Talking About Fashion & Shopping
Giving YOU the chance to SPEAK about clothes and shopping in English!
The World of Glamour & Clothes
It was Lviv fashion week last week, which meant the designers were in town to show off their collections. Models were strutting down the catwalk, hoping they didn't fall on the runway in those high heels and cause a scene. Lots of colourful clothes – pronounced as "close" ;) – with interesting patterns and designs were on show to make your mouth-water or make your stomach turn as we were surrounded by the world of glamour and the new trends and fads as they tried to inspire us to buy a new outfit or even a new wardrobe.
Clothes are great. Not only do they keep us warm, but they can make us look sophisticated, ravishing, or like we are homeless without saying a word. If I asked you to describe the clothes you're wearing now, could you? Is your t-shirt or dress plain, stripey, checked, or have a design of a cat on it? Or are you simply naked and in the nude after a long and hard day in the office?
Do you prefer vibrant and loud types of clothing or to keep things low-key? Do you need to try on your choice before you buy? Or do you just buy and then take it back when you try it on at home and find it's too baggy or tight?
The Shopping Experience
They say there is nothing worse than going shopping – notice to do the shopping usually means to buy food – with your wife or girlfriend as you spend the whole afternoon trawling through the shops listening to "what do you think?", "does my bum look big in this?", "No, it's not for me," and "you don't like it, do you?" praying and then paying at the till. Everyone loves a bargain, nobody likes to be ripped off, and your girlfriend is no different. I'm sure even you, reader, like to shop around before you find the right thing before the shop assistant says "just pop your card in the reader and enter your pin."
There is no doubt shopping has changed over the years. You can get really good discounts from online sellers, very good fakes from China at a fraction of the price, and even design your own item of clothing online and have it delivered. We don't need to go to the shop anymore, but that doesn't stop us.
Nowadays it seems most young people grab a bunch of clothes and head to the changing room to take selfies, add it to Instagram and set up a poll: "Yay - Nay". I suppose it's cheaper than having a stylist. Plus, you might be a fashion blogger and need to feed your mass following on what's hot and what's not.
Shopping and fashion is a big topic in the classroom. Lots of unfamiliar words and expressions, all of which you can translate into your language. The summer just gone, I had a group of 15 teenage girls from different parts of Europe and South America, and when one day I came into class at 9:15 am and told them our topic was 'Fashion and Shopping' you could see their faces bulge with excitement. True story.
Shopping Situations: Dialogue Practice
Let's imagine some situations in which you're abroad and you're shopping for your next outfit and you have to use English. Here are some phrases that will help you. Translate them into your language and then practice the exact phrases.
Situation 1: Getting your money back
You bought something without trying it on and now you want your money back.
You: Hi, I bought this the other day and it doesn't fit me. Is it possible to get a refund?
You: Hi, I bought this the other day and it doesn't fit me. Is it possible to exchange it for a... ?
Assistant: That's fine. Can I have your receipt? (Pronounced: RE-SEAT)
Situation 2: Shopping with a friend
You and your friend have gone shopping together and you're talking about your choices.
You: What do you think about this?
Friend: I don't think it would suit you. How about this? It matches your shoes.
You: But will it go with my red shoes I bought last week?
Friend: Mmmm, I'm not sure.
You: I'll go and try it on. Whereabouts are the changing rooms?
Situation 3: Sizing issues in the changing room
You've just come out of the changing room and see your friend.
You: What do you think?
Friend: It's a bit tight around the waist.
You: What about the next-size-up? I'll ask. Excuse me, have you got this in a medium?
Assistant: I'll just check....... I'm sorry, we are out of mediums.
Situation 4: Shopping with your mum
Mum: Are you really going to get that?
You: Yeah, why not?
Mum: It's very revealing... I can't see your bum cheeks!!
You: It's the fashion, mum. Everyone wears ripped shorts now.
Full Fashion & Shopping Word List
Here is a complete breakdown of the vocabulary from the article to boost your English skills:
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Show off | To have all the attention on you as you do or show something. |
| Strut | To walk in a way like you are superior. Like a peacock. |
| Catwalk / Runway | The place where models walk at a fashion show. |
| Cause a scene | To do something to draw attention to yourself in a negative way. |
| Patterns | A repeated design. |
| To make your mouth-water | Something you really want. |
| To make your stomach turn | Something you really don't like and makes you feel sick. |
| Glamour | The rich, famous, expensive, and fashionable. |
| Trend | Something very popular at the moment. |
| Fad | Something popular, but won't last very long. |
| Sophisticated | Intelligent and interesting. |
| Ravishing | Very beautiful. Used mostly to describe females. |
| Plain | Just a colour and nothing else. |
| Stripey | With lines going downwards or across. |
| Checked | With squares. |
| Vibrant colours / Loud | Bright colours like orange and yellow / Noticeable by colour or design. |
| Low-key | Not attracting too much attention. |
| Take something back | To return an item. |
| Baggy / Tight | Too much space between your body and clothing / Too little space. |
| To trawl | To move very slowly through the shops. |
| Till | The area and machine where you go and pay. |
| Rip off | To be charged a high price for something that is not really value for money. |
| Shop around | To research and check different places for the best choice and price. |
| Pop your card in the reader | What everyone at the till says in England when you pay by card. |
| Yay or nay | An expression for "is it good or not?" |
Cheers,
NativeUK.com - Online English Speaking Lessons with a CELTA-qaulified Native English Speaker
Discussion Questions
- What is in at the moment?
- Have you ever bought a fake?
- Do you shop around or just buy the first thing you see?
- Do you own a pair of ripped jeans?
- Have you got any favourite clothes that no longer fit you?
- What do you think the future of going shopping will be?