"Normcore" Almost Made It Into the Oxford Dictionary

Normcore was beat out by vape for Oxford Dictionary's 2014 word of the year.

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Have you heard the news? Oxford Dictionary recently announced that the 2014 word of year is “vape,” a term that means “to inhale and exhale the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette.” Though the use of the word has significantly increased during the past few years, we’re shocked to discover that it beat out one of 2014’s most prominent phrases: normcore.

Used to describe a fashion trend steered by “average-looking” clothing, the term is said to have originated within the hipster sect right before it made its way into the mainstream vocabulary. From the beginning, the word took on an ironic deviant meaning, leading many people to wonder if dressing so mundane was a carefully thought-out fashion statement or simply a result of lazy, indifferent dressing. Or maybe it was just an inside joke to test industry’s bandwagon effect.

Regardless, the word definitely made its mark in 2014—inspiring designers, stylists, and fashion enthusiasts to embrace their modest dimensions through stonewashed jeans, fleece pullovers, and sensible shoes.

[via Time]

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