Crossword Genius

Female in charge of hotel with superior neckwear (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fichu

'neckwear' is the definition.

'female in charge of hotel with superior' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'in charge of' becomes 'ic'.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'superior' becomes 'U' (U can mean upper-class, as in U and non-U speech).
'f'+'ic'+'h'+'u'='FICHU'

(Other definitions for fichu that I've seen before include "Triangular cape" , "Small triangular shawl" , "Eighteenth-century woman's light scarf" , "Light triangular scarf" , "Lace shawl" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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