“Fashion is something that goes in one year and out the other.” “Clothes make the man.”

Fashion the way of dressing that is popular at certain time the main concern of people who want to be “in”. It changes very fast and it is quite difficult to say what is still trendy or what is already out of fashion. People, especially young, like to follow new fashion trends through fashion magazines Cosmopolitan,Elle,Vogue) or from fashion TV channels and shows. Fashion professionals called fashion designers invent new patterns, styles and look for new combinations (Calvin Klein,Giorgo Armani, Viviene Westwood, Gianni Versace, etc. are famous all over the world).

The importance of clothes Clothes have always been important for people . They protect us against cold, frost and rain. Later they became an important sign of people´s social status ( rich, poor). In previous centuries women´s and men´s clothes were totally different. Women wore just long dresses and long hair. In the 20th century people´s clothing changed rapidly. Women started wearing clothes like men – it means trousers, they also shortened their hair.

People's attitudes People´s attitudes towards fashion are different. Some people are willing to spend a fortune on clothes in brand name clothes shop and boutiques. On the other hand, some people are not interested in fashion at all and they wear clothes according to their own taste and style. Finally, there are people who cannot afford to buy expensive brand name clothes and they buy imitations or cheaper clothes in markets or second-hand shops.

Fashion possibilities In the past, people preferred dressmakers and tailors (there was poor choice of goods in the shops), Nowadays we prefer ready-made clothes. If you need to have a unique dress for special occasion, you can lend it from special lending clothes shop or go to the tailor. Fashion styles change often and also used materials change often. Traditional materials like cotton, silk, wool, linen, were replaced by synthetic fibres. Clothes nowadays are washable and shrink-resistant. We have different patterns – geometric, striped, dotted or flowered.

Changes in fashion The good thing about fashion is that we can expect some comebacks. However, fashion never quite repeats in the same way but materials and designs are very alike.

Young people and fashion Fashion is always a way of self-expression. Young people can show their mood, interests, attitudes and status in society through styles, colours, materials, patterns and accessories. For others it is a need to copy the style of clothing of some celebrity. Our current mood, feelings can be expressed with different colours, different clothes. If we are in a good mood / bad mood – we wear? An important part of an image is hair. There is a great freedom in hairstyles and colours. Some people grow their hair long, have highlights done, others have their hair very short, spiky and often dyed.

Favourite clothes The most popular are probably jeans. They are worn by generations in various cuts and styles. Casual clothes,e.g. baggy trousers, loose sweatshirts, short or long skirts, baseball caps, are still very popular. T-shirts or sporty shirts, jeans and sneakers are popular among boys, as well as tracksuits, sweaters, polo-shirts, etc. Colours are also important for fashion. The can express your current mood. White is a typical colour for babies to wear when they are christened and bride wear dress in white for weddings. A baby´s sex is distinquished by colours: little girls are dressed in pink and boys im blue.

Occasional clothes – formal situations Women: formal, smart clothes, long dresses for balls, shorter or to knees skirts and dresses for parties, blouses, accessories, costumes; jewellery (necklace, bracelet, earrings, rings). Handbags should match their dresses and shoes. Fashion also concers accessories, hairstyle and make-up. Men: dark suit or tuxedo, a white shirt with a tie or a bow tie and dark shoes. Special occasions or some jobs require wearing uniforms, white coats, costumes, aprons. (in banks, policemen)

Clothes and weather In spring and summer- people prefer light and airy materials,e.g. cotton or silk (we sweat a lot). We wear short sleeved or sleeveless shirts, loose blouses, T-shirts, or Bermuda shorts, sandals and slippers, flip-flops. In autumn and winter – warmer materials (cotton,wool, nylon): long sleeved T-shirts, shirts, jackets, sweaters, coats, jumpers, pullovers, cardigans, polo necks, anoraks, gloves, hats, caps, scarves and boots. Swimming pool: swimming costume(bikini, one-piece or two-piece),trunks.

Questions Who is fashion created by? Why is fashion expensive for common people? What are people's attitudes towards fashion? Why is it important for people to look good? How is clothing connected with weather? What do men and women wear for special/causal occasions? Why do people go to tailors? (have their clothes made) Why is fashion a way of self-expression? What is also an important part of our image?