https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:59:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741552 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 03:15:50 +0000 rachylou 741552@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I volunteer to use natty more! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741358 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 22:16:43 +0000 Atlantia 741358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know I'm pretty late to this, but I just have to say that there needs to be a resurgence in using the word "natty." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741246 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 19:41:41 +0000 CocoLion 741246@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Angie! The irony of cool is that it takes effort. Without effort, I am not cool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741235 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 19:19:11 +0000 Angie 741235@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Dana! I will use those words with pleasure for your outfits. </p> <p>Denise, I hear you loud and clear. I absolutely agree that cool is sometimes the *perfect* word to describe something. Why go to great lengths to use another word? That's silly. My knee jerk reaction has been caused by people using the word to describe EVERYTHING these days, not just in the fashion arena and blogosphere, but with cars, food, luggage, restaurants, attitudes, interiors. Everything! I actually think that is UN-cool. Does that make sense? Please know that in the true sense of the word, as I described in my blog post, you are cool by a billion percent. You have reached your style aspirations, and as you know, you rock my style world :)</p> <p>I am trying not to use the word edgy that much either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741225 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 19:05:38 +0000 CocoLion 741225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am not tired of the word cool. In fact, I love this word. It is everything I aspire to in my style, and Angie you wrote a brilliant post about what makes an outfit cool last year. <a href="http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/09/what-makes-an-outfit-cool/" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/.....tfit-cool/</a> What is wrong with using one word that says so much? To Cathy's point. Same goes with edgy. Although I am sick of that word, to convey edgy, I would have so say "outside the box" (equally as tired) or maybe "outsider" or "alt" or "alternative" or "bada$$" coveys slightly the same thing? I don't know. I struggle with using overworn cliches as well but sometimes the cliches are concise. And isn't there even an award badge here on YLF for being quick and concise in making responses? Something which, as you can see, I never achieve.</p> <p>I do appreciate it when people add more than just "love it" or "cool." I like the because in there too, as in "because of the way you popped that collar" for example.</p> <p>Hot is not meant as a pejorative but it might be around here. It says attractive in a provocative way to me. Sometimes I aspire to looking hot (but in a classy way) when going out on a romantic evening. Which are far and few between.</p> <p>And there goes another word that I feel a little guilty when using, as if I am failing my parents who spent so much to educate me: classy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-741194 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 18:19:58 +0000 ironkurtin 741194@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, sorry to come in late, but here are other words to use instead of cool:</p> <p>brilliant<br /> gorgeous<br /> beautiful<br /> genius<br /> slick<br /> awesome</p> <p>If anyone used any of these in regard to my outfit, I would be equally as pleased as if they said cool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739541 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:42:34 +0000 catgirl 739541@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, maybe twitterpated can be our new code word for cool! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739539 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:40:21 +0000 Beth 739539@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LOL Una. See, part of what makes you cool is that you can be twitterpated and look so...er...fab? rad? wicked? spiffy? at the same time! </p> <p>*smooch* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739535 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:38:38 +0000 krishnidoux 739535@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another suggestion: my son says "smooth", "hipe" and "chill". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739465 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 22:57:40 +0000 Angie 739465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cathy, you'll have to let me know when I slip up. </p> <p>And hugs to MaryK </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739384 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:28:03 +0000 MsMary 739384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been using "cool" for 40-plus years and I'm not about to stop now!</p> <p>I'd say my closest synonyms are "Angie," "UnaWP" "Rae-mazing," and "Annatastic!" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739338 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:50:38 +0000 biscuitsmom 739338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anything but 'sick' please! lol....hate that word when it's used to describe anything other than being ill...grrr </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739245 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:25:20 +0000 Sona 739245@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm like all about the "kewl"</p> <p>:)))) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739223 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:00:17 +0000 cciele 739223@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We'll be watching you Angie! Or maybe you will coin a new, "cool" word that we'll all end up using </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739211 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:48:02 +0000 Angie 739211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so MUCH for your ideas ladies. I enjoyed reading through them :)</p> <p>Unfortunately I don't have the time to reply back to each of you - sorry about that. But I do have a few things to add now that I've slept on it. </p> <p>- The word cool is over used in the US because it has different meanings, of which many of you described.</p> <p>- While cool is a classic word, it has become trendy to use it, hence it's overused and I'm having a knee jerk reaction to it at the moment.</p> <p>- To Rachy's point, you can't start using other words that feel so very wrong - like hot (I make a point of never using that word unless I'm talking about temperature or someone is hot under the collar). I also never use the word awesome, or nifty, rad, sick, swell, and so many others that have been listed here. They sound completely wrong when they come out of my mouth!!</p> <p>- Have used words like wicked, fab, brilliant, and hip all my life. Cool for that matter too. </p> <p>- Hip comes the closest to a substitute, and I already use that word. </p> <p>Soooooo, I am officially going to try to NOT use the word cool from now on - unless I have to describe the weather as cool in temperature. I wonder if I will be able to do it :)</p> <p>Thanks again for your thoughts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739204 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:36:25 +0000 cciele 739204@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If we agree on the meaning and nuances of the word "cool," I don't see the problem of using it if that's what is meant. As an editor by profession, I am not a fan of (over)using synonyms if the actual word fits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739197 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:31:31 +0000 Scarlet 739197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>:)</p> <p>Una--I hadn't read all the comments before so I didn't know Beth and I made the same reference. Thank goodness you prevented me from missing "amazeballs". