BBC Learning English

News about Britain

November 2008
What to wear?
One of the biggest shocks when you arrive in a new country can be the clothes people are
wearing. You may look fashionable at home, but you suddenly find you are behind the times or
simply someone to laugh at when you arrive abroad. With this in mind, let's take a look at teenage
fashion in the UK for girls.

One of the things that may shock an outsider most is piercings. These days it is not enough to
simply wear rings in your ears. You will see many teenagers with rings in their navel, or belly
button, nose, lip, or even their eyebrow. Ouch!

Some girls go for a 'glam' look. They wear T-shirts; trousers are usually preferred, blue or black,
and the look is finished off with metallic bags and shoes and arms full of bracelets. Another
alternative is the 'rocker' look. You start with a T-shirt of your favourite band and tight jeans or a
long skirt. On top of this you can wear a denim jacket. Jewellery tends to be large and metallic,
and to add colour, wear a scarf.

If neither of these is for you, why not go 'sporty'? T-shirts are usually tie-dyed in hot colours.
Wear long shorts, short jeans or a denim skirt. And on your feet? Beach sandals, of course! If
you prefer something more feminine, there's the 'girly' look. Skirts are long, to the floor. Wear a
top with butterflies or flowers printed on it!

Finally, how about the 'Tom Boy' look? Wear flared jeans and a T-shirt with a logo. Don't forget
your waistcoat, of course!

Follow the fashion tips above, and you shouldn't feel out of place. However, it's important to
remember to wear clothes and choose a look that you feel comfortable with. Don't just be one of
the crowd be yourself!

News about Britain British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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Glossary

behind the times out-of-date, piercings holes made in the body for
unfashionable, not modern wearing jewellery, such as rings or studs

glam short for 'glamorous', i.e. dressed finished off completed, given final touches
and/or made up to be extremely good-looking
and very fashionable

rocker someone who really likes rock denim a thick strong cotton cloth, often
music (and dresses like a rock music fan) blue in colour, used especially for making
jeans

scarf a piece of cloth worn around the neck tie-dyed designs on cloth dyed by tightly
tying portions of it with waxed thread so the
dye only affects the exposed areas

sandals light open shoes with straps flared (trousers or skirts) that widen
significantly below the knee (popular in the
late 1960s - early 1970s)

waistcoat a sleeveless garment worn on the out of place strange, as if you don't belong
upper body over a shirt and usually having
buttons down the front

Read and listen to the story online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/britain/081118_what_to_wear.shtml

News about Britain British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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1. Reading Quiz
Are these sentences true or false? Or is the answer not given in the text? Circle the correct
answer.

1. Fashion is the same in all countries.

True / False / Not given

2. British girls put rings only in their ears.

True / False / Not given

3. 'Glam' girls don't usually wear skirts.

True / False / Not given

4. The 'sporty' look uses a lot of colour.

True / False / Not given

5. 'Girly' girls wear short skirts.

True / False / Not given

News about Britain British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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2. Clothes

Write the names of the following items of clothing in the space provided.

1. __________ 2. __________

4. __________
3. __________

5. __________ 6. __________

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3. Clothes related vocabulary

Each of the verbs/phrasal verbs in the left-hand column is connected to clothes and
fashion. Can you match them to their definitions?

1. to dress up a. to dress

2. to dress down b. to undress

3. to put on c. to wear something special, e.g. to a party

4. to take off d. to wear casual clothes

5. to suit e. to be the correct size

6. to fit f. to look good on you

Now complete the sentences below by using one of the verbs above.

1. _________ your scarf if you're going outside. It's really cold.

2. Can I try a larger one? This doesn't __________.

3. I can wear jeans to work on Fridays as we are allowed to _____________.

4. You can't go to a wedding wearing jeans! You should ____________.

5. You look good in green. The colour really _________ you.

6. You should _____________ your scarf. It's really hot.

News about Britain British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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4. Wordsearch

Try to find the words associated with clothes in the puzzle below.

There are ten words to find. Words can be written horizontally (g), vertically (i) or
diagonally (m)

o w a r t r r s k i r t

p w s e r f e s r y s u

l d a d o v d d f h d y

s s d i u t e f w e a r

h a f c s g s v s n f p

o q g x e t s b z m g d

e w h s r b c n a k h r

s e s w s y a o q o j e

m r j u l h r m a p k s

j t k q i n f k s t l s

u y l a m t i j d l d s

f i t z j u k g f h a t

waistcoat trousers skirt scarf shoes

wear fit suit dress hat

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Answers
1. Reading Quiz 2. Clothes

1. Fashion is the same in all countries. False

2. British girls put rings only in their ears. False

3. Glam girls dont usually wear skirts. True

4. The sporty look uses a lot of colour. True

1. a skirt 2. (a pair of) jeans
5. Girly girls wear short skirts. False

3. a waistcoat 4. a T-shirt

5. a scarf 6. (a pair of) sandals

3. Clothes related vocabulary 4. Wordsearch

1. c 4. b
2. d 5. f t s k i r t
3. a 6. e w r
Now complete the sentences below by using one of the verbs a o
above. s i u w e a r
1. Put on your scarf if youre going outside. Its really cold. h s
o e t s d
2. Can I try a larger one? This doesnt fit.
e r c r
3. I can wear jeans to work on Fridays as we are allowed to dress s s s a o e
down.
u r a s
4. You cant go to a wedding wearing jeans! You should dress i f t s
up.
t
5. You look good in green. The colour really suits you. f i t h a t

6. You should take off your scarf. Its really hot.

News about Britain British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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