Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Fancy

''Fancy'' is an English adjective meaning aesthetically pleasing, elaborate, or imaginary; it can also be used as a noun or verb with similar connotations. It may also refer to:
  • In [[music]], various artists, songs, and albums (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/Music|Music]])
  • Various [[people]] known by the name or nickname Fancy (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/People|People]])
  • [[Fictional characters]] named Fancy in literature, film, and television (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/Fictional characters|Fictional characters and media]])
  • [[Places]] named Fancy, primarily in the [[United States]] (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/Places|Places]])
  • [[Ships]] and other [[transportation]] named Fancy (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/Ships|Ships and transportation]])
  • Other uses, including [[technology]] like the defunct social commerce platform [[Fancy (website)|Fancy.com]] (2009–2020), animals, and miscellaneous (see [[Fancy (disambiguation)/Other|Other uses]])
For other uses, see [[Fancy (disambiguation)]]. [Note: Detailed history of Fancy.com belongs in its own article; brief mention here for completeness.]

Music

Artists and bands

Fancy was a British pop group active in the early to mid-1970s, assembled from session musicians and produced by Mike Hurst. The band achieved a surprise U.S. hit in 1974 with their cover of "Wild Thing," which peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lineup featured Tony Wilson on vocals, Ray Fenwick on guitar, Mo Witham on bass, and Les Binks on drums. Despite this success, the group experienced limited chart performance elsewhere and disbanded shortly thereafter. Manfred Alois Segieth (born July 7, 1946), known professionally as Fancy, is a , and producer specializing in and . His career gained prominence in the , beginning with the 1984 single "Slice Me Nice" and followed by "" in 1985, both emblematic of his synthesizer-driven sound. Fancy has released over 15 studio albums across decades, often collaborating with producers such as Anthony Monn to blend melodic pop with electronic elements. Who Is Fancy is the former stage name of American singer-songwriter Jake Fancy Hagood (born March 29, 1991), who debuted in 2015 under the moniker with the single "Goodbye," a Top 30 hit on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. Signed to Scooter Braun's imprint, Hagood initially performed anonymously before revealing his identity. In 2018, he transitioned to releasing music as , embracing a style with albums including (2020).

Songs

"Fancy" is a song title that has been used by multiple artists across genres, often exploring themes of aspiration, luxury, and personal transformation. The original version, written and recorded by in 1969 as the title track of her album Fancy, is a country-pop depicting a mother's desperate act of dressing her daughter as a to escape , ultimately leading to the daughter's success. The song achieved crossover success, peaking at No. 31 on the and No. 26 on the chart. Reba McEntire's 1990 cover of Gentry's song, featured on her album Rumor Has It, revitalized the track for a new generation with its dramatic storytelling and orchestral arrangement. This version peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking one of McEntire's signature performances despite not reaching the top spot. The accompanying music video, directed by Jonathon Rej, portrays McEntire as both the young Fancy and her adult self, earning the Academy of Country Music Award for Video of the Year in 1991 and emphasizing themes of empowerment and survival. In hip-hop, Twista's "Fancy" from his 2009 album Category F5, featuring T-Pain, embodies a high-energy party anthem with heavy auto-tune effects and lyrics celebrating lavish lifestyles. The track showcases Twista's rapid-fire delivery alongside T-Pain's melodic hook. Drake's 2010 rap song "Fancy," from his debut album Thank Me Later and featuring T.I. and Swizz Beatz, samples 1970s soul elements to explore relationships amid wealth and fame, peaking at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its smooth production and introspective verses contributed to the album's commercial success. Iggy Azalea's 2014 /pop hit "Fancy," featuring from the album , became a global phenomenon with its bold lyrics on extravagance and a directed by that parodies 1990s videos like those of and . The song topped the for seven consecutive weeks, was certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.

Albums and other releases

The second studio album by German singer Manfred Alois Segieth, known professionally as Fancy, titled , was released in 1986 by Records. This and Euro-disco release features tracks such as " (Hold Me in Your Arms Again)," "Lady of Ice," and "Latin Fire," characterized by electronic production with prominent synthesizers and dance rhythms. Produced primarily by Anthony Monn, the album peaked at No. 57 on the German Media Control album charts in 1987. Bobbie Gentry's third studio album, Fancy, appeared in 1970 on , blending , and orchestral arrangements. Produced mainly by at with Gentry handling some tracks, it includes the title song "Fancy" alongside covers like "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "He Made a Woman Out of Me." The album reached No. 96 on the chart, with its cover art depicting Gentry in an elegant, character-inspired portrait evoking the title track's narrative. Fancies, a 1993 choral by composer conducted with the Cambridge Singers and the City of London Sinfonia, was issued by Collegium Records. It centers on Rutter's Fancies, a 1971 cycle of six settings for and chamber drawn from Elizabethan , including pieces like "Tell Me Where Is Fancy Bred" and "There Is a Garden in Her Face," evoking Renaissance . The recording also incorporates complementary works such as When Icicles Hang (1973), a winter-themed choral cycle with holiday undertones, and Five Childhood Lyrics (1973), highlighting Rutter's accessible yet intricate vocal style. In music history, the fantasia—also termed "fancy" in English contexts—originated in 16th-century as a free-form for , , or viols, emphasizing and contrapuntal exploration without strict structure. Exemplified by William Byrd's early contributions around 1588 and Orlando Gibbons's dignified, ecclesiastical consort pieces in the early 17th century, the form drew from madrigals and variations like the In Nomine. It evolved into fantasies through Henry Purcell's late 17th-century works for viols, which incorporated and rich , though the genre declined by the mid-1600s amid shifting tastes toward lighter .

