Fashionable to be rude about accepting equipment Brussels returned (2,7)
I believe the answer is:
de rigueur
'fashionable' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'rude about accepting equipment brussels returned' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'accepting' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are accepted).
'equipment' becomes 'rig' (rig is a kind of equipment).
'brussels' becomes 'EU' (European Parliament is based in Brussels).
'returned' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'eu' written backwards gives 'ue'.
'rude' is an anagram of 'deur'.
'rig'+'ue'='rigue'
'deur' enclosing 'rigue' is 'DE RIGUEUR'.
'to be' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for de rigueur that I've seen before include "Required by strict etiquette or fashion (French)" , "Required by custom or etiquette" , "Obligatory" , "Strictly" , "necessary" .)