Styles and fashions change, but the desire to surround ourselves with beauty remains. Discuss clothing options with your conversation partner.
1. What are you wearing today? Where did you get your favorite piece of clothing?
2. Do you usually dress casually or formally?
3. Do you prefer conservative, shabby, or trendy clothes? Why?
4. Do you find dressing for work a chore, a choice, or a pleasure? Why?
5. When picking clothes, are you drawn to certain colors? Which?
6. How often do you shop for clothes? Do you have a favorite day or time?
7. Do you like to window shop for clothes? Where do you go?
8. Can you suggest stores that sell quality clothes at reasonable prices?
9. Are clothing styles, or stores, different in your native country than here? How?
10. Do you have a favorite outfit? Where do you go in it?
11. How do you accessorize? Do you have a favorite accessory?
12. Is there traditional dress in your native country? Can you describe it?
13. How often do you get dressed up? For what occasions?
14. Do you dress differently in the U.S. than you did in your native country?
15. Do people in your native country tend do dress more conservatively or more showy?
16. Have you ever worn a uniform for work or school? Can you describe it?
17. What is an example of something you would never wear? Why?
18. Whom do you think of as being fashionable or chic? Why?
THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES…
1. Which materials do you prefer to wear?
2. Are you allergic to any materials?
3. Do you sew? Have you patched jeans or other clothes?
4. What do you do with old clothes? Do you give them away? Sell them at a garage sale?
5. Can you describe some clothes that would clash?
What is a fashion faux pas?
6. What type of clothes, jewelry, or furniture do you find tacky? Shabby? Ugly
7. If you were the “ fashion police,” what would you get rid of? Why?
8. Who are some fashion icons? Can you think of some “fashion forward” people?
9. Do you have a favorite fashion designer? Why?
10. What is the difference between style and fashion?
11. Have you ever felt that fashion was a despot or tyrant? How?
12. Who taught you how to dress? Who was your role model? Why?
13. Do you dress differently from your parents? How?
14. Do your children dress differently from you? How?
15. What do you usually notice about clothes? What catches your eye?
16. Is there anything you don’t allow your children to wear? What? Why?
17. Who do you consider the best-dressed celebrity? The worst? Why?
18. Should people be allowed to wear whatever they want whenever they want? Why or why not?
19. Can you share your five best fashion tips with me?
ON YOUR OWN
Pick a favorite outfit or piece of clothing. At right, write about the outfit: where it was made, how you got it, and why you like it. Share your short essay with classmates.