People

Musicians and entertainers

Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter on July 27, 1942, in Woodland, Mississippi) is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her narrative-driven songs and enigmatic public persona, which has contributed to her status as one of country's most elusive figures. She wrote and first recorded "Fancy" in 1969 for her album of the same name, presenting it as a bold feminist statement about survival and self-determination through the story of a young woman escaping poverty. Gentry's breakthrough hit "Ode to Billie Joe," released in 1967, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and exemplified her talent for evocative storytelling, earning her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1968. Her reclusive nature, marked by a withdrawal from public life after the 1970s, has only amplified her mystique in music history. In 2020, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for her enduring contributions to songwriting. Reba McEntire (born March 28, 1955, in ) is an American country singer, actress, and one of the genre's most commercially successful performers, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. She covered "Fancy" in 1990 on her album Rumor Has It, transforming Gentry's original into a signature anthem that peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and solidified its place in country music canon through her dramatic delivery and orchestral arrangement. McEntire's rendition boosted the song's legacy, earning it widespread radio play and cultural resonance as a tale of rags-to-riches resilience. A multiple Grammy Award winner with three victories, including for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, she also starred in the television series from 2001 to 2007, expanding her influence across entertainment. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011, McEntire's career spans over four decades of hits and accolades. Iggy Azalea (born Amethyst Amelia Kelly on June 7, 1990) is an rapper who rose to international prominence with her 2014 single "Fancy," featuring , from her debut album . The track debuted at No. 1 on the and topped charts in 13 countries, including , the , and , marking a breakthrough for Azalea in the and pop landscapes with its bold, trap-influenced production. Signed to in 2013, she achieved seven weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, tying a record for a female rapper at the time. However, her success drew controversies over cultural appropriation, with critics like accusing her of adopting Black American styles without authentic engagement, sparking broader debates on and in 2014. Azalea's brash persona and crossover appeal helped popularize "Fancy" as a global pop phenomenon. Charli XCX (born Charlotte Aitchison on August 2, 1992) is a British singer and songwriter celebrated for her innovative contributions to hyperpop and electropop, blending experimental electronic sounds with catchy hooks. She gained significant exposure as the featured artist on Iggy Azalea's 2014 hit "Fancy," co-writing the track and delivering its iconic chorus, which propelled her into mainstream visibility alongside her own rising career. Known for pushing pop boundaries, Charli released albums such as Sucker in 2014, which debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 and featured the top-10 single "Boom Clap," and Crash in 2022, a synth-pop project that explored themes of fame and vulnerability. Her collaborations with the PC Music collective, including producers like A.G. Cook, have defined her avant-garde style, influencing a new wave of digital-age pop through mixtapes like Number 1 Angel (2017) and Pop 2 (2018).

Other individuals

Fancy Ray McCloney (born c. 1981) is an comedian and known for his flamboyant persona and self-proclaimed title as "the best lookin' man in comedy," as well as the nickname "Prince of ." He has built a career blending absurd humor with formal , appearing in numerous television commercials and performing at corporate events for organizations such as the and the . McCloney gained national exposure through appearances on shows including , , , and . Fancy Bermudez Chavez (born May 27, 2002) is a Canadian rugby union player who competes for the national women's sevens team. Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, she debuted internationally in 2021 and has since become a key player, contributing to Canada's silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and participating in the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Bermudez Chavez, standing at 157 cm and weighing 64 kg, plays as an outside back and has also represented clubs like Westshore RFC and Saracens in the UK's Premier Women's Rugby league. In October 2025, she signed with Loughborough Lightning in the Premier Women's Rugby league. Fancy Chemutai (born March 20, 1995) is a Kenyan long-distance runner specializing in the and 10,000 meters. She has set multiple course records, including a 64:52 personal best at the 2018 and a 30:36 win at the 2019 BAA 10K in . Chemutai's achievements include third place in her half marathon debut at the 2018 and consistent top performances in elite road races, establishing her as a prominent figure in Kenyan distance running.

Fictional characters and media

Fictional characters

Fancy-Fancy is an anthropomorphic cat and one of the in the animated series , which aired from 1961 to 1962. As the romantic member of the alley cat gang led by , Fancy-Fancy is depicted as a light brown, slender feline with a slight potbelly, often seen pursuing female cats and embodying a suave, flirtatious personality. Voiced by John Stephenson in the original series, he appears in all 30 episodes, frequently interacting with his fellow strays like Choo-Choo and while navigating schemes in a alley. His character highlights themes of camaraderie and mischief among the underdogs, with Fancy-Fancy's charm contrasting the group's more chaotic antics. Nancy Clancy, known as Fancy Nancy, is the titular protagonist of the children's book series written by O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, first published in 2005. A six-to-seven-year-old girl with a passion for elegance, culture, and elaborate outfits, Nancy transforms everyday life into glamorous adventures through her imagination and advanced vocabulary. The series, which has sold more than 43 million copies worldwide as of 2025, emphasizes creativity and self-expression, with Nancy often involving her family—parents Claire and , and sister —in her fancy escapades. Adapted into a animated television series from 2018 to 2022, Nancy is voiced by Imogen Faires, appearing in all 63 episodes where she navigates school, friendships, and family dynamics with whimsical flair. Fancy Jordan is the spirited female protagonist in Linda Lael Miller's 1985 historical romance novel Corbin's Fancy, part of the Corbins series set in the 19th-century American West. Stranded in the Washington Territory after a traveling carnival abandons her, Fancy is portrayed as a resilient, independent woman who nurses the brooding rancher Jeff Corbin back to health, sparking a romance amid themes of redemption and frontier hardship. Her character embodies the era's adventurous heroines, using wit and determination to overcome adversity and find love. The novel, reissued in 2010, explores Fancy's journey from vulnerability to empowerment, contributing to Miller's reputation for blending romance with historical detail.

