Advanced English Vocabulary – Clothes Flashcards
Word 1: Outfit (noun)
Meaning: A collection or set of clothes worn together at one time.
Synonyms: A look (noun)
Collocations: New outfit; Someone’s best outfit; Cute/great/fantastic outfit
Example Sentence:
I generally spend a long time choosing my outfit before going to see my friends.
Word 2: To get dressed up (phrasal verb)
Meaning: To put on one’s best clothes, often for a special occasion.
Antonyms:
To throw something on (To quickly put on something); To just wear whatever; To dress down
(all phrasal verbs)
Example Sentence: I very rarely get dressed up during the summer – most of the time, I just throw something on when I’m leaving the house.
Word 3: Presentable (adjective)
Meaning: To be dressed in an appropriate way, usually including wearing neat, clean clothes.
Synonyms: Well-groomed; Dapper (adjectives, usually for men); Elegant (adjective, usually for women); Smart (adjective for both)
Antonyms: Dishevelled; Shabby; Unkempt; Bedraggled; Slovenly (all adjectives)
Collocations: To make oneself presentable; Perfectly presentable (meaning = acceptable, not 100% perfect); To look presentable
Example Sentence: We can certainly learn about a person’s character from whether they usually make themselves presentable or generally turn up
looking dishevelled.
Word 4: A fashionista (noun)
Meaning: Someone who follows fashion and pays careful attention to their appearance, usually wearing the latest styles.
Synonyms: A follower of fashion; A trend-setter; A clothes horse (all nouns); Stylish; Fashionable (both adjectives)
Antonyms: Tasteless; Frumpy; Old-fashioned (all adjectives)
Example Sentence: I’m certainly no fashionista, but I do like to make myself presentable.
Word 5: Dress code (noun)
Meaning: The rules of what to wear at an event, including weddings, or in an organisation, including schools and companies.
Collocations: Strict dress code; To enforce the dress code; To violate the dress code; To ignore the dress code
Example Sentence: Traditional events, including weddings and funerals, tend to have a strict dress code in my country.
Word 6: Smart-casual (adjective)
Meaning: A type of clothing style or dress code that includes both smart and comfortable clothes. Neat and tidy but not too formal.
Example – wearing a shirt and jeans.
Synonyms: Business casual; Semi-formal (both adjectives)
Antonyms: Black-tie (adjective, very formal); Casual (adjective, informal)
Collocations: A smart-casual look; A smart-casual outfit; A smart-casual dress code
Example Sentence: Modern companies often choose a smart-casual dress code rather than making their employees dress very formally every day
Word 7: Accessories (noun)
Meaning: Small items that people wear, including bracelets, rings, and bags.
Word Family: To accessorise (verb)
Synonyms: Fashion accessory (noun)31
Collocations: A perfect accessory; Matching accessories; A range of accessories
Example Sentence: I try to find the perfect accessories to go with my outfit.
Word 8: Metrosexual (noun, adjective)
Meaning: A heterosexual man who enjoys shopping, fashion and grooming.
Antonyms: Macho (adjective)
Example Sentence: Many men these days are considered to be metrosexuals, given their strong interest in fashion and grooming.
Word 9: Leisure wear (noun)
Meaning: Comfortable clothes that are informal, and often worn around the house or for doing exercise.
Synonyms: Casual wear; Sports clothes; Active wear (all nouns)
Antonyms: A suit; Formal wear; Formal attire (all nouns)
Example Sentence: I wouldn’t go out in leisure wear, but I wear it all the time at home.
Word 10: Designer (adjective)
Meaning: From a famous/expensive brand, either of clothing or accessories.
Synonyms: Branded (adjective)
Antonyms: Off-brand; Off-the-rack (adjectives)
Collocations: Designer clothes; Designer label; Designer + product (e.g. glasses, watch, bag)
Example Sentence: I would love to buy designer clothes but, sadly, they are usually out of my price range.
Listen & Read
I’m not a big fan of going to events that have a strict dress code. I’m more of a smart-casual or just full-on casual type of personperson. I don’t really like getting dressed yp. As long as I’m presentable, that’s usaully enough for me.
What kind of cclothes do you like to wear?
It depends where I am. When I’m around the house, I mostly just go for leisure wear, nothing too fancy. But I’ll get dressed up in something smart-casual or even formal if I’m going out to meet people.
Is a person’s apperance important?
Yes. I’d say so. It’s the first thing we see when we meet someone and it gives us our first impression of them. So if you turn up looking kind of bedraggled and unkemep, don’t be surprised if you get judged less well than someone who has great outfit on.
