Why do fashion gurus singularise plurals: a pant, a trouser, a jean, and – worst of all – a tight? Who uses one pant?

為什么時尚大師們喜歡把復(fù)數(shù)名詞都說成單數(shù)？褲子，牛仔褲，緊身褲襪這些，不都是兩條褲管嗎？誰會穿只有一條褲管的褲子？


Fashion people do. They also like "to work" a shoe, a sleeve, even a spectacle (but not "a sunglass". That would be just silly). This is known as the Fashion Singular. How did this fashion singular come into existence?

時尚界人士會“穿一條褲管的褲子”。他們甚至?xí)f要“設(shè)計”一只鞋，一條袖子，甚至一個（不是一副）眼鏡（但是他們不會說“一個太陽鏡”，這聽起來就太蠢了）。這就是時尚界的單數(shù)理論。為什么有這種說法呢？


American fashion stylists all talk like Californian teenagers. They started using the fashion singular on notes given out at fashion shows. Fashion journalists noticed this and perceived it as a form of Botox for the voice as it freezes one into a permanently teenage state.

美國時尚設(shè)計師們的談吐就像加州的小青年。最開始是在時裝秀中，他們傳遞小紙條時使用這種單數(shù)名詞。后來記者們注意到了，認(rèn)為這就像注射肉毒桿菌從而消除皺紋一樣，這種拙劣的語法讓人始終有身為少年人的感覺。


To demonstrate your true mastery of this lingo, deploy it only in positive circumstances, eg, "Ooh, I do love a kitten heel." But when you're being negative, it's: "I'm so not feeling wedges any more." You see? The difference issubtle but crucial, like fashion itself.

如果你真正掌握了這種行話，就應(yīng)該知道，這只能用于肯定句，如：“哇，我好喜歡這個矮跟設(shè)計（這里是單數(shù)）。”在否定句中，就應(yīng)該說成：“我再也不想穿坡跟鞋了（這里是復(fù)數(shù)）?！泵靼琢耍繀^(qū)別相當(dāng)微妙，就像時尚本身一樣。


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