Films, television, and literature

In film, Fancy Pants (1950) is a notable American romantic comedy Western directed by George Marshall and starring as Humphrey, an out-of-work actor impersonating an English butler, and as Nancy de la Cruz, a wealthy but uncouth woman from who hires him to civilize her family. The story, a musical adaptation loosely based on Harry Leon Wilson's 1915 novel , follows Humphrey's misadventures in the frontier town of Nuggetville, where his pretense leads to comedic chaos involving local misunderstandings and a visit from President . Produced by in Technicolor, the film received positive reviews for its slapstick humor and the chemistry between its leads, though it earned no Academy Award nominations. More recently, (2023) is an American drama directed by , featuring as Jax, a Seneca-Cayuga woman on the Seneca-Cayuga Nation reservation who cares for her niece Roki after her sister's disappearance. Co-written by Tremblay and Miciana Alise, the film explores themes of family bonds, loss, and cultural preservation amid legal battles over custody, premiering at the Film Festival before a and streaming on Apple TV+. It highlights the challenges faced by Native communities on reservations, drawing praise for its authentic portrayal and Gladstone's performance, which builds on her acclaim from . In television, (2018–2020) is an on , adapted from Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's children's book series about a spirited six-year-old girl named Nancy Clancy who adores all things fancy, French, and fabulous. Produced by , the show follows Nancy's imaginative adventures with her family and friends, emphasizing creativity and self-expression through 48 episodes across two seasons, and received a Peabody Award nomination for its positive representation of childhood enthusiasm. Another series, the Canadian comedy (2011), stars as Maureen Fancy, a cynical producer for a children's TV show who contrasts sharply with her on-air persona as the glamorous Queen Maureen. Airing on Movie Extra, it ran for one season of six episodes, satirizing the entertainment industry with . Episodes titled "Fancy" appear across various shows, such as the Twilight Zone installment "Young Man's Fancy" (1962), where a newlywed (Alex Nicol) is haunted by his childhood home and former crush, blending nostalgia with supernatural elements in a story by Rod Serling. In literature, Frank Yerby's A Woman Called Fancy (1951) is a historical novel set in post-Civil War Georgia, centering on Fancy Williamson, a resilient woman escaping an abusive arranged marriage to navigate independence and romance in Augusta society. The book, Yerby's first with a female protagonist, sold over a million copies and exemplifies his blend of adventure and social commentary on Southern life. The Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, comprises over 80 titles since 2005, having sold more than 43 million copies worldwide as of 2025, following young Nancy's elaborate schemes to infuse everyday life with elegance, becoming a bestseller with adaptations into merchandise and media.

Places

In the United States

Fancy Gap is an unincorporated in , situated in the at an elevation of approximately 2,894 feet (882 meters). The community, with a of 214 as of the 2020 census, serves as a gateway for along the , providing access at Milepost 199.5 where visitors enjoy panoramic views, cool summer breezes, and opportunities for and . Known for its scenic appeal, Fancy Gap attracts travelers interested in mountain music, unique shopping, and peaceful retreats amid the natural beauty of the region. Fancy Farm is a in , characterized by its rural agricultural landscape and strong historical ties to the local Catholic community. The area's stood at 403 according to the , reflecting its small-scale, community-oriented setting. It is renowned for hosting the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, a bipartisan political event and church fundraiser that originated in 1881 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, featuring barbecued mutton and pork alongside speeches by candidates for state and national office. The picnic has evolved into a significant in politics, drawing thousands for its blend of culinary, social, and rhetorical elements. Historically, the region has been shaped by farming, a staple crop in Graves County since the , contributing to the local economy through family-operated plantations and community labor practices. Fancy Creek is one of the areas within Tuttle Creek State Park, a 1,200-acre park system in and Pottawatomie Counties, , along the and Tuttle Creek Lake. Established in the 1950s following the construction of the Tuttle Creek Dam between 1952 and 1962, the park derives its name from the nearby Fancy Creek and offers diverse recreational opportunities including , , and equestrian trails amid wooded and prairie landscapes. The area's rugged terrain, with over six miles of multi-use trails suitable for advanced hikers and mountain bikers, provides access to the river for boating and angling. It also appeals to birdwatchers, serving as a for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors such as bald eagles, particularly during seasonal migrations along the .

Other locations

Fancy is the northernmost settlement on the island of in , located in Charlotte Parish on the eastern coast near the country's northern tip. This rural community, part of the Sandy Bay Census Division, spans approximately 8 miles from and features fertile volcanic soil that supports as the primary economic activity. The population of Fancy was recorded as 490 residents in the 2012 , consisting of 255 males and 235 females, reflecting a close-knit, predominantly agricultural with influences from and heritage. Residents engage in subsistence farming, cultivating root crops such as sweet potatoes and , as well as vegetables like potatoes and cucumbers, which are sold in local supermarkets; the surrounding includes fruit trees like and , contributing to that includes species. Christianity plays a central role in community life, alongside participation in sports and recovery initiatives following natural events. Historically, Fancy has been impacted by the island's volcanic activity, notably the , which damaged agricultural lands and water infrastructure in the area, prompting government-led recovery projects under the Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project (). Infrastructure developments, such as the 2018 opening of the Fancy Cottage Road by the Ministry of Housing, Informal Settlements, Lands & Surveys and Physical Planning in collaboration with the Basic Needs Trust Fund, have enhanced motorable access for residents, facilitating transport of produce and daily mobility. Situated on the lower slopes of La Soufrière near the Julie River, the settlement's location underscores its vulnerability to environmental hazards while highlighting the resilience of its farming traditions in a tropical context.

