A fashion plate is, literally, an illustration (a plate) demonstrating the highlights of
Used figuratively, as is most often the case, the term is a reference to a person whose dress conforms to the latest fashions.
References
* Steele, Valerie: "Paris Fashion: A Cultural History", Oxford University Press, 1988, ISBN 0195044657.
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Fashion plate — Fashion Fash ion, n. [OE. fasoun, facioun, shape, manner, F. facon, orig., a making, fr. L. factio a making, fr. facere to make. See {Fact}, {Feat}, and cf. {Faction}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The make or form of anything; the style, shape, appearance … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fashion plate — n informal someone who likes to wear very fashionable clothes … Dictionary of contemporary English
fashion plate — ☆ fashion plate n. 1. a picture showing a current style in dress 2. a fashionably dressed person … English World dictionary
fashion plate — noun 1. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance • Syn: ↑dandy, ↑dude, ↑fop, ↑gallant, ↑sheik, ↑beau, ↑swell, ↑clotheshorse • Deriv … Useful english dictionary
Fashion plate — A fashion drawing, engraving, or illustration that depicts the newest clothes, shoes, hairstyles, and accessories of a particular period in time. Fashion plates were first used in England and France during the late sixteenth century and were a … Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry
fashion plate — fash′ion plate n. 1) clo a person who always wears the latest style in dress 2) clo an illustration showing the current or new fashion in clothes … From formal English to slang
fashion plate — 1. a person who consistently wears the latest style in dress. 2. an illustration showing the prevailing or new fashion in clothes. [1850 55] * * * … Universalium
fashion plate — noun a) A picture, usually an advertisement, showing the latest fashion in clothing. b) A person who dresses in especially stylish fashions … Wiktionary
fashion plate — Synonyms and related words: Beau Brummel, arbiter of fashion, beau, blade, blood, boulevardier, clotheshorse, clubman, clubwoman, coxcomb, dandy, deb, debutante, dude, exquisite, fashionable, fine gentleman, fop, fribble, gallant, jack a dandy,… … Moby Thesaurus
fashion plate — noun Date: 1851 1. an illustration of a clothing style 2. a person who dresses in the latest fashions … New Collegiate Dictionary
