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Clothes and Appearance Recommendations

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Practising strong and weak recommendations language, appearance collocations and typical confusions between clothese and appearance words with a fun speaking task.

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Lesson Plan Content:


Clothes and appearance recommendations

with clothes and accessories collocations and typical confusions

Imagine that you are in one of the situations on the next page. Explain the situation to your partner, ask for their advice, and respond to their recommendations.  

Useful advice/ suggestions/ recommendations phrases

Asking for advice/ suggestions/ recommendations phrases

-        “What do you recommend/ suggest?”

-        “Do you have any ideas/ advice/ recommendations/ suggestions?”

-        “What do you think I should wear/ use/…?”

-        “Do you think I should wear/ use/…?”

 

Giving advice/ suggestions/ recommendations phrases (most positive top to most negative bottom)

-        “You really must…”

-        “You’d better… (or you’ll regret it/ or…)”

-        “I strongly/ highly/ thoroughly recommend…”/ “You really should…”

-        “You should…”/ “You ought to…”

-        “My advice/ recommendation is…”/ “I (would) (personally) recommend/ suggest…”/ “If I were you, I’d…”

-        “You should probably…”

-        “You could…”

-        “I wouldn’t (necessarily/ really) recommend…”

-        “I don’t think (that) you should…”

-        “You really shouldn’t…”

-        “You mustn’t…”

-        “You really mustn’t…”

 

Responding to advice phrases (most positive top)

-       “That’s a great idea. I’ll definitely do that.”/ “That’s an excellent suggestion. I’ll do exactly what you said.”

-       “That seems like a good idea. I’ll do that.”

-       “You are probably right. I’ll try that.”

-       “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll try my best to do that.”

-       “That might work. I’ll think about it.”

-       “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea (because…) (Can you suggest anything else?)”

-       “I don’t think that’s a good idea (because…) (Do you have any other ideas?)”

 

Ask about any situations you don’t understand, discussing what is and isn’t suitable each time.

Situations to ask for advice on

  • audition (for a boy band/ for a girl band/ for…)
  • (working in a/ night out in a) bar/ pub
  • barbecue/ picnic
  • bodyguard
  • (night/ long distance) bus
  • camping/ glamping
  • casual Friday/ dress-down Friday
  • clubbing
  • cold/ cold weather/ cold office/ cold…– heat/ hot office/ hot weather/ hot…
  • (classical/ pop) concert/ gig/ opera
  • (blind/ first/ second/ joint) date/ “Netflix and chill”
  • demo/ demonstration/ protest
  • (all-night/ premier/ festival) film showing
  • first day (at university/ at work/…)
  • (long/ overnight) flight (in business class/ in economy class)
  • flight attendant
  • (casual/ friendly) football match between colleagues
  • funeral/ wake
  • going out for a drink (with colleagues)
  • golf (with a business contact/ with friends)
  • graduation (ceremony/ party)
  • hiking/ walk (along the beach)
  • hospital (receiving visitors)
  • humid
  • (telephone/ Skype/ face-to-face) job interview
  • meeting your boyfriend’s parents/ your girlfriend’s parents (for the first time)
  • meeting an ex(-boyfriend/-girlfriend/-husband/-wife)/ someone famous/ a client/…
  • moving furniture (at work)
  • (dinner/ costume/ fancy-dress/ house/ housewarming/ Halloween) party
  • (passport/ dating profile/ street fashion/ security card) photo
  • (TED.com) presentation/ speech
  • shop assistant
  • showing your age (wrinkles/ laughter lines, grey hair, etc)
  • spying/ undercover policeman
  • standing for election (e.g. election candidates’ debate)
  • teaching (in a pre-school/ PE)
  • television appearance (on a talk show/ as a talking head)
  • to show off your (newly) great body
  • to stand out in a crowd
  • university society meeting
  • video conference
  • visit to a Muslim country
  • visit to a church (as a tourist)
  • (making a) vlog/ YouTube video
  • (your own/ someone else’s) wedding (ceremony/ reception)
  • weekend away with colleagues

 

Brainstorming stage

First of all without any help, brainstorm suitable phrases into the categories below.

Asking for advice/ suggestions/ recommendations phrases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving advice/ suggestions/ recommendations phrases (most positive top to most negative bottom)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Responding to advice phrases (most positive top)

 

 

 


Mixed answers

Use the phrases below to add at least two more phrases to in each category above.