Ships and transportation

Historical ships

The Fancy was a 46-gun originally named the Charles II, which was captured by mutineers led by (also known as Henry Avery or Benjamin Bridgeman) on May 7, 1694, in La Coruña, . The crew, frustrated by unpaid wages from their privateering mission against the French, elected Every as captain and renamed the vessel Fancy, modifying it in the nearby by cutting down the upper deck to increase speed for operations. Under Every's command, the ship became one of the most notorious vessels of the , embarking on raids across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans with a crew of approximately 150 men by mid-1695. The Fancy targeted merchant shipping, capturing around a dozen vessels before its most infamous action in the . On September 7, 1695, near the Straits of , Every's flotilla—including the Fancy as —ambushed a 25-ship belonging to the Emperor , focusing on the heavily armed Ganj-i-Sawai (a 1,600-ton vessel with 80 guns and over 1,000 crew) and its escort Fateh Muhammed. Despite fierce resistance that damaged the Fancy's and killed several pirates, Every's crew boarded and overpowered the ships after a prolonged , seizing valued at approximately £600,000 in , silver, jewels, and other valuables—equivalent to tens of millions in modern terms. This haul, one of the largest in pirate history, included items from pilgrims returning from and prompted a massive by the English government and , with a £1,000 on Every. Following the raid, the Fancy evaded pursuit by sailing to , arriving in harbor in April 1696, where Every bribed the governor with part of the loot to establish a . The crew dispersed the treasure ashore, stripped the ship of its cannons, stores, and valuables, and scuttled the Fancy in the harbor to conceal evidence and prevent recapture. Every himself vanished, possibly retiring under an alias in or , while some crew members were later captured and executed. The Fancy's exploits symbolized the brief but audacious peak of 17th-century , influencing naval policies and inspiring tales of the "King of Pirates."

Other vehicles and crafts

In addition to historical ships, the name "Fancy" has been applied to several modern yachts, emphasizing contemporary craftsmanship and recreational use. One prominent example is a 35-meter sailing launched in 2023 by the builder Nautor , designed for high-performance and charter operations. This vessel, the first in the Swan 108 series, features and exterior design by German Frers, with interiors by Misa Poggi, and is powered by a engine for auxiliary propulsion. Measuring 35 meters in length overall, it has a beam of 7.55 meters, a draft of 4.9 meters, and a of 126 GT, accommodating up to 9 guests in 4 cabins (including a master suite, VIP, and two doubles) with space for 5 crew members. Key amenities include a deck, expansive windows for natural light, and a speed of 10 knots, with a fuel capacity of 4,000 liters and water capacity of 2,600 liters, making it suitable for extended Mediterranean voyages under the French flag. Owned by a private individual, it represents a blend of speed, seaworthiness, and tailored for discerning collectors. Another contemporary example is a 30.48-meter named Fancy, constructed in 2004 by JMV Industries in using carbon composite materials for enhanced strength and lightness. This fast-displacement vessel, refitted multiple times since launch, achieves a maximum speed of 12 knots and a speed of 10 knots, with a draft of 5.49 meters and capacity for 8 guests in 4 cabins plus 3 crew. Currently listed for sale in Menton, , it highlights the enduring appeal of the name in recreational maritime contexts, prioritizing seaworthiness for bluewater . While the name "Fancy" appears sparingly in other modern vehicle categories, such as or rail, no prominent , , or prototypes bear this designation in verifiable records from and transportation databases.

Other uses

Technology and commerce

Fancy.com emerged as a pioneering social e-commerce platform in 2009, founded by Joseph Einhorn as a visual discovery site where users could "fancy" products—curating and sharing images of desirable items like , gadgets, and home goods to facilitate shopping recommendations and community-driven trends. The platform emphasized over traditional catalogs, enabling seamless purchases through integrated links and fostering a Pinterest-like for inspiration-led before such models became mainstream. By 2012, it had attracted over 2 million users, positioning itself as a bridge between and retail with features like personalized feeds and collaborative wish lists. The company secured significant venture capital to fuel its growth, with prior rounds including a $25 million Series B in October 2012 led by Union Square Ventures. In July 2013, it raised $53 million in a Series C round led by investors including American Express and Access Industries' Len Blavatnik, with participation from celebrities like Will Smith. An additional $7 million was raised in September 2013, bringing the Series C total to $60 million. A $20 million Series D in February 2015 was led by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and Japan's CCC Group, valuing the company at over $1 billion at its peak and bringing total funding to approximately $98 million. This funding supported expansions such as physical stores in 2018, where curated selections from its online inventory were showcased, and partnerships with brands for exclusive drops. However, intense competition from visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest eroded its market share, as these rivals integrated shopping features that overshadowed Fancy's specialized discovery model. By the late 2010s, the original social operations wound down amid layoffs starting in 2014 and shifting priorities, with Einhorn launching a new luxury subscription service, , in 2024 to revisit high-end curation in a membership-based format. Following the cessation of operations in October 2020, the Fancy.com domain was repurposed for a rewards service that launched in October 2025, focused on for payments and everyday purchases, reporting on-time to credit bureaus while offering 1% returns on qualifying spends—marking a pivot from product discovery to financial incentives in consumer services. Fancy Hands, launched in by Ted Roden, operates as an affordable service that automates routine tasks for individuals and small businesses, such as scheduling appointments, conducting research, making calls, and managing . The platform connects users to a pool of U.S.-based assistants via an intuitive , with tasks completed in 15- to 30-minute increments and integrations supporting , calendars, and for streamlined workflows. Popular among users for its pay-as-you-go model starting at $17.99 monthly for three requests, it emphasizes speed and reliability without long-term commitments, handling common needs like bookings or customer outreach. The service raised $1 million in seed funding in May 2012 from investors including First Round Capital, SV Angel, Founder Collective, and Betaworks, enabling partnerships with entities like 1-800-FLOWERS and scaling to thousands of subscribers. A follow-on unattributed round of $1.25 million in 2015 brought total funding to $2.25 million, supporting enhancements like unlimited request tiers and expanded assistant training. As of 2025, Fancy Hands remains operational, serving as a cost-effective to dedicated assistants and appealing to remote workers and entrepreneurs seeking task delegation without overhead.

