Supporter of fashion joining child sycophants (7,2)

I believe the answer is:

hangers on

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'sycophants' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'supporter of fashion joining child' is the wordplay.
'supporter of fashion joining' becomes 'hanger' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'child' becomes 'son' (male child).
'hanger'+'son'='HANGERS-ON'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hangers on that I've seen before include "Followers" , "Toadies" , "Entourage" , "dependants" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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