datewear

English

Etymology

From date +‎ -wear.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdeɪt.wɛə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdeɪt.wɛ(ə)ɹ/

Noun

datewear (uncountable)

1. (somewhat uncommon) Clothing to be worn on a date.
   • 1955 November 13, “Fall Fashions of 1955”, in The Acorn, volume XIIII, number 1, Worcester State University, page 3, column 5:

     The datewear this season is divided into two distinct styles, of which there are many variations. Most popular, but attractive only on slim figures, is the sheath dress.

   • 1968, Max Gunther, “The Weekend World”, in Norman F. Cantor, Michael S. Werthman, editors, The History of Popular Culture, The Macmillan Company, page 700:

     Department stores are shunned by prudent housewives. Instead, the glittering aisles are thronged with working girls buying sportswear and datewear—leisure’s costumes.

   • 2000, Patty Rice, “Phase 3”, in Somethin' Extra, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 55:

     “So I can supervise your choice of datewear. Why else? I’ll see you at seven, girl.”

   • 2001, Meg Cabot, The Princess Diaries, HarperTrophy, →ISBN, page 83:

     Only when Mom came out in her datewear, which included this totally hot black minidress from Victoria’s Secret (my mom hates shopping, so she buys all her clothes from catalogs while she’s soaking in the tub after a long day of painting), my dad started to choke on this ice cube.