Animals, breeds, and miscellaneous

The refers to a group of breeds selectively bred for ornamental traits rather than utility such as or messaging. These breeds emerged prominently in 19th-century during the , a period marked by widespread enthusiasm for pigeon fancying among all social classes, from working miners to herself. contributed significantly to their development starting in 1856, crossbreeding varieties to study artificial selection, as detailed in his 1868 book The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication. Fancy pigeons are distinguished by elaborate , frilled feathers, and exaggerated morphological features, with over 350 breeds documented worldwide. Notable varieties include the Fantail, characterized by a fan-like of 30 or more feathers held upright and elevated, with origins tracing back at least 860 years but refined in for exhibition; and the Jacobin, recognized for its prominent hood of inverted feathers resembling a nun's , which was particularly favored by and developed through ancient hybridization in the Middle East and South Asia before European enhancement. These birds are primarily bred for aesthetic appeal and showcased at pigeon clubs and formal shows, such as those organized by the London Columbarian Society in the 1850s, rather than performance. In literary contexts, "fancy" denotes imaginative whimsy, as in the idiom "flight of fancy," which describes an unrealistic or creative idea detached from practicality. This term originated in mid-17th-century and , where it evoked the capricious nature of human imagination, often contrasting with rational thought during the . By the , it appeared in works portraying romantic notions as whimsical deviations, such as in discussions of partly true, partly fanciful concepts. Related phrases like "fancy-free," first attested in the 1580s from Shakespeare's , originally meant unburdened by romantic affections—"fancy" here signifying amorous inclination—evolving to imply general freedom from constraints. These expressions remain culturally significant in disambiguating creative or non-literal uses of "fancy" in and writing. In 2025, "Fancy" appears in contemporary culture through gaming and fashion. Fancy Games, an studio, released the full version 1.0 of the cooperative Escape on October 23, expanding its eerie exploration levels and attracting over 32,000 positive reviews on for its atmospheric design. Similarly, LoveShackFancy, a New York-based women's line founded in , continues to influence 2025 trends with ruffled, romantic dresses and heritage-inspired collections, emphasizing whimsical femininity in holiday and everyday wear.

