Fashion vocabulary word list

Looking for the latest IELTS speaking practice topics? Every year IDP includes new topics and since fashion is a way of expressing one’s self, it is one of the best topics to practice your speaking skills. This blog will acquaint you with the latest Fashion Vocabulary IELTS and terminology to ace your speaking section.

List of Vocabulary Words To Describe Fashion

When asked to talk about fashion and your opinions on it, you can use the following terms:

• wardrobe (n) — the collection of clothes in your closet that you normally wear.
• strong colours (n) — the opposite of pastel colours
• trendy (adjective) — fashionable
• smart-casual (adj) — casual but clean and stylish 
• outfit (n) — a coordinated set of clothes
• pricey (adjective) — costly (informal)
• old-school (adjective) – something that is traditional or old-fashioned (but not very old)
• baggy (adj) — loose 
• antique (adj) — old (about things), unique and traditional style]
• eccentric clothes (n) — unusual, out-of-the-ordinary attire
• trending jeans (n) — ripped 
• Hipster (n) — a trendy person 
• sloppy (adv) — loose-fitting and casual
• brand loyalty (n) — a consumer’s emotionally charged decision to buy a certain brand or known company over and over again 
• Catwalk — the platform on which modals walk to show off the latest ready-to-wear trends

List of Idioms & Phrases To Describe Fashion

Using idioms or phrases can amp up your scores in speaking and writing tests. Following are some idioms and phrases that can be counted in Fashion Vocabulary IELTS:

• Bells and whistles — enticing extra features
• Dress down  — wearing less formal clothing 
• super extravagant — spending too much money or surpassing the limits of reason or necessity 
• To be a fashion slave — someone who feels compelled to wear the current trends on the 
• Hand-me-downs — clothing passed down from older brothers to the younger siblings 
• Dressed to kill — dressing in a way that attracts admirers 
• To dress classic style — to dress in a simple, timeless way that is stylish.
• To mix and match — to try different or new styles or pieces of clothes that are not a part of a pre-made outfit.

Sample Questions on Fashion Vocabulary IELTS Speaking

The speaking test will assess your English communication skills. During the test, you will get 11 to 14 minutes to speak with an IELTS examiner about a variety of topics. Your exam will take place in a quiet environment with an examiner who will encourage you to speak. They will also be able to decipher your accent, ensuring that you get the best grade possible. There are three portions to the speaking test.

Part 1:

Q. What kind of clothing do you prefer to wear? 

A. I love casual clothing that is basic and comfy. A pair of trousers and a button-down shirt would be ideal. I am not the most trendy person. I do, however, dress up for certain events.

Q. What do people in your country wear to work? 

A. Those who work in the corporate world dress in smart casual or business/formal attire on a regular basis. Uniforms are worn by some employees, such as teachers. Other employees are permitted to come to work in casual attire.

Also Read: IELTS Vocabulary for Social Media

Q. Which types of clothing do you despise?

A. Well, I despise wearing sloppy and outlandish attire. Ripped pair of jeans is one example. I also avoid wearing strong-coloured clothing.

Part 2:

Q. Describe someone you know who dresses well.

A. You should include these points in your answers.

• who they are
• how you know them
• what kind of clothes do they wear
• why you like the way they dress

Sample Answer

Let me tell you about a friend who is always well-dressed. Her name is Ayesha. We are the same age, and she is a professor at the department at one of my country’s most prestigious universities. Despite the fact that she is not really in the fashion sector, she dresses stylishly. She is tall, not very slender, and extremely lovely.

She has been a long-time friend of mine since high school. I see her on regular occasions because she also stays in my area. We spend time with friends as well, especially on weekends.

She does not have a particular style or preference when it comes to fashion. I believe she dresses according to the atmosphere as well as the occasion and event; I frequently see her in light-coloured gowns with high-heeled shoes.

She has a thing for stylish accessories. Her shoes are always in sync with her outfit. I believe she has a large wardrobe of nice clothes, shoes, and handbags because I seldom see her wearing the same outfit twice. I have seen her in casual clothes as well, but they do not appear to be plain or boring on her.

She can present herself nicely in any outfit, in my opinion. She appears to be at ease in anything she wears. She maintains a neat and tidy appearance at all times. Her style appeals to me because she does not dress in an ostentatious or offensive manner. She maintains a professional and respectable demeanour at all times.

Part 3:

Q. How important are clothes and fashion to you?

A. I do not care much about clothes or fashion. I prefer to dress in comfy clothes while still looking presentable and tidy. When it comes to clothing, I prefer to be in a practical look.

Q. What do you believe our clothes convey about us?

A. I believe that the clothes we wear can sometimes reveal a part of our personality or position. Clothing, for example, may influence the type of employment a person has. It could be a means of expression for some. Some people are stylish and fashionable, which reflects their creative personality.

