You need to describe clothes in English but the vocabulary is too limited? You really love a shirt of a foreign brand but do not know how to describe and search by English keywords online? Or all the English vocabulary on clothes that you know just stop at: skirt, dress and T-shirt? So, do not hesitate to learn clothes vocabulary with Learn English Fun Way today
I) How to effectively learn English vocabulary for clothes?
There is no magical method that can help you quickly learn English vocabulary without hard work, and an appropriate way of learning. However, there is a common formula, which you can rely on to create your own studying method.
First, you should classify vocabulary by small topics, according to a tree diagram such as fashion – clothes – children’s clothes – clothes by material, etc. Or you also can classify vocabulary by word forms: adjectives, verbs, nouns, etc. Both ways are commonly used as classification methods.
Second, you should not learn words separately, you had better learn by sentences or phrases. You can collect or search for “collocations” (vocabulary in phrases) of that topic to supplement the vocabulary learning process. Learning from sentences or phrases here means that you should build examples, or write paragraphs to learn vocabulary. In this way, you not only can memorize vocabulary, but also can practice writing skills and reinforce the grammar.
Besides, do not forget to revise vocabulary after 1-2 weeks of study. Vocabulary is like all other knowledge, after a period of time, you can easily forget them. Try to use your vocabulary regularly, and revise after a certain time.
Finally, in order to build an effective learning method, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of your own learning. There is no perfect method for everyone, you need to refer and adjust it for yourself.
II) Vocabulary For Clothes
Fashion clothing is one of the topics that have very diverse vocabulary and cover many aspects. In order to accurately describe a person’s outfit, one must know the type of clothing and accessories that person uses.
The best ways to learn vocabulary for clothes is before you start, let’s start dividing the clothes and accessories into different groups. The groups may include: Types of shoes, types of clothes, types of hats, etc.
More significantly, as you know, English not only contains single words, but there are many phrases with their own meanings as well. So, after sorting out the types of fashion outfits, don’t forget to take the time to look up English vocabulary phrases related to this topic and start learning. Now, let’s explore common English vocabulary for clothes with Learn English Fun Way!
1) Types of shoes:
- Sneaker: a shoe that you wear for sports or as informal clothing
- Stilettos: a woman’s shoe with a very high narrow heel; the heel on such a shoe
- Sandals: a type of light open shoe that is worn in warm weather. The top part consists of leather bands that fasten the sole to your foot.
- Wellingtons: one of a pair of long rubber boots, usually reaching almost up to the knee, that you wear to stop your feet getting wet
- Boots: a strong shoe that covers the foot and ankle and often the lower part of the leg
- Wedge boot: are shoes and boots with a sole in the form of a wedge, such that one piece of material, normally rubber, serves as both the sole and the heel
- Knee high boot: Knee-high boots are boots that rise to the knee, or slightly there under or over. They are generally tighter around the leg shaft and ankle than at the top
- Clog: a shoe that is completely made of wood or one that has a thick wooden sole and a leather top
- Slip on: a shoe that you can slide your feet into without having to tie laces
- Loafer: a flat leather shoe that you can put on your foot without fastening it
- Moccasin: a flat shoe that is made from soft leather and has large stitches around the front, of a type originally worn by Native Americans
2) Types of hats:
- Baseball cap: a cap with a long peak (= a curved part sticking out in front), originally worn by baseball players
- Hat: a piece of clothing made to fit the head, often with a brim (= a flat edge that sticks out), usually worn out of doors
- Hard hat: a hat worn by building workers, etc. to protect their heads
- Flat cap: a soft cap, normally made of wool, traditionally a symbol of working men
- Balaclava: a type of hat made of wool that covers most of the head, neck and face
- Beret: a round flat cap made out of soft cloth
- Fedora: a low soft hat with a wide brim
- Top hat: a man’s tall black or grey hat, worn with formal clothes on very formal occasions
- Bowler: a hard black hat with a curved brim and round top, worn, for example, in the past by men in business in Britain
- Mortar board: a black hat with a stiff square top, worn by some university teachers and students at special ceremonies
- Deerstalker: a cap with two peaks, one in front and one behind, and two pieces of cloth that are usually tied together on top but can be folded down to cover the ears