References

  1. [1]
    Fancy - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees ... - CB Insights
    When was Fancy founded? Fancy was founded in 2009. · Where is Fancy's headquarters? Fancy's headquarters is located at 17192 Murphy Avenue, Irvine. · What is ...
  2. [2]
    Don't Just Pin It, Buy It: Pinterest Rival Fancy Figures Out Social Commerce | TechCrunch
    ### Summary of Fancy from TechCrunch Article
  3. [3]
    The Fancy Launches New iPhone app, Nears 1M Users - TNW
    May 30, 2012 · The Fancy launches new iPhone app that pushes 1-click purchases as it nears 1M users ... Stylish inspiration hub The Fancy, which feels like a ...
  4. [4]
    Confirmed: Fancy Acquires Samplrs.com To Beef Up Its Artisanal ...
    Feb 22, 2013 · Fancy has gobbled up Samplrs.com, a specialist in artisanal foods sold by subscription and a la carte. The news, which we received via anonymous ...
  5. [5]
    Fancy founder returns with $1,000-per-month luxury ... - TechCrunch
    Jan 16, 2024 · Once in, the customers can shop from the site's 50,000 hand-selected luxury products, spanning categories like home décor, luxury apparel, art, ...
  6. [6]
    Layoffs Hit Fancy - Business Insider
    Nov 13, 2014 · In September, Bloomberg reported that Fancy was in talks to get acquired by eBay for ~ $1 billion. One former staffer guessed layoffs might have ...
  7. [7]
    Fancy.com: A unique social commerce platform to discover, share ...
    Fancy combines community, commerce, and content creating a unique social commerce platform to discover, share, and shop a curated collection of extraordinary ...
  8. [8]
    Fancy.com on Wefunder - Kingscrowd
    Fancy.com, with a $12 million valuation cap, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. It is a social marketplace to shop for exclusive and unique lifestyle ...
  9. [9]
    Wild Thing: Cherry Red Collects Complete Recordings of '70s Glam ...
    Feb 19, 2021 · Hurst's reimagining paid off when "Wild Thing" - credited to the studio group he christened Fancy - was picked up in the U.S. by Atlantic ...
  10. [10]
    Wild Thing by Fancy - 1974 Hit Song
    Fancy was a band made up of studio musicians produced by Mike Hurst. They were fronted by Penthouse pet Helen Caunt (October 1971) to add sex appeal to the band ...
  11. [11]
    Fancy | Spotify
    The British band Fancy were doomed by their deeply lascivious version of the Troggs' "Wild Thing," which was released in 1974 and became a surprise hit.Missing: 1970s | Show results with:1970s
  12. [12]
    Manfred Alois Segieth
    - **Biography as Fancy**: Manfred Alois Segieth, born July 7, 1946, in München, Germany, adopted the alias Manfred Perilano and moniker Fancy in 1983, peaking during the Italo-disco era. Collaborated with Anthony Monn on dance music with strong melody and songcraft.
  13. [13]
    Fancy
    The Discogs page primarily focuses on Manfred Alois Segieth, known as Fancy, a German producer and singer born 7 July 1946 in Munich. It does not provide specific information about a British band Fancy from the 1970s, including formation, producer, lineup, hit song "Wild Thing" chart position, or disbandment. The content details Fancy’s career, including his first hit "Slice Me Nice" in 1984, success on the Billboard Dance Chart (topping it three times), and production work with various artists. No British band context is mentioned.
  14. [14]
    Who Is Fancy Talks Shedding The Mystery: 'I Never Thought I'd Be ...
    Apr 10, 2015 · Fancy declines to reveal his real name (“everyone calls me Fancy!”), but several internet sleuths have confirmed it's Jake Hagood, based on “ ...
  15. [15]
    Fancy Hagood Was Almost an L.A. Pop Star. He Finds His True Self ...
    given name: Jake — was all too familiar with the feeling. ... like Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta. But Hagood only made himself ...
  16. [16]
    Week of February 21, 1970 - Billboard Hot 100™
    Feb 21, 1970 · Peak Position. 1. Peak Chart Date. 02/14/70. Chart History. Lazy ... Fancy. Bobbie Gentry. LW; 31. PEAK; 31. WEEKS; 14. LW; 31; PEAK; 31; WEEKS ...
  17. [17]
    Bobbie Gentry's 'Fancy' Became a Reba McEntire Classic
    Aug 8, 2017 · Released in November of that year, the tune stalled at Number 26 on the country chart and just missed the pop Top Thirty, no doubt a ...
  18. [18]
    Hot Country Songs - Billboard
    Fancy. Reba McEntire. LW; 12. PEAK; 12. WEEKS; 8. LW; 12; PEAK; 12; WEEKS; 8. Debut Position. 61. Debut Chart Date. 03/02/91. Peak Position. 12. Peak Chart Date.
  19. [19]
    Fancy - Contact
    ### Summary of Fancy's "Contact" Album (1986)
  20. [20]
    Fancy - Offizielle Deutsche Charts
    Contact Fancy. CHARTENTRY: 23.02.1987. PEAK: 57. NICHT TOP Alben. Die 70er Single Collection (The Early Years In Germany) Tess Teiges; The First Years Fancy ...
  21. [21]
    Fancy - Bobbie Gentry | Album - AllMusic
    Rating 8.1/10 (60) Fancy by Bobbie Gentry released in 1970. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
  22. [22]
    https://olympic.ca/team-canada/fancy-bermudez/
  23. [23]
    Billboard 200 Bobbie Gentry Fancy chart run
    WK, COMMENT, DATE, POS. 1, DEBUT, 1970-05-09, #152. 2, ↑ 29, 1970-05-16, #123. 3, ↑ 25, 1970-05-23, #98. 4, PEAK, 1970-05-30, #96. 5, 10 ↓, 1970-06-06, #106.
  24. [24]
    Fancies: Music by John Rutter - AllMusic
    (CD - Collegium Records #COLCD-117) ; Release Date. September 13, 1993 ; Format. CD ; Duration. 01:02:56 ; Catalog #. COLCD-117 ...
  25. [25]
    Rutter: Fancies & other works - CSCD516 - Hyperion Records
    This album explores the secular works of John Rutter. Fancies is a cycle of six settings of Elizabethan poetry, described by the composer as 'music for a ...Missing: 1990 | Show results with:1990
  26. [26]
    [PDF] HODGES, BETSI, DMAWW Cobbett's Phantasy
    The phantasy was Cobbett's reinvention of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century fancy, used by such composers as William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, and Henry ...
  27. [27]
    Comedian / Pitchman Fancy Ray McCloney – The best lookin' man ...
    Fancy Ray is the self-proclaimed “Best Looking Man in Comedy”, known for his androgynous and heavily made-up style as well as a loud, sometimes bizarre, comic ...Missing: McClary | Show results with:McClary
  28. [28]
    Fancy Bermudez - Rugby Canada
    Fancy Bermudez, age 23, weight (kg) 64, height (cm) 157, debut 2021 2021, hometown Edmonton, AB, club NorWester AA / Westshore RFC / Saracens.
  29. [29]
    Fancy Bermudez - Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website
    Fancy Bermudez, Sport: Rugby, Games: Paris 2024, Born: May 27, 2002, Age: 23, Home Province: Alberta, Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta.
  30. [30]
    Fancy CHEMUTAI | Profile - World Athletics