Q. How different are your current clothes from the ones you wore ten years ago?

A. So, I can say that the outfits I wear now are very similar to those I wore around ten years ago. For casual days or formal attire for work events, I still wear regular pants and a shirt. However, I believe that as the fashion trend has evolved, so has the type of basic apparel I wear, particularly when it comes to the style of jeans and shirts. I used to prefer straight-cut jeans, but now I prefer modern styles like slim-fit clothing.

Conclusion

Using all of the above fashion vocabulary IELTS and arranging your sentences around it with good visualisation and mind mapping skills, any speaker might spend a couple of minutes without losing out of vocabulary or failing to present or speak the topic for the IELTS test.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have you ever watched fashion shows or movies? Fashion is living in our life, if you want to know more about fashion, check this article.

The global fashion industry is constantly growing and changing. To stay ahead of the competition, fashion designers and businesses need to be able to communicate in English. It’s different from general English because it includes terms and expressions specific to the fashion world. If you want to work in the fashion industry, or if you want to be able to understand what your favorite designers are saying, learning Fashion English is a must.

Want to learn more about fashion language? With AmazingTalker, you can connect with one-on-one English Tutors that can help you improve your English skills. You can also find tutors like Spanish Tutors!

Fashion Vocabulary Terms List

Accessories

Accessories are items used alongside an outfit or clothes; for instance, belts and suspenders, veils, eyewear, footwear, gloves, handbags, handkerchiefs, headwear, jewelry, legwear, neckwear, shawls or wraps, umbrellas, and watches.

Neckwear

Neckwear is any clothing worn around the neck and features for fashion, combat, or defense from the weather. Common neckwear today includes bow ties, neckties (cravaté), scarves, shawls, and feather boas.

Boutonnieres

A Boutonnieres is a floral decoration, typically a single flower or bud, worn on the lapel of a tuxedo or suit jacket. It is customary to wear a boutonniere on a lapel buttonhole (on the left, the same side as a pocket handkerchief). Another stem is fixed to the loop at the back of the lapel. 

Achromatic colors

Achromatic colors fall along the spectrum of black and white, allegorically speaking, all the gray shades in between. Wearing achromatic color combinations creates a classy, professional look with a touch of elegance.

Androgynous style

Androgyny in fashion refers to dressing in styles that make it hard to predict the gender of the individual. Gender-neutral fashion is also called Unisex fashion. A type of clothing that is not markedly male or female. Learn more about androgynous fashion here. 

Antique style

Antique style can be defined as something old or outdated. However, antique style is often seen as a coveted look in the fashion world. Many people appreciate the elegance and beauty of clothing and accessories with an antique feel.

Art Nouveau

A model of visual arts direction, architecture, and economics, known as Art Nouveau, was created in different countries under different names. It was most popular in interior design, graphic design, furniture design, glass art, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and metalwork.

Asymmetrical

Asymmetrical characterizes similarity, regularity, and uniformity. Asymmetry is the opposite of that. In clothing, an asymmetrical hemline is a hemline that is not straight. At times, it slopes up or down and other times as a diagonal slash down the body; sometimes pronounced, other times not noticeably asymmetrical.

Couture

For French designers, the couturier is a French term for male designers. The French female designer is also known as a couturier. 

Furbelow

Furbelows were often used to conceal imperfections in the fabric or to add extra warmth. They became popular during a time when women were starting to wear more elaborate clothing. Furbelows helped to make these outfits more voluminous and dramatic.

Garment

The garment is an article of clothing, a covering for the body. It is the first and most crucial form of dress. A garment may be made of cloth, leather, or other material.

Kimono 

A loose robe with wide sleeves traditionally worn with wide sashes serves as an outer garment by a Japanese person. In the past, kimonos were traditionally the most famous Japanese garment. Now they’re seldom worn as everyday clothing. 

Silhouette

Silhouette defines the shape of the clothing or garment, and refers to the line of the garment. It is the first impression of the garment and is used to look at its overall shape before focusing on the fabric and detail. It helps to focus on specific body parts while other parts are hidden. 

Beaumonde

People have always looked to fashion to help them stand out from the crowd through the clothes they wear or how they style their hair. And while there are many different styles to choose from, one of the most popular ones is called beaumonde. 

Capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of complementary, interchangeable garments put together by paying attention to neutral colors. Often, these classic pieces do not go out of style and require only a few complimentary items to look great. Creating a capsule wardrobe will give you many options in terms of dressing.

Camouflage clothing

Camouflage clothing is a type of clothing that is designed to help the wearer blend in with the surrounding environment. This clothing is often used by military personnel, law enforcement officers, and hunters. The most common colors for camouflage clothing are green and brown, but other colors are available. 

Core aesthetics

Core aesthetics refer to the fashion trend of centering one or two aspects of one’s style around a particular feature. Hundreds of style classifications fit into the category of core aesthetics, and they often derive from art, music, and culture. 

