Decorated with ruffles, flounces, or fancy trim; having lots of decorative details that are often delicate or ornamental.
From 'frill,' which comes from Low German or Dutch origins (possibly from 'frul' meaning to crease or curl), referring to decorative edges that became fashionable in 16th-century clothing.
While modern fashion cycles between minimal and ornate, 'frilly' usually carries a slightly judgmental tone—it suggests something is overly decorated, which shows how the same word can signal elegance in one era and tackiness in another.
Historically coded as feminine/decorative, often used dismissively to describe women's work or interests as frivolous. Usage reflects gendered hierarchy of aesthetics.
Use neutrally when describing textiles/fashion; avoid as a metaphor for 'unnecessarily elaborate' in gendered contexts.
["ornate","embellished","detailed"]
Textile arts and fashion have been historically undervalued; decorative work by women deserves recognition as skilled craft.
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