DarrenBarefoot.com

Chesterfield

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Blouse sounds normal to me, though I do associate it with a more dressed up and probably older style. Then again, I never was hip with fashion or knowledgeable of the clothes industry in general.

Never heard of a Chesterfield, must belong to the same set of words as Hoover.

And did you puroposefully use “eschew” in this post, that seems like rather erudite vocabulary (and I had to look up erudite to make sure I was using it right).

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I just asked my wife that the other day. I am so glad you brought it up.

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Isn’t chesterfield a prairie word?

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Fashion types use “trousers” frequently.

At least you don’t say “slacks.”

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I work in retail fashion, and not for old farts, and I can safely say that the word blouse is not passe. Trouser is not common but we do use it at work though.

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The use of blouse to describe an item of clothing is on the decline in Ireland, but it is used to cajole someone; “You big girl’s blouse!”, or “Ya blouse”, roughly translates to coward but in a jovial sense.

My brother and I often refer to ‘trouers’ (just pronounce trousers with out the z sound in the middle).

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Like you, I have only heard my mother use the word “blouse”. I guess the male equivalent must be “jersey” I only heat that used occasionally, and usually in reference to shirts for my old rugby team. All these words are mostly British English.

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Johnny: Indeed, I learned that phrase in Ireland, and still use it occasionally. It’s very handy.

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I’m pretty sure my favourite clothing store uses “blouse,” but then it also refers to the often frumpier dress shirts. But not necessarily I guess. The fanciest ones are “tops” and the rest are “t-shirts” for some reason.

My sister says “trousers” but only because she’s married to a Brit. She said something recently that sounded completely off and it was just a British pronounciation I’d never heard of.

Garage has too many permutations and the more I watch HGTV shows with British hosts, the more inclined I am to adopt a bit. I recently said “py-jahh-mahs” instead of “py-jaa-mas.” Twice!

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I think soccer moms and Martha Stewart ruined “blouse” with their ‘men’s shirt with khakis for women’.

We used to make fun of my dad for saying “trousers” so I say it in jest regarding certain pants now and then. Hehe… “trousers”….

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Oddly, as much of the discussion revolves around fashion words, it’s hard to tell what’s out of use/fashion and what’s going to be the next retro-trend. In other words, blouse and trouser may just as well be revived when the current style and words associated with it are deemed too old. The trick is you never know when–or at least I never do.

Thanks for the wordie website. While I wouldn’t necessarily make lists of words on a website, I have made mental lists in the past and enjoyed reading what’s there. For example, back when I worked at the Best Western (motel chain) reservation center, I remember dreaming of places called Kamloops and Nanaimo, proving the appeal of the foreign.

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[...] dress nicely and do not wear plaid shoes to work. I am wearing my good jeans, a dainty blouse (there you go, Darren) with a matching sweater, and fancy shoes. I am terribly uncomfortable, albeit much more put [...]