Whimsical old fashion designer embracing individual (6)
I believe the answer is:
quaint
'whimsical' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'fashion designer embracing individual' is the wordplay.
'fashion designer' becomes 'quant' (I've seen this before).
'embracing' indicates putting letters inside.
'individual' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral for one, ie individual).
'quant' placed around 'i' is 'QUAINT'.
'old' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for quaint that I've seen before include "Droll, whimsical" , "Attractively odd" , "Olde worlde" , "Twee" , "'Olde-worlde'" .)