- Helmet: a type of hard hat that protects the head, worn, for example, by a police officer, a soldier or a person riding a bike or motorbike or playing some sports
- Cowboy hat: a hat with a wide brim, worn by American cowboys
3) Types of clothes:
- Knickers (a pair of knickers): a piece of women’s underwear that covers the body from the middle part to the tops of the legs
- Nightie: a long loose piece of clothing like a thin dress, worn by a woman or girl in bed
- Trousers (a pair of trousers): a piece of clothing that covers the lower body and is divided into two parts to cover each leg separately
- Underpants: a piece of men’s underwear worn under their trousers
- Shorts: short trousers that end above or at the knee
- Jeans: trousers made of denim (= a type of strong cotton)
- Miniskirt: a very short skirt
- Skirt: piece of clothing for a woman or girl that hangs from the middle part of the body
- Dress: a piece of women’s clothing that is made in one piece and covers the body down to the legs, sometimes reaching to below the knees, or to the ankles
- Pants: underpants or knickers
- Gloves: a piece of clothing for the hand, made of wool, leather, etc. with separate parts for each finger and the thumb
- Belt: a long narrow piece of leather, cloth, etc. that you wear around the middle part of your body
- Bathrobe: a loose piece of clothing worn before and after taking a bath
- Scarf: a piece of cloth that is worn around the neck, for example to keep warm or for decoration. Women also wear scarves over their shoulders or hair.
- Blouse: a piece of clothing like a shirt, worn by women
- Boxer shorts: men’s underpants similar to the shorts worn by boxers
- Thong: a narrow piece of leather that is used to fasten something or as a whip
- Bra: a piece of women’s underwear worn to cover and support the breasts
- Dressing gown: a long loose piece of clothing, usually with a belt, worn indoors over night clothes, for example when you first get out of bed
- Overalls: a piece of clothing that consists of trousers with an extra piece of cloth covering the chest, held up by narrow pieces of cloth over the shoulders
- Dinner jacket: a black or white jacket worn with a bow tie at formal occasions in the evening
- Bow tie: a man’s tie that is tied in the shape of a bow and that does not hang down
- Shirt: a piece of clothing (usually for men), worn on the upper part of the body, made of light cloth, with sleeves and usually with a collar and buttons down the front
- Tie: a long, narrow piece of cloth worn around the neck, especially by men, with a knot in front
- T-shirt: an informal shirt, usually with short sleeves (= arms) no collar or buttons, or just a few buttons at the top
- Raincoat: a long light coat that keeps you dry in the rain
- Anorak: a short coat with a hood that is worn as protection against rain, wind and cold
- Pullover: a knitted piece of clothing made of wool or cotton for the upper part of the body, with long sleeves and no buttons
- Sweater: a piece of clothing for the upper part of the body, made of wool or cotton, with long sleeves
- Cardigan: a jacket made of wool like a sweater but fastened with buttons down the front
- Jumper: a piece of clothing for the upper part of the body, made of wool or cotton, with long sleeves (= arms) and no buttons
- Suit: a set of clothes made of the same cloth, including a jacket and trousers or a skirt
- Dressing gown: a long loose piece of clothing, usually with a belt, worn indoors over night clothes, for example when you first get out of bed
- Overcoat: a long warm coat worn in cold weather
- Jacket: a piece of clothing worn on the top half of the body over a shirt, etc. that has arms and fastens down the front; a short, light coat
- Blazer: a jacket, not worn with matching trousers, often showing the colors or badge of a club, school, team, etc.
4) Clothing phrases:
- A slave to fashion: to be influenced too much by something
- Dressed to kill: a famous company that makes expensive clothes, bags, etc. and that is a well-known brand
- Fashionable: following a style that is popular at a particular time
- Fashion house: a company that designs and sells new styles of clothes, shoes, bags, etc., especially expensive ones
- Fashion icon: a person or thing that is very well known as being highly fashionable
- To get dressed up: to put on special clothes, especially to pretend to be somebody/something different
- To go out of fashion: to no longer be trendy or fashionable.
- Hand-me-down: a piece of clothing that someone has given to a younger person because they no longer want it:
- To have an eye for (fashion): to be good at noticing fashion
- The height of fashion: to be extremely fashionable
- To mix and match: to choose to put different things together from a range of possibilities
- To be on trend: very fashionable
- Off the peg: (of clothes) made to a standard average size and not made specially to fit you
