Vocabulary Tasks
1 Find words in the passage which mean:
a) a suit of a kind worn by athletes, etc.
b) informal
e) items of clothing which can be worn together
d) people who plan the way clothes will look
e) fabric made from the hair of sheep
f) materials for making clothes
2 Can you find synonyms and opposites for the words in the table?
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Synonym |
Opposite
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stylish casual lightweight simple beautifully styled flattering alluring naked |
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3a Which of the following words can be combined with dressed to describe the way people look in their clothes?
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well casually nice bad badly over smartly attractive untidy untidily
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3b Which of the expressions you have found is similar in meaning to the words below?
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scruffy elegant dishevelled relaxed
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4 Complete the following exchanges with appropriate synonyms or opposites. Do not repeat a word that has already been used.
a A: Maria likes fashionable clothes, doesn't she?
B: Yes, she dresses in a very _____________ way.
b C: Is this jacket suitable for formal occasions?
D: l think it's more appropriate for ____________ wear, don't you?
c E: I was surprised how untidily dressed that applicant for the job was.
F: Yes, he was rather _____________ , wasn't he?
d G: You're looking terribly elegant this evening.
H: Thank you. My new suit is quite ____________ , isn't it.
e I: That's a very sexy dress Gloria's got on.
J: Yes, she thinks she looks ____________. It doesn't leave much to the imagination, does it?
5 Look at the expressions in italics. Match them with the phrases in the box below.
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talking rubbish smartest clothes special smart clothes |
don't get over-excited look gentler than you are get upset in the same situation |
be in charge make an effort very smartly-dressed
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a) If I were in your shoes, I'd ask for a divorce.
b) David used to beat me at tennis regularly, but the boot's on the other foot now.
c) You're going to fail the exam if you don't pull your socks up.
d) Hurry up, for God's sake. We're going to be late!
O.K., O.K. Keep your shirt on.
e) Well, you know who wears the trousers in that household, don't you? It's certainly not Mr Thatcher.
f) I know Clarissa's arguments are very persuasive, but I think she's talking through her hat.
g) Don't be fooled by her friendly manner. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
h) Why are you all dressed up to the nines?
Well, you said I should wear my Sunday best. Anyway, look at Mandy: she's dressed to kill.
i) Oh, Fred, what on earth am I going to do?
Look, there's no need to get your knickers in a twist. Everything's going to be all right.
SPEAKING
Discuss the following subjects:
a) your attitude to the fashions currently popular in your country and in other places in the world
b) the influence fashion has on you when you choose clothes, and whether it is more important for you than price, style, comfort, colour, etc.
c) the image of yourself that you try to convey through your clothes
d) how clothes affect the way we react to other people. Are they important?
LANGUAGE STUDY
1) Study these constructions using look. 2) Where necessary, correct the following sentences.
1 This looks like the work of a child. 1 She looks like hungry.
look like + NOUN 2 He looks like his father
3 She looks like a teacher.
2 It looks neat and pretty to me. 4 It looks as if it's going to rain.
look + ADJECTIVE 5 The boys look like breaking into the car
3 It looks as though / as if there is a lot of
anger there.
look as though/if + VERB PHRASE
Text 2
DISCUSSION POINTS
1) When you select what to wear, are there colours you always choose?
2) Are there any colours you always avoid because they don't suit you?
3) What really suits you?
READING
COLOUR CHOICES
You are going to read an article about a method of selecting the colours that suit you best, based on the colour of your hair and eyes, and your skin tone.
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A Fashion victim В A hopeless case С Variations on a colour D Prettier in pink E Colour coded F A bit mixed up G A Copy cat H Dare to be bold
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E |
In recent years there has been a growing interest in how we use colours in clothes and how to choose the colours which suit us best. Colour consultant Margot Henderson uses a system based around the kind of skin we have and the colour of our eyes and hair. The vast majority of people can then be placed into a number of broad categories or classifications called clear, light, soft, deep and warm.
Last week we picked half a dozen young people off the street for an instant analysis by Margot.
CLEAR
Hair: brown
Eyes: blue, green, hazel or brown
Skin: porcelain, ivory, dark brown, clear yellow
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1 |
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Well this one obviously likes to play safe. He is dressed in black and he is actually lucky that he can get away with it. He could afford to be a lot more adventurous. Clear people can basically mix dark and light items or go for something more dramatic. He should go for a bright red pullover or something like that to make himself stand out from the crowd.
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2 |
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Susie has certainly made a good start. That purple top really does suit her and that gorgeous mauve jacket is just right. She could also try to experiment with bright reds or pinks as she could get away with it – she might even find that people take a lot more notice of her. She could be a bit more adventurous with the make up, though. Some daring bronze eyeshadow would really bring her eyes out.
LIGHT
Hair: blonde, light grey
Eyes: blue, blue-grey, green
Skin: peaches and cream, ivory or porcelain
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3 |
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Oh dear. What I can say? He is dressed in what is considered fashionable at the moment – all grey – but it just doesn’t suit him at all, I’m afraid. There are so many sheep out there who just love to follow the crowd. He looks completely drained and washed out. He’d look much better in say brown or mushroomy colours. Pastels would also work for him too, I think. He should get rid of any pure white clothes he has in his wardrobe too. They have exactly the same effect as grey. Instead he should go for cream and off-white.
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4 |
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She has got some things right. The light blue polo-neck suits her beautifully, just the thing for her complexion and eyes. That dark navy blazer is just too much, though. It is too overwhelming. She really ought to steer clear of dark draining colours. A bluey green jacket would be much better. She’s a bit of mixture really.
As far as make-up goes, the red lipstick is far too dominant. She should opt for gentle pinks or rose. All in all, I’d say pastel colours would suit her complexion better.
SOFT
Hair: light brown, medium brown, grey or ash blonde
Eyes: brown, grayish blue, bluey green
Skin: ivory, rose, beige, light olive
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5 |
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I think this one is the best of a lot. He has either been to a consultant or else he has an extremely good sense of what suits him. He has done very well to stay with a central colour – in this case blue - and play with different tones. He could also go for earthy browns too. Very good indeed.
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6 |
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This is an example of a just what you shouldn’t do, I’m afraid. My guess is that she’s got a friend and has just imitated her style without thinking what is best for her. That bright pink T-shirt is all wrong. It is just too dominating – she should wear something a lot more subtle. The bright green eyeshadow too is just too garish. It is screaming “look at me”, but we lose her eyes beneath it. Something mauve or a light grey would suit her much better than this. She needs help.
Comprehension check
Look trough the text again and choose the most appropriate heading from the list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is an example at the beginning (O) and an extra heading you do not need to use. Think about other headings for each part.