# What does "chickadee" mean (in terms of clothes/fashion)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** fashion-clothing\ **Created:** [April 8, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129 "2026-04-08T21:25:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/21 "2026-04-20T02:58:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > …then you know what they meant by “pastels and chickadees”: namely, traditional Easter-outfil colors and motifs. Ultimate decoded meaning “This year, she wore pants instead of a skirt” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/22 "2026-04-20T07:10:18Z")
Do people really worry about women in skirts OR (clutching pearls) in pants at an event? Even a swank one? Surely we’re past that. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/23 "2026-04-20T10:13:47Z")
You don’t hang out amongst the high society set. The crowd where competitive manners, appearance, and breeding are everyday major concerns. I don’t hang out amongst them either, but I see some of those folks, or the ones aspiring to become those folks, rather frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/24 "2026-04-20T16:15:25Z")
So you say. I rub shoulders with hoity- toity daily, dude. Tea, brunches, galas you name it. Invites everyday. Social obligations crowd my calender. 😁 (You know I lie, right) But really a woman, well dressed, clean, and presentable does not need to wear dresses or skirts. Unless. She. Chooses. To. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/25 "2026-04-20T17:13:01Z")
It was one of WC Field’s sayings. He used it pretty much every time he appeared. At least the best I remember. I liked old movies when I was a little kid, even if half of it went over my head. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129/26 "2026-04-21T22:26:22Z")
Yeah, I didn’t want to quote in context because the person in question is quite polarizing, or at least her husband is. I wasn’t being coy or keeping secrets, just wishing to avoid distraction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-chickadee-mean-in-terms-of-clothes-fashion/1029129.md?page=1)