IELTS Vocabs - Fashion & Clothes

Fashion & Clothes
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Pedro: I used to  yes  like most young people I was a bit of a slave to fashion and I’d always have to buy that must-have shirt or pair of shoes  I’m not so bothered now though  I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing something old fashioned but I’m not as bothered as I used to be about what I wear 
a slave to fashion: someone who always feel the need to wear the latest fashions
old fashioned: not in fashion any more
must-have: something that is highly fashionable and therefore in demand
Examiner: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
Marco: I prefer casual clothes actually  I hate getting dressed up for special occasions  personally I think it’s possible to look good in a pair of jeans  but that’s my opinion  I don’t think my wife would call me a fashion icon that’s for sure 
casual clothes: not formal
to get dressed up: to put on nice clothes, often to go out somewhere special
to look good in: to wear something that suits you
fashion icon: a person who is famous for their sense of fashion
Examiner: Are there many clothes shops where you live?
Sylvia: Yes  there are lots in my town  apart from the big chain stores we’ve got a couple of really nice shops that sell vintage clothes  old clothes but in a classic style that never really go out of fashion  I love going there 
vintage clothes: clothes from an earlier period
classic style: a simple, traditional style that is always fashionable
to go out of fashion: to not be in fashion any more
Part 2-style task
Describe someone you know who dresses well. You should say
who they are
how you know them
what kind of clothes they wear
and say why you like the way they dress.
Tomoko:  I’d like to talk about one of my teachers  Miss Evans  she teaches us English in the school I go to  we always look forward to seeing what she’s going to wear when our lessons start  she’s always very well dressed and takes a lot of pride in her appearance  it’s not that she dresses in very smart clothes  she doesn’t come to school dressed to kill or anything like that  but what she wears really suits her  and she has a great sense of style as well  we often ask her where she gets some of her clothes and most of the time they’re just off the peg  and she says she’s not interested in designer labels or anything like that  she doesn’t seem too concerned about keeping up with the latest fashion  she just wears clothes that are timeless yes  Miss Evans is the person I think looks great in the clothes she wears 
timeless: something that doesn’t go out of fashion
well-dressed: to be dressed attractively
to have a sense of style: the ability to wear clothes that look stylish
off the peg: clothing that is ready made
designer label: a well-known company that makes (often expensive) clothing
dressed to kill: wearing clothes that attract admirers
to keep up with the latest fashion: to wear the latest fashions
to suit someone: to look good on someone
to take pride in one’s appearance: to pay attention to how one looks
smart clothes: the kind of clothes worn for a formal event
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
Maki: It depends  where we are or where we’re going is a big factor  if you are going out to a club or party you’re going to dress for the occasion  and then there are those who think it’s important to look like they’re on trend  they’ll want to wear the latest fashions  there are lots of factors really 
to be on trend: to be very fashionable
to dress for the occasion: to wear clothes suitable for a particular event
Examiner: What kind of things determine what is in fashion and what we should be wearing?
Martin: I suppose the big fashion houses and fashion shows must have an effect but the clothes you see on the catwalk don’t always reflect what normal people wear  so I suppose it will be things like what singers are wearing in videos or models are wearing in magazines  that kind of thing 
fashion house: a company that sells (usually expensive) new styles in clothes
fashion show: an event where modals show off the latest in fashion designs
on the catwalk: the stage that modals walk along to show off the latest fashions
Examiner: Is it possible to look good without spending lots of money on clothes?
Corinna: I’m sure it is  yes  I suppose it’s about having an eye for what looks good  knowing how to mix and match different items of clothing that go well together  I think you can pick up great bargains in charity shops  sometimes for youngsters even hand-me-downs can look good 
to mix and match: to wear different styles or items of clothing that aren’t part of a set outfit
hand-me-downs: clothes that are passed down from older brothers or sisters to their younger siblings
to have an eye for (fashion): to be a good judge of
Addition:
fashionable: in fashion
the height of fashion: very fashionable