Décolletage

A low neckline on a woman’s dress or top refers to the lower part of her torso; it refers to her dress or top’s neck, shoulders, back, and chest, which were exposed by her low neckline. 

Eponymous fashion brand

An eponymous brand is created when an individual uses his favorite name to establish the company. This is quite common in the fashion business. Several fashion designers have used their names to create eponymous fashion brands. Kylie Jenner, Cindy Crawford, Anita Dongre, and Satya Paul are all examples of the namesake firm.

Prêt-à-porter 

It means “Ready-to-wear. It is a brand industry term that refers to mass production of clothing and retail distribution wholesale rather than sewing and creating a design for one person.

Slacks 

Slacks are a type of trouser typically less formal than suit trousers. They are made from a lighter-weight fabric. Slacks are often seen in neutral colors, such as black, navy, and beige.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fashion vocabulary words are important to know for anyone interested in fashion. The 20 terms listed should give you a good foundation to start with. Be sure to visit AmazingTalker to practice your English skills with native speakers anytime you want!

List of words for fashion and clothes vocabulary

Accessories: In fashion industry, the word accessories refers to item that we use in our dressing in accordance with usefulness and decoration. The word accessories include various items as Bridal Veils, Footwear, Eyewear, Belts & Suspenders, Handbags, Neckwear, Jewelry, Headwear, Handkerchiefs, Shawls & Wraps, Legwear, Watches, etc.

Anti Fashion:  A dressing and fashion style that is different from the prevailing fashion trends and showing an indifference to fashion of that time.

Antique style: Antique style is a style that is old and refers to past fashion trends.

Army look: Wearing of a dress that resembles to a military uniform.

Accessory: Refers to an individual item like,  jewellery, hats, neckwear, shoes, belts, scarfs, gloves, etc that is used to make dressing more fashionable.

Apparel: An alternate word used for clothes and garments.

Attire: Alternate word used for clothing.

Body clothes: A word used for underclothing or undergarments.

Beachwear: Clothing used at beach during bath or taking sunbath.

Boutique: Boutique is a home base dress selling shop or industry to design or stitch clothes.

Bulky clothing: A word used for loose fitting clothing.

Casual wear: Informal wear, everyday garments, or sleeping dress, normally people use at home.

Catwalk:  A platform along which models walk to present new clothes in fashion shows.

Chic:  Stylish

Collection: Events usually held twice a year in spring/summer and fall/ winter for sale.

Classic: A universal style that looks timeless.

Continental style: This term refers to the European clothing style.

Contrast: In fashion, we use this term for opposite colors that are in stark contrast to each other and both have individual look.

Conservative styles: Conservative style is a traditional dressing style; people use it in negative sense mostly.

Cosmetic colors: Cosmetic colors are those colors that resembles to colors used in makeup/cosmetics.

Cosmopolitan: It is a universal dress style rather than a localized.

Craze: Craze in an extreme popular fashion for a short time.

Composite style: A combination of different styles; simple and refined; feminine and flirtatious; cool and feminine.

Dead stock:  Dead stock is clothing that has never been worn and stored at home.

Earth colors: Colors that falls in the brown family

Ethnic: Traditional, native

Designer: A person (male of female) who makes design for extremely characteristic garments

Fad: A short-lived fashion

Fashion show: Displaying proper collection of fashion styles by designers to the customers or merchandisers.

Fashion house: A fashion house is a company involved in fashion design

Fashion icon: A term used for those who become popular for being extremely fashionable

Fashion sense: Awareness of how to wear a dress fashionably.

Fashion tribe: People of a tribe who share a common fashion of dressing.

Fashion victim: A person who follows current fashion with keen interest.

Florals: Floral is a fabric that has floral pattern prints.

Hosiery: A garment that is tight fitting knitted worn on the leg and feet. It is generally made of very stretchable fabrics like spandex.

Imitation: A duplicate or copy; generally used for describing fur of sleeves and jewellery.

Monotone clothing: single color clothes

Motif: It is a design (usually a flower or fur) in a pattern/ print / embroidery etc.

Print on print: Vibrant and colorful clothing with lots of different prints mixed in.

Ready to wear or RTW: Factory made clothing that is in standardized sizes.

Slim fit: Clothing that is fitted tightly to the body.

Trend: Trend is a general way in which something is prevailing or changing.

Trendy: It is an adjective for describing a person who is very stylish or fashionable.

Unisex style: It is clothing  suitable for both sex (male and female). Androgynous style is an alternative name for unisex style.

Utilitarian clothing: It is a practical/purposeful clothing rather than decorative; Clothes that serve up a practical purpose. Usually we wear at work place.

Vintage: Vintage is a style of clothing that is inspired from a previous era or more than 20 years ago.

Warm colors:, Yellow, orange, and red and in between colors in the color wheel

Reference: The Magic of Fashion: Ritual, Commodity, Glamour