    Fancy CHEMUTAI, Kenya - Marathon, 10000 Metres. ... Chemutai threatens world record at RAK Half Marathon. Chemutai eclipses course record at Gothenburg Half ...
  31. [31]
    Fancy Chemutai - Wikipedia
    Fancy Chemutai (born March 20, 1995) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon. She finished third in her debut at the Prague ...
  32. [32]
    Fancy-Fancy - Good characters Wiki - Fandom
    Fancy Fancy is an anthropomorphic cat and a main character in the Top Cat franchise. He was voiced by John Stephenson.
  33. [33]
    Fancy-Fancy - Fictional Characters Wiki - Fandom
    Fancy-Fancy resembles Spook in appearance, but he is a slender light brown cat with a brief potbelly (after all, he is called "Panza" in the Latin American ...
  34. [34]
    Fancy Nancy (TV series) - Wikipedia
    The show follows the adventures of Nancy Clancy, a 6 (and then later 7) year-old girl who loves everything fancy and French, while living with her family and ...
  35. [35]
    Nancy Clancy | Disney Wiki - Fandom
    Nancy Margaret Clancy is the titular protagonist of the Disney Jr. animated series Fancy Nancy. Nancy is a seven-year-old girl, who enjoys fancy things and ...Missing: fictional | Show results with:fictional
  36. [36]
    Fancy Nancy (TV Series 2018–2022) - IMDb
    Rating 5.2/10 (550) Six-year-old Nancy loves being fancy, from her advanced vocabulary to elaborate outfits. She navigates life's adventures using ingenuity and imagination.Full cast & crew · Episode list · News · Plot
  37. [37]
    Corbin's Fancy (Corbins, #2) by Linda Lael Miller | Goodreads
    Rating 4.1 (1,077) Jan 1, 1985 · When a traveling carnival left Fancy Jordan stranded in the rugged Washington Territory, she thought her luck had run out.
  38. [38]
    Corbin's Fancy | Book by Linda Lael Miller - Simon & Schuster
    The reissue of #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller's Corbin's Fancy, the second installment in the Corbins series!
  39. [39]
    Corbin's Fancy - Miller, Linda Lael: Books - Amazon.com
    What's it about? A stranded woman nurses a wounded, brooding man back to health, facing his haunting past while falling deeply in love. See more. Loading ...
  40. [40]
    Corbin's Fancy|Paperback - Linda Lael Miller - Barnes & Noble
    In stock $6.99 next-day deliveryThe second in the epic Corbins series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller follows a desperate woman and a tormented man.
  41. [41]
    Fancy Pants (1950) - IMDb
    Rating 6.4/10 (1,598) A fake English butler hired to refine a New Mexican family gets caught in chaos when locals think he's nobility and the President plans to visit.
  42. [42]
    Fancy Pants (1950) - Turner Classic Movies
    Based on the novel Ruggles of Red Gap by Harry Leon Wilson (New York, 1915). Technical Specs. Duration. 1h 32m. Sound. Mono. Color.
  43. [43]
    Fancy Pants | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 86% (7) George Marshall's 'Fancy Pants' is a charming slapstick remake of Leo McCarey's 'Ruggles of Red Gap', unpretentious, funny and elevated by Bob Hope and Lucille ...
  44. [44]
    Fancy (TV Series 2011– ) - IMDb
    Rating 6.5/10 (135) When the cameras are rolling, children's TV host QUEEN MAUREEN is pretty, kind and can sing like a bird. But in real life, plain ol' Maureen Fancy is a pretty ...
  45. [45]
    Fancy Gap topographic map, elevation, terrain
    Average elevation: 865 m • Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia, United States • Visualization and sharing of free topographic maps.
  46. [46]
    Fancy Gap, VA Demographics - Map of Population by Race
    Fancy Gap, Virginia had a population of 214 in 2020. It was 94.4% White, 1.9% Black, 0.0% Asian, 1.9% Hispanic, 0.9% Native American/Other, and 0.9 ...<|separator|>
  47. [47]
    Fancy Gap, Hillsville, Galax & Carroll Counties - Blue Ridge Parkway
    Parkway access is available at Milepost 199.5 in Fancy Gap, where cool summer breezes and long-range views are plentiful.Missing: unincorporated population
  48. [48]
    Fancy Gap Tourism - Virginia.org
    Fancy Gap offers outdoor activities, mountain music, unique shopping, and a peaceful retreat, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Blue Ridge Parkway.Missing: unincorporated Carroll elevation population 2020
  49. [49]
    Fancy Farm CDP, Kentucky - Census Bureau Profile
    Populations and People. Total Population. 403. The Total Population for Fancy Farm CDP, Kentucky is 403 ; Income and Poverty. Median Household Income. $57,536.
  50. [50]
    Fancy Farm - Kentucky Historical Society
    First picnic in 1881; Reverend R. Feehan, pastor. Centennial picnic hosted by Reverend W. Hancock. First resident pastor was Reverend A. Hagan. Reverend C.
  51. [51]
    Fancy Farm - ExploreKYHistory
    The annual Fancy Farm Picnic is a massive barbecue and bipartisan campaign rally held on the property of the historic St. Jerome Catholic Church.
  52. [52]
    Kentucky Tobacco Farming: A Legacy of Land & Tradition
    Apr 1, 2025 · Tobacco farming in Kentucky dates back to the 18th century when settlers first brought the crop to the area.
  53. [53]
    [PDF] State Park Funding Challenge - KDWP
    Four units – River Pond,. Spillway, Fancy Creek and. Randolph – make up the 1,156- acre park. Electric and water hookups, a swimming beach, boat ramps ...
  54. [54]
    Tuttle Creek Lake and State Park, Kansas
    Actual construction began on October 7, 1952, and continued through December 1953, when work was suspended due to a lack of additional appropriations.<|separator|>
  55. [55]
    Fancy Creek / Areas / Tuttle Creek / Locations / State Parks / KDWP
    Fancy Creek is home to one of the most challenging mountain bike trails, the trails are in a 6-mile area with lots of room to explore. Other attractions include ...
  56. [56]
    Tuttle Creek State Park - Homestead on the Range
    Oct 21, 2015 · The lake harbors an impressive array of waterfowl and shorebirds, while smaller ponds attract bald eagles, muskrats, and beavers. The grasslands ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  57. [57]
    [PDF] SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES - VEEP
    Jan 18, 2024 · Fancy is the northernmost settlement on the island. It is located in Charlotte Parish, on the coast close to the country's northernmost ...
  58. [58]
    Opening Of The Fancy Cottage Road
    An official opening ceremony on Tuesday 13th March, 2018 at 2:00 pm to officially open the Fancy Cottage Road.
  59. [59]
    The King of Pirates - Historic UK
    Apr 23, 2025 · Henry Avery, also known as Henry Every, earned the name 'King of Pirates' for an audacious act of piracy against a convoy of twenty-five Grand Mughal ships.
  60. [60]
    Expedition to 'real home of the pirates of the Caribbean' hopes to ...
    Jun 19, 2025 · In 1696, the privateer Henry Avery sailed to Nassau in his ship, the Fancy, laden with loot. ... “Avery scuttled the Fancy in Nassau. It's the ...