  • Do you have any ideas/ advice/ recommendations/ suggestions?
  • Do you think I should wear/ use/…?
  • I don’t think (that) you should…
  • I don’t think that’s a good idea (because…) (Do you have any other ideas?)
  • I strongly/ highly/ thoroughly recommend…/ You really should…
  • I wouldn’t (necessarily/ really) recommend…
  • I’m not so sure that’s a good idea (because…) (Can you suggest anything else?)
  • My advice/ recommendation is…/ I (would) (personally) recommend/ suggest…/ If I were you, I’d…
  • That might work. I’ll think about it.
  • That seems like a good idea. I’ll do that.
  • That’s a great idea. I’ll definitely do that./ That’s an excellent suggestion. I’ll do exactly what you said.
  • That’s not a bad idea. I’ll try my best to do that.
  • What do you recommend/ suggest?
  • What do you think I should wear/ use/…?
  • You are probably right. I’ll try that.
  • You could…
  • You mustn’t…
  • You really mustn’t…
  • You really must…
  • You really shouldn’t…
  • You should probably…
  • You should…/ You ought to…
  • You’d better… (or you’ll regret it/ or…)

Check with the first page. Other phrases are possible, but check if you have ranked them differently. 

Choose words on the following page and discuss situations that those things are suitable for and/ or aren’t suitable for, e.g. that a gorgeous dress is too much for work.

 

adjectives/descriptions

clothes

other appearances

bare – covered

bold/ loud – subtle

bright – dark/ sombre

casual–business/formal

cheap - expensive

clashing – matching

classic – trendy

comfortable

cotton/ denim

diamond

dyed – natural

fancy/ showy

fluorescent

fluffy

gold/ silver/ platinum

gorgeousl  gothic

Hawaiian

high-heeled

leather/ …skin

light/ thin – heavy/ thick

long – short

long-sleeved–sleeveless

loose – fitted/ (skin) tight

luxurious

manicured

modest – revealing

novelty

nylon

padded

permed–straight/ironed

pierced

ready-made–tailor-made

ripped/ torn

scruffy – smart

see-through

shaved – unshaved

short-sleeved

silk/ silky

smart-casual

spiky

summer – winter

tattooed

thick – thin

Velcro/ zip-up

woollen/ woolly

beret/ cap/ hat/ helmet

bikini

(ankle-length/ rubber/ walking/ Wellington/ zip-up) boots

(sports/ push-up) bra

braces/ suspenders

cape/ cloak/ shawl

clogs

(rain/ trench/ waist) coat

(sleeveless/ summer) dress

flip flops

(bifocal/ sun-) glasses/ specs

(ball-/ dressing) gown

(bomber/denim/leather) jacket

jeans/ chinos/ cargo pants

(woolly) jumper/ sweater

(football/ soccer/ sports) kit

leggings

onesie/ overalls

pajamas/ pyjamas

(cargo/ under-)pants

panty hose/ (nylon) tights

plimsolls

poncho

sari

(head/ winter/ silk) scarf

shell suit

(business/ polo/ denim) shirt

(slip-on/ sports/ Velcro) shoes

shorts

skirt/ kilt

sneakers/ trainers

(ankle-length/knee-high)socks

(fishnet) stockings

(3-piece/skirt/tailor-made) suit

sweatshirt

swimming costume/ swimsuit

(long/short-sleeved) T-shirt

(black/ bow/ silk/ clip-on) tie

(crop/ hooded/ tank/ vest) top

tracksuit/ (trousers/ top)

trousers

trunks

undershirt/ vest

(thermal) underwear

waistcoat/ vest

back

(hand-/ shoulder) bag

bangs/ fringe

beard

belly (button)/ midriff/ navel

brooch/ pin

briefcase

bum bag/ fanny pack

(man) bun

chain/ necklace

colours

cuff links

(dangly) earrings

eyebrow(s)

goatee

hair

hair gel

hair spray

hairpiece/ wig

implants

(lower/ upper) legs

lip

lipstick

make up

moustache

nipple

parasol

parting/ part

Photoshop

ponytail

purse/ wallet

(diamond/ engagement/ gold/ pinkie/ platinum/ toe/ wedding) ring

(leather/ school) satchel

shoulders

sideburns

skinhead

stubble

tattoo

toe nails

tongue


Brainstorm suitable clothes and appearance vocabulary into the columns below.

adjectives/ descriptions

clothes

other appearance vocab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clothes and accessories collocations

Without looking above for now, brainstorm at least one collocation for each of the words below (= words that go together with those words)

 

+boots

 

+ coat

 

++ dress

 

+ glasses

 

+ gown

 

+ jacket

 

+ jumper

 

+ kit

 

+ pants

 

+ ring

 

+ satchel

 

+ scarf

 

+ shirt

 

+ shoes

 

+ socks

 

+ stockings/ tights

 

+ suit

 

+T-shirt

 

+ tie

 

+ top

 

short/ under+

 

 

Use the expressions below to help with the collocations activity above. Many can be used more than once.