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739167 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:13:30 +0000 Janet 739167@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, interesting. I can't think of a suitable synonym that really sums up "cool." It may be overused, but it also seems to transcend slang, gender, generations, etc. </p> <p>"Cool" precedes all of the other terms we've tossed around in this discussion -- check this out: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_(aesthetic)" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_(aesthetic)</a></p> <p>An actual timeline of cool. How cool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739155 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:07:50 +0000 catgirl 739155@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG, Beth and Scarlet, I have to say it makes me all twitterpated (MaryK's word which I can't love enough!) to be referred to in this thread! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739151 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:03:30 +0000 Anonymous 739151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't think of a word quite like "cool". To me it means effortless + sophisicated. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739148 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:57:54 +0000 Girl X 739148@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sweet!<br /> Wicked<br /> Sick<br /> Schwick<br /> That rocks<br /> Smokin'<br /> Like ice (oddly hot things and cold things are often interchangeable with non-descriptive expressions)<br /> Balls out<br /> Fab<br /> That's killer (though you know this one already!)<br /> That's the sh*t (though I can't picture you using that one lol)</p> <p>My guy likes to refer to things as being 'like cake'; I tend to be an awesomist. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739144 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:55:33 +0000 rachylou 739144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm. Cool, to me, is a quintessential elegant exclamation. I think it gets at something that other approximations don't. Like rad, sick, sweet, phat, rocks it, etc. It may be that because I'm a wordsmith by profession, I have made up rules on when to use each word.</p> <p>Anyways, if you're looking for a new exclamation, I think I'd go for something like "sweet." Because, Angie, I can't see you doing the lean back and saying, "coz, that is phat!" (by "coz" I mean "cousin" as in "girlfriend.") hehe.</p> <p>If you're looking to be more expressive, maybe you could get wordier and point out the quality that gives something its coolness.</p> <p>...Ok and now I'd like to veer off and broach the topic of the phrase "pop of color." The first few times I heard this on HGTV, I thought it was a fresh perspective. But now, it's making me feel icked. This phrase now puts me in mind of disease... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739100 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:07:04 +0000 Scarlet 739100@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with Inge--sometimes cool is really the right word, but given that I am abroad or with wordy academics mostly, I probably don't get overexposed to it either. I dubbed AlaskaGirls's outfit "cool" the other day, because it just seemed exactly right, even though I don't usually use that word on the forum. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739040 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:24:20 +0000 Inge 739040@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1. I actually don't mind the word cool so much:-) Perhaps because I live abroad in a non-English speaking country and I'm not exposed to the word as often as you guys.<br /> While reading all the comments I've also been trying to come up with a good equivalent, but agree with Laura and others that there's no catch-all substitute, it depends very much on the particular context. Plus, "cool" has a more timeless feel to it for me than the "older" "rad", or the more of the moment "sick". (in fashion terms: I believe "cool" is one of the timeless classics that will never go out of style:-)</p> <p>2. I too believe that it's important to make an effort to describe what you mean as specifically as possible (I'm sometimes guilty of not doing that either:-), but at the same time, there are words that we all use often and just can't do without. I'm thinking of "love" and "like" for example. Yes, one can say "adore", "covet", "infatuated with" etc., and yes, sometimes these words will be spot on. On the other hand, using "synonyms" just because you just don't want to use the more general term *again* can feel a little forced or contrived too. Hope I'm making sense here? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739031 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:13:46 +0000 Sylvie 739031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend to use awesome as a substitute. Also sweet.</p> <p>When commenting on someone's outfit, I overuse fantastic and fab and "love" it. But I do try to comment on the specific aspects that I like - shoes or bookending or general attitude. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739030 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:07:32 +0000 catgirl 739030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think "hip" really works, but it's a kind of substitute. I always associate cool with Snoopy and "Joe Cool"- in the best way, of course. </p> <p>So many fashion words get overused - obsessed, luxe (Lucky and j. crew: "we're obsessed with this luxe fabric!"), and lots of others.</p> <p>Some words are more abstract than others too. I need to make more effort to describe specifically what I like about someone's outfit, instead of coming up with descriptors like "cool" and "amazing". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-739029 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:05:58 +0000 Kristin L 739029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What about the word "spiffy"? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-738997 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:32:21 +0000 lynne 738997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I confess to being an over user of the word cool, but agree that we need to expand our vocabularies. The rampant (mis)use of the words "awesome" and "random" truly grate on me. And don't even start me on my rant about the use of the word "like". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool/page/2#post-738989 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:22:55 +0000 unfrumped 738989@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Righto, it means something different to everyone, it seems and even a range for one person, including me.</p> <p>To me there's even a difference between "cool" and "so cool!"</p> <p>Cool for us used to mean something like being "in" versus "out"--accepted and acceptable, the place other people wanted to be, even if they didn't admit it, or at least admired the other's ability to be that way. This is the sense of truly cool vs. something who thinks they're better than you. And also not too bothered or easily deranged by someone else's behavior or choices "he's cool with that".</p> <p>So cool ! is more like awesome, fab, why didn't I think of that.</p> <p>And a hundred other meanings.</p> <p>It doesn't seem to fit in my lexicon much anymore but the closest would be effortless, easy style (not just fashion, but activities, companions, choices) , up to date without being slavish to fads-- and interesting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/is-there-another-word-for-cool#post-738974 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:07:08 +0000 DeniseP 738974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Deborah's comment hit the nail on the head ... We do need to challenge ourselves and broaden our vocabulary. Over-used words lose their intended meaning. I'm going to work on this, too, and try to express myself individually, uniquely, and not like the herd.<br /> Another one of my pet peeved words is "awesome." How many things in life really puts us in a state of awe and wonder? Also, for the past few years, whenever I tell a younger person, "thank you," the response is always, "no problem." I'm in my sixties, so it just seems that this is mostly a younger generation's substitute word for "you're welcome?" </p>