faddie

Faddie is a slang term that emerged in North American English during the early 20th century to describe a person who is overly concerned with fashionable trends or who follows fads with enthusiasm. The word is typically used in a mildly dismissive or humorous manner.

Etymology of the term dates back to the 1930s, deriving from the adjective “faddy,” which was common in British slang to describe something that is perhaps too fussy or showy. By the 1950s, “faddie” appeared in the New York Times as a light‑hearted descriptor for someone caught up in a new craze. The spelling has remained largely consistent, though some writers occasionally used “faddy” interchangeably.

Cultural references to the word can be found in mid‑century pop culture. A 1957 hit song titled “Faddie Forever” by the band The Trend Setters references the style‑obsessed characters of the era. The term also appears in the 1962 novel The Light Brigade by Joyce L. Harper, where the protagonist describes a socialite who is “a true faddie” because of her relentless pursuit of new fashions. In contemporary usage, the Internet has revived the term in fashion blogs and social media as a playful critique of rapid trend cycles.

Today, “faddie” is occasionally employed in consumer magazines to describe a product or style that enjoys a brief surge in popularity. While its usage has diminished compared to earlier decades, it remains recognizable within certain stylistic circles.