Haberdashery is not a commonly used word, and where it is used may change the definition. In the UK, a modern haberdashery usually sells needed items like buttons, thread or ribbons. Occasionally an English haberdashery specializes in selling window draperies. In the US people use the term haberdashery to refer to men’s clothing stores, or men’s departments in stores that sell accessories like gloves, ties, watches and hats. This is more often called a men’s accessory department, and many in the US are unfamiliar with the term haberdashery.

Initially, a haberdashery sold all kinds of accessories, something like a medieval five and dime store. You might find things like buttons, thread or ribbons, commonly called notions, at a haberdashery, but such a store might also supply its customers with swords, musical instruments, or simple household items. A description of an English haberdashery in the 16th century refers to a number of things in stock: drinking implements, Jews’ Harps, birdcages, mousetraps and shoehorns. In the US, this strange assortment of items might be sold in a dry goods store instead of in a haberdashery.

A haberdasher also has multiple definitions. The haberdasher may be someone who works in a haberdashery, owns a haberdashery, or makes the items sold in one. There are few true specialists in the art of the haberdashery as defined as men’s accessories. A few employees of exclusive men’s stores may define themselves as haberdashers by trade.

Haberdashery is an odd word, somewhat fun to say, but its origin is unknown. Some suggest it comes from the French English word, hapertas, which translates to "wares" or "pretty wares." It is suggested that hapertas may have referred to a specific type of fabric that is now no longer made.

If you’ve ever worked in a men’s clothing or accessory store in the US, you may have once been a haberdasher according to its current US definition. The list of haberdashers in the past includes some interesting people. The late talk show host Johnny Carson was briefly a haberdasher. James Cook, the famous 18th century British explorer also spent a short period of time as a haberdasher.