opposite. v. To follow a fashion dictum in an effort to improve your social standing even when it causes physical discomfort.
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Hautefacadism
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Crosstumed
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: kross toomd
Sentence: Ned & Nancy lived together and worked in the same office. Ned worked for Ida and Nancy worked for Bruce. Every month there were new contests and events designed to increase employee morale and engage the workers. Today was "Dress Like The Boss" Day, so Nancy had crosstumed herself in a suit and tie and Ned had gotten himself crosstumed in a diaphanous bridesmaid dress, the colour of bubblegum, complete with accessories. Off they went to work, only to be greeted by their snickering, jeering co-workers wearing bandannas, torn jeans, sleeveless shirts, carrying guitars and microphones. Yes, it was actually "Dress like The Boss Day" alright...Bruce Springstein, that is!
Etymology: Cross (as in cross-dressing, where someone of one gender wears the clothing typically associated with the other gender) & Costumed (dressed in clothing characteristic of a period, country, or class)
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COMMENTS:
Do you suppose someone was being a little costumacious? - Mustang, 2009-05-27: 07:48:00
I really enjoyed your story! Perfect for the cartoon! - hyperborean, 2009-05-28: 21:06:00
EXCELLENT WORD, but it didn't need the book, it's called a "sentence" - DrWebster111, 2009-05-31: 12:12:00
Ah, DrW...sentences really only matter in prison!!! - Nosila, 2009-06-01: 00:41:00
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Dresshurts
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: dres - herts
Sentence: Carl was required to wear dresshurts to his board meetings. The collars scratched his neck; the cuffs abraded his wrists and his midsection felt girdled.
Etymology: dress, dress shirts, hurts
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COMMENTS:
Good one...you buttoned it down and collared it well! - Nosila, 2009-05-27: 09:24:00
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Hautefacadism
Created by: arrrteest
Pronunciation: oht-fass-ahd-ism
Sentence: Pat and Gene worked for a upstart tech company that prided itself on acceptance and forward thinking. Casual Fridays seemed so passé that the wearing of jeans seemed quite the conservative costume. Thursdays became Thong Thursdays, Wednesdays became a true Hump Day where employees wore teddies or other intimate gear under their "Librarian" clothes. Titular Tuesdays dress code was provacative, however it was Mix-It-Up Monday's Hautefacadism that took the cake. Employees would often switch clothes or come already clothed in genderbending attire. To help along acceptance, the company planned a workshop on How to Tie a Tie, Walking in Pumps or Stilletos, and How To Accesserize.
Etymology: haute, French High from haute couture + facade, French façade false face + sadism, deriving pleasure from others' pain
Crapparel
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: krap per el
Sentence: Henry resented the dress code at his work. Mainly because he hated having to wear a tie. He called it crapparel and was always pushing for casual Fridays, without much luck. Finally one day, he snapped. He marched into the boss' office and removed his tie and that of the boss. The boss was taken aback, especially when Henry ranted that wearing a tie did not make him a better executive and not wearing one would not make him a worse one. He continued that the tie made everyman look uptight and not relaxed and was only good for catching his lunch spillings on it (or as he called it Tie Food). The boss turned red, banged his desk and smiled. He agreed and declared that the office would now be a tie-free zone everyday. After work they went out for a My-Tie.
Etymology: Crap (obscene terms for feces;obscene words for unacceptable behavior) & Apparel (clothing in general;attire)
Hautecutyours
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: oat cut yers
Sentence: Vinny was all for dressing to kill in his teddy and heels, but his hautecutyours were so tight he got an atomic wedgie and strap tracts in his shoulders.
Etymology: Haute Coutures (trend-setting fashions) & Cut yours (slice)
Biznoose
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: biznoōs
Sentence: When the company Jim worked for was sold, he hoped that the old dress code might be eased. His greatest hope was that he might be able to shed the hated biznoose.
Etymology: biz (a business, typically one connected with entertainment) + noose (a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and typically used to hang people or trap animals)
Hurtcouture
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: hurt-koo-TOOr
Sentence: Chicophant and hurtcouture, were but two words to describe Bob and Roxie's strange and often grotesque grooming.
Etymology: Blend of HURT: to feel or suffer bodily or mental pain or distress & COUTURE: very fashionable, having the style, quality of fashion. CHICOPHANT:(SHEEK-uh-fuh-nt) from (chic & cophant of sycophant): fashionable, self-seeking, servile flatterer.
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COMMENTS:
Love it Oz! - purpleartichokes, 2008-04-08: 19:04:00
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Embhellishment
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: emb/hell/ish/ment
Sentence: Six inch stylettos are an embhellishment that hurts the spine and causes muscle cramps in the legs but come in very handy as a weapon.
Etymology: embellishment + hellish
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COMMENTS:
Ha! So do steel-toes. - purpleartichokes, 2008-04-08: 09:27:00
Bela, Bela! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-04-09: 20:56:00
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Mumubooboo
Created by: stache
Pronunciation: moo moo boo boo
Sentence: The striped overalls, red socks, v-neck sweater and clogs seemed like a cool choice for the power lunch, but as he entered the restaurant Bill realized it had been a big mumubooboo.
Etymology: mumu-hawaiian smock; boo-boo-error
