alt="Phrases and Vocabulary in English for Clothing and Accessories"
·

Phrases and Vocabulary in English for Clothing and Accessories

English Learning, English Vocabulary

If you’re looking to update your closet, talking about your own fashion sense, or just trying to understand the fashion world better, it’s super important to know all about clothes and accessories in English.

I will help you learn all the key words, phrases, and sayings about different types of clothes, accessories, and fashion ideas.

After reading this, you’ll totally be ready to chat about fashion in English like a pro!

Basic Clothing Items

Let’s start with the fundamental pieces that form the foundation of most wardrobes:

Shirt: A garment for the upper body with sleeves

T-shirt: A casual, short-sleeved shirt typically made of cotton

Blouse: A loose-fitting upper garment for women, often more formal than a shirt

Pants/Trousers: Garments that cover the lower body and legs

Jeans: Casual pants made of denim fabric

Skirt: A garment that hangs from the waist and covers part of the legs

Dress: A one-piece garment for women that covers the body and extends down over the legs

Jacket: An outer garment for the upper body

Coat: A heavy outer garment worn for warmth

Sweater: A knitted garment worn on the upper body for warmth

Shorts: Short pants that end above the knee

Socks: Garments worn on the feet, usually under shoes

Footwear

Moving down to the feet, here are some common types of shoes and related terms:

Sneakers/Trainers: Casual athletic shoes

Boots: Shoes that cover the foot and ankle, often extending up the leg

Sandals: Open shoes with straps

Heels: Shoes with raised heels, typically worn by women

Flats: Women’s shoes without raised heels

Loafers: Slip-on shoes without laces

Flip-flops: Simple sandals with a strap between the toes

Slippers: Soft, comfortable shoes worn indoors

Expand English Vocabulary:

Outerwear

For protection against the elements, we have various types of outerwear:

Raincoat: A waterproof coat for rainy weather

Windbreaker: A light jacket designed to protect against wind

Parka: A long, warm coat with a hood, typically lined with fur or faux fur

Overcoat: A long, warm coat worn over other clothes in cold weather

Cardigan: A knitted sweater that opens at the front

Hoodie: A sweatshirt with a hood

Vest/Waistcoat: A sleeveless garment worn over a shirt

Undergarments

These items are worn beneath outer clothing:

Underwear: Garments worn under other clothes, next to the skin

Bra: A supportive undergarment worn by women on the upper body

Panties: Women’s underpants

Boxers: Loose-fitting underpants for men

Briefs: Close-fitting underpants

Lingerie: Women’s underwear and nightwear, often designed to be attractive or sexy

Accessories

Accessories can make or break an outfit.

Here are some common terms:

Belt: A strap worn around the waist to hold up pants or as a fashion accessory

Scarf: A piece of fabric worn around the neck or head

Gloves: Coverings for the hands with separate sections for each finger

Hat: A covering for the head

Cap: A soft, flat hat with a visor

Tie: A long piece of cloth worn around the neck, typically by men with a collared shirt

Bow tie: A ribbon-shaped necktie

Jewelry: Decorative items worn on the body, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings

Watch: A timepiece worn on the wrist

Sunglasses: Glasses with tinted lenses to protect the eyes from sunlight

Handbag/Purse: A bag carried by hand or over the shoulder, typically used by women

Wallet: A small, flat case used to carry money and cards

Fabric Types

Understanding different fabric types can help when shopping or caring for clothes:

Cotton: A soft, natural fiber

Wool: A natural fiber from sheep or other animals

Silk: A smooth, luxurious natural fiber

Polyester: A synthetic fabric known for its durability

Denim: A sturdy cotton twill fabric, typically used for jeans

Leather: Material made from animal hide

Linen: A lightweight fabric made from flax

Velvet: A soft fabric with a dense pile surface

Nylon: A strong, synthetic fabric

Spandex/Lycra: A stretchy, synthetic fabric

Patterns and Prints

Clothes come in various patterns and prints:

Striped: Having stripes or lines

Polka dot: A pattern of dots

Floral: Decorated with flowers

Plaid: A crisscross pattern of lines and bands

Checkered: A pattern of squares

Solid: Of a single color without pattern

Paisley: A distinctive curved teardrop-shaped pattern

Animal print: Patterns resembling animal fur or skin, like leopard or zebra

Clothing Styles and Cuts

Different styles and cuts can dramatically change the look of a garment:

Fitted: Designed to follow the contours of the body

Loose: Not fitting tightly to the body

V-neck: A neckline in the shape of a “V”

Crew neck: A round, close-fitting neckline

Turtleneck: A high, close-fitting, turned-over collar

Sleeveless: Without sleeves

Long-sleeved: With sleeves that extend to the wrist

Short-sleeved: With sleeves that end above the elbow

Strapless: Without straps or sleeves, held up by fitting tightly around the chest

Off-the-shoulder: Designed to be worn below the shoulders

High-waisted: With a waistline above the natural waist

Low-rise: Sitting below the natural waist

A-line: Narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, forming an “A” shape

Pencil: Narrow and straight, typically referring to skirts

Clothing Sizes

Understanding sizing terminology is crucial when shopping:

Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), Extra Large (XL)

Petite: Designed for shorter individuals

Plus-size: Clothing sizes for larger individuals

Tall: Designed for taller individuals

Slim fit: Cut closer to the body

Regular fit: A standard, neither loose nor tight fit

Shoes and Footwear Details

Some specific terms related to shoes:

Laces: The strings used to fasten shoes

Velcro: A fastening consisting of two strips of nylon fabric that stick together

Buckle: A fastening used to join two ends of a strap

Heel: The raised part of the shoe under the heel of the foot

Sole: The bottom part of the shoe that touches the ground

Insole: The inner sole of a shoe

Toe box: The front part of the shoe that covers the toes

Jewelry and Accessories Terminology

For those interested in jewelry and accessories:

Pendant: A piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck

Stud: A small piece of jewelry worn in a pierced ear

Hoop: A circular earring

Charm bracelet: A bracelet to which small ornaments are attached

Cufflinks: Decorative fasteners for shirt cuffs

Brooch: An ornamental pin or clip

Anklet: A bracelet worn around the ankle

Fashion Styles and Trends

Some popular fashion styles and related terms:

Casual: Relaxed, informal style

Formal: Suited for official or important occasions

Business casual: A style that is less formal than traditional business wear but still professional

Vintage: Clothing or accessories from a previous era

Retro: Modern items designed to look like they’re from a past decade

Bohemian: A free-spