noun, na-adjective
stylishness; elegance; dandyism; sophistication
Describes a stylish, polished, or somewhat showy elegance, especially in dress or personal manner. As a な-adjective it is commonly used as だてな or 伊達な.
彼は伊達な着こなしで会場に現れた。
He appeared at the venue dressed with style.
noun, na-adjective
just for show; affectation; putting on airs; appearances
Used when something is only for appearance or show. It is especially common in negative set phrases such as だてじゃない and だてに〜ない, meaning that something is not merely for show or not without good reason.
この眼鏡はだてではなく、本当に度が入っている。
These glasses are not just for show; they really have prescription lenses.
彼
He has not trained for ten years for nothing.
Also means stylish or refined, but 粋 emphasizes tasteful urban sophistication, while だて can sound more showy or dandyish.
A common everyday word for being fashionable or well dressed; だて is more literary or idiomatic and often carries a sharper sense of stylish display.
Means vanity or trying to look good in others' eyes. だて can overlap in the sense of appearances, but it also has a positive sense of elegance and style.
The historical derivation of the common word だて is uncertain here. 伊達 is the conventional kanji spelling for this word and is also used as a proper-name spelling.