Lesson

Clothes & Fashion

Vocabulary for clothing and style

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Clothes & Fashion — Vocabulary Overview

This lesson focuses on clothing and fashion vocabulary used in everyday and professional contexts. You will learn names of garments, accessories, materials, and common collocations used in business communication and shopping.

  • Learn key garment and accessory names (e.g. blazer, trousers, heels).
  • Learn useful collocations (e.g. put on, wear, tailored suit).
  • Practice using clothing vocabulary in professional sentences.

Table

Clothes & Fashion Vocabulary

Word Category Example Sentence
blazer formal/casual jacket She wore a navy blazer to the client meeting.
suit formal set (jacket + trousers/skirt) He bought a tailored suit for the presentation.
trousers bottoms (formal/casual) Please press your trousers before the interview.
skirt bottom (female) The company dress code allows a knee-length skirt.
dress one-piece garment She chose a conservative dress for the conference.
blouse women's shirt A silk blouse is appropriate for office events.
cardigan knitted sweater with buttons He put on a cardigan when the meeting room got cold.
coat outerwear Please hang your coat in the cloakroom.
sneakers casual shoes Wear comfortable sneakers for the company outing.
heels women's high shoes She prefers low heels for long presentations.
accessories items like belts, scarves, ties Accessories can complete a professional look.
fabric material (cotton, wool, silk) Choose a breathable fabric for travel.

Tip

Key Rules: How to Use Clothing Vocabulary

Remember these core rules when talking about clothes and fashion:

  • Adjective order: color + material + style + garment (e.g. a black leather jacket).
  • Use correct collocations: put on / take off / wear / try on / change into.
  • Countability: use 'a pair of' for items that come in twos (shoes, socks).
  • Materials and fit are useful qualifiers in professional contexts (e.g. tailored suit, wool coat).

When in doubt, focus on the garment name first and add color/material before it.

Example

Examples in context

Please dress formally for the client presentation.

She wore a tailored blazer to the interview.

I need to buy a new pair of comfortable shoes for business travel.

The company provided uniforms for warehouse staff.

Tip

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are universal errors learners make with clothing vocabulary:

  • Confusing 'clothes' (plural) with 'cloth' (material).
  • Using singular articles incorrectly: we say 'a pair of shoes' not 'a shoe' when referring to footwear as a set.
  • Incorrect plural forms: avoid 'furnitures' or 'cloths' when context demands 'furniture' (uncountable) or 'pieces of cloth'.
  • Wrong adjective order: don't say 'leather black jacket' instead of 'black leather jacket'.
  • Misusing verbs: 'wear' vs 'put on' vs 'take off' — choose based on action and tense.

Check noun countability and common collocations when forming sentences.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Think about irregular verbs and the correct past tense for 'put'.

Quiz

Complete: She _____ a tailored blazer to the interview.

Hint: Think about the past tense of the verb 'wear'.

Quiz

Choose the correct phrase for two shoes:

Hint: Think about how we refer to items that come in twos.

Key Points

Vocabulary

blazer

noun CEFR B1 //ˈbleɪzər//

A smart jacket that is less formal than a suit jacket; often used in business casual outfits.

She chose a navy blazer for the client meeting.

GrammarPoint

tailored

adjective CEFR B2 //ˈteɪlərd//

Made to fit well; adjusted to the wearer's measurements, often used for suits and jackets.

He prefers a tailored suit for formal presentations.

Vocabulary

accessories

noun CEFR B1 //əkˈsɛsəriz//

Items such as belts, ties, scarves, and watches that complete an outfit.

Accessories can transform a simple outfit into a professional look.

Expression

a pair of

expression CEFR A2 //ə pɛər əv//

A phrase used to refer to two matching items that form a single set (e.g., shoes, socks).

I bought a pair of comfortable shoes for travel.

Vocabulary

fabric

noun CEFR B1 //ˈfæbrɪk//

The material, such as cotton, wool, or silk, from which clothes are made.

Choose a breathable fabric for hot-weather business trips.

Vocabulary

sneakers

noun CEFR A2 //ˈsniːkərz//

Casual, comfortable shoes often used for walking or sports; also called trainers.

Employees may wear sneakers on casual Fridays.

Vocabulary

heels

noun CEFR B1 //hiːlz//

Shoes with a raised heel, typically worn by women for formal or professional occasions.

She chose low heels for a long day of meetings.