  61. [61]
    The Notorious Pirate King Who Vanished With the Riches of a ...
    Apr 2, 2024 · The Fancy's gold, silver and diamonds, plundered off the coast of India from a Mughal emperor's treasure ship, the Gunsway (or Ganj-i Sawa'i), ...Missing: scuttled | Show results with:scuttled
  62. [62]
    Fancy yacht (Nautor Swan, 35m, 2023) - BOAT International
    Fancy is a 35.0 m Sail Yacht, built in Finland by Nautor Swan and delivered in 2023. She is one of 3 108 models. Her power comes from a Scania engine.Missing: named | Show results with:named
  63. [63]
    35.0m FANCY Superyacht | Luxury Yacht
    FANCY is a custom yacht launched in 2023 by Nautor's Swan. Design. FANCY measures 35 metres in length, with a max draft of 3.35 feet and a beam of 7.55 feet ...
  64. [64]
    FANCY Yacht for Sale in Menton | 100' (30.48m) 2004 JMV | N&J
    The 2004 JMV yacht is 100' long, located in Menton, France, with 4 cabins, 3 crew, 18' draft, 12 knots max speed, and 10 knots cruising speed.
  65. [65]
    Fancy - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
    Fancy is a curated online retailer that provides a platform for consumers looking to discover the coolest and most innovative fashion, accessories, art and ...
  66. [66]
    How Fancy.com stocked its first store from its 250,000-item online ...
    Aug 10, 2018 · In our store, we have to come in here with a point of view,” said Joseph Einhorn, who founded Fancy.com in 2009 as a social network before ...
  67. [67]
    Fancy: New York's hottest site for your shopping wish list
    Jul 9, 2013 · Fancy.com is a website where users upload the products that they "fancy" or "want". The items then appear on a user's public profile.<|control11|><|separator|>
  68. [68]
    Joe Einhorn, founder of TheFancy.com - Forbes
    Sep 17, 2012 · Joe Einhorn, founder of Fancy.com. "Our system is consumers are setting trends, communities are forming around objects, and then merchants or ...
  69. [69]
    Fancy Finds $33M in Funding - VC News Daily
    Sep 10, 2013 · According to SEC filings, Thing Daemon, which operates social commerce site Fancy has raised $33 million in funding from investors including ...
  70. [70]
    Fancy.com Series C round - Seedtable
    Fancy raised a Series C round for 53,000,000 USD in July, 2013. Unlock Comprehensive Funding Intelligence. Get access to detailed funding analysis, ...
  71. [71]
    Fancy.com - Wikipedia
    Fancy was a social photo sharing webstore and mobile app which allows users to engage in socially oriented shopping through picture feeds and sharing.
  72. [72]
    Fancy
    Welcome to the renter's revolution. Your. appetite. for. rewards. Coming. soon. Secure your spot. Want. cashback? Secure. 1%. cashback. for. on. time. rent.
  73. [73]
    Fancy Hands - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
    Fancy Hands is a developer of a personal assistant application used to assist people and manage to-do lists. Its application offers services for ...
  74. [74]
    The Best Virtual Assistant Companies of 2025 - MyOutDesk
    Founded in 2010, Fancy Hands emerged with a visionary mission to redefine virtual assistance services. As a pioneer in the industry, the company prides itself ...
  75. [75]
    Fancy Hands: Assistants for Everyone
    We are the fastest, most affordable virtual assistant service in the US. Tell us what you need done and we'll do it for you. No negotiating, no waiting, no ...Jobs · Virtual Assistants · Pricing · Common RequestsMissing: history | Show results with:history
  76. [76]
    Fancy Hands brings personal assistants to the masses with $1 ...
    May 10, 2012 · Fancy Hands, a New York startup that provides users with personal assistants, has raised $1 million from a collection of top-tier tech ...
  77. [77]
    Fancy Hands Stock Price, Funding, Valuation, Revenue & Financial ...
    Fancy Hands has raised $2.25M over 2 rounds. Fancy Hands's latest funding round was a Unattributed for $1.25M on March 13, 2015.Missing: history | Show results with:history
  78. [78]
    Fancy Hands - Overview, News & Similar companies | ZoomInfo.com
    Fancy Hands provides US-based virtual assistant services that help clients delegate tasks such as scheduling, research, and customer service calls.
  79. [79]
    Darwin's Other Bird—The Domestic Pigeon
    Jul 15, 2009 · Pigeon fanciers have created wildly varied pigeon types through breeding, such as this English pouter.
  80. [80]
    Our Long-Running Love Affair with Pigeons - JSTOR Daily
    Nov 19, 2020 · Pigeons were domesticated 5000 years ago, used for messages, and reshaped into many forms. They were cheap, easy to raise, and became ...
  81. [81]
    A History of the Pigeon - Mental Floss
    Mar 13, 2023 · During the Victorian era, “fancy pigeons” became the fascination of choice for many upper and middle-class hobbyists, and formal bird shows ...Missing: 19th | Show results with:19th
  82. [82]
    Domestic pigeons - PMC - NIH
    The temporal origins of many other fancy breeds are lost to antiquity, but the ancient geographic centers of domestic pigeon diversity appear to be the Middle ...
  83. [83]
    The Secret World of Pageant Pigeons - Messy Nessy Chic
    Mar 8, 2024 · By the 1850s, the London Columbarian Society was holding pageants, which attracted none other than Charles Darwin, who attended a meeting and began studying ...
  84. [84]
    History of Flight of fancy - Idiom Origins
    Flight of fancy. A fantasy or pipedream, usage dates from the mid-17th century. We are human. There will inevitably be some errors.Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
  85. [85]
    Full article: Interrogating Romantic Love - Taylor & Francis Online
    Aug 18, 2020 · During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a romantic notion was a whimsical flight of fancy, something which was 'partly true, partly ...
  86. [86]
    'Fancy Free: Phrase Meaning & History✔️ - No Sweat Shakespeare
    Jan 17, 2022 · ... flight of fancy. A passing fancy. Whenever the fancy takes you. Touch someone's fancy. Fancy ones chances. Fancy oneself as something. Uses of ...
  87. [87]
    Fancy-free - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
    "free from the trammels of love, having the 'fancy' or affection free," 1580s, from fancy (n.) + free (adj.). also from 1580s.
  88. [88]
    Escape the Backrooms on Steam
    Rating 4.5 (32,446) · 14-day returnsEscape the Backrooms is a 1-4 player co-op horror exploration game. Traverse 30+ eerie backrooms levels while avoiding entities and other dangers.
  89. [89]
    Escape the Backrooms and Instruments of Destruction launch during ...
    Oct 23, 2025 · Leamington Spa, UK – 23 October 2025: Two huge games from two tiny teams are launching today! ... game, with Fancy Games remaining as a consultant ...
  90. [90]
    https://www.loveshackfancy.com/