  • ankle
  • ankle-length
  • ball-
  • bifocal
  • black
  • bomber
  • bow
  • business
  • button-down
  • cargo
  • cashmere
  • clip-on
  • cotton
  • crop
  • denim
  • diamond
  • dinner
  • down
  • dress
  • dressing
  • duffel
  • engagement
  • fishnet
  • fluffy
  • fluffy
  • football
  • formal
  • gold
  • Hawaiian
  • head
  • high heel
  • hooded
  • John Lennon
  • knee-high
  • lace-up
  • leather
  • long
  • long-sleeved
  • nylon
  • -pants
  • pinkie
  • pin-striped
  • platinum
  • polo-
  • prescription
  • rain
  • reading
  • rubber
  • Saville Row
  • school
  • shell
  • shirt
  • short
  • short-sleeved
  • silk
  • ski
  • skirt
  • sleeveless
  • slip-on
  • sports
  • suede
  • summer
  • sun-
  • sweat-
  • swim-
  • tailor-made
  • tank
  • three-piece
  • toe
  • trench
  • tube
  • under-
  • Velcro
  • vest
  • waist-
  • walking
  • waterproof
  • -wear
  • wedding
  • Wellington
  • winter
  • woollen
  • woolly
  • zip-up

 

Suggested answers 

ankle-length/ rain/ rubber/ ski/ walking/ Wellington/ zip-up + boots

duffel/ long/ rain/ trench/ waist-/ winter + coat

sleeveless/ summer + dress

bifocal/ John Lennon/ prescription/ reading/ sun- + glasses

ball-/ dressing + gown

bomber/ denim/ dinner/ down/ leather/ zip-up + jacket

fluffy/ woolly + jumper

football/ sports + kit

cargo/ under- + pants

diamond/ engagement/ gold/ pinkie/ platinum/ toe/ wedding + ring

leather/ school + satchel

cashmere/ football/ head/ silk/ winter/ woolly + scarf

business/ button-down/ cotton/ denim/ dress/ formal/ Hawaiian/ long-sleeved/ polo-/ short-sleeved/ silk/ sweat- + shirt

high heel/ lace-up/ leather/ slip-on/ sports/ suede/ Velcro/ waterproof + shoes

 ankle/ fluffy/ knee-high/ long/ short/ woollen/ woolly + socks

fishnet/ nylon/ silk/ woollen + stockings/ tights

business/ pin-striped/ Saville Row/ shell/ skirt/ swim-/ tailor-made/ three-piece + suit

long-sleeved/ short-sleeved + T-shirt

black/ bow/ clip-on/ leather/ silk + tie

crop/ hooded/ sleeveless/ tank/ tube/ vest + top

short/ under + -pants/ shirt/ -wear

 

Clothes and appearance synonyms

Without any help for now, try to think of other expressions which mean the same as:

  • braces
  • custom-made
  • DJ
  • dress shirt
  • specs
  • hair flecked with grey
  • jumper
  • tights
  • thongs
  • trainers
  • trousers
  • tux
  • undershirt
  • wellies
  • waistcoat
  • woolly scarf
  • zip

Use the words under the fold to help with the task above.

---------------------------------fold, cover or cut----------------------------------------------

  • -actle
  • -edo
  • -ing
  • -ington boots
  • -per
  • boots
  • business
  • dinner
  • flip
  • flops
  • glass
  • hose
  • jacket
  • pants
  • panty
  • pullov-
  • rain
  • shoes
  • sneak
  • sports
  • suspender
  • sweat
  • tailor
  • vest
  • vest
  • winter


Suggested answers

  • braces – suspenders
  • custom-made – tailor-made
  • DJ – dinner jacket
  • dress shirt – business shirt
  • specs – spectacles/ glasses
  • hair flecked with grey – greying hair
  • jumper – sweater/ pullover
  • tights – panty hose
  • thongs – flipflops
  • trainers – sports shoes/ sneakers
  • trousers – pants
  • tux – tuxedo
  • undershirt – vest
  • wellies – wellington boots/ rainboots
  • waistcoat – vest
  • woolly scarf – winter scarf
  • zip – zipper

 

Clothes and appearance vocabulary with different meanings

All the words below have more than one meaning, e.g. in British English and American English. Discuss the different meanings together.

jacket

pants

purse

scarf

thong(s)

vest

 

Use the words under the fold to help with the task above.

 

----------------------------------------fold, cover or cut---------------------------------------

 

Mixed and split meanings

  • coat
  • flip flops
  • G-string
  • handbag
  • head
  • silk
  • suit
  • trousers
  • underpants
  • undershirt
  • waistcoat
  • wallet
  • winter
  • woolly

------------------------------------fold, cover or cut----------------------------------------

Suggested answers

jacket – the top part of a suit/ a light coat

pants – underpants/ trousers

purse – wallet/ handbag

scarf – winter scarf/ woolly scarf OR headscarf/ silk scarf

thong(s) – flipflops OR G-string

vest – undershirt OR waistcoat

 

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