Cryptic crossword No 2,327

Thanks ALP, super stuff. 9a perhaps gets COTD, possibly because - despite knowing it had to be the answer - it took so long to actually read (and hence parse) the clue correctly! Other faves include 16a, 20a, 1d & 16d ... all of which are stretching things a bit in one way or another, but not (for me) *over*stretching! Spoilers ...

Can someone explain 9a to me?

Gotta echo Fez and say that 9a is the star of the show and that 14d was the only bit of cleverness that didn't land (I think I could condone "feature of ornament?" so that *something* justifies the otherwise unaccounted-for husk, if that makes sense?), but I'd like to shout out 20d for giving me the most satisfying PDM of the puzzle - yes, even moreso than 9a, if only because I had more letters in that when it clicked. Overall, well, you know me, I just love all that stretch. Thanks for the fun!

Phew, Alp, that was a workout that got the little grey cells working hard (and in a few cases failing) to unravel the workings of your mad mind. Faves are 13a, 18a (lol for surface), 25a (great def), 2d, 8d, 10d, 19d. I can only marvel that others were able to work out the likes of 9a, 20a, 20d etc. Inadequacy meter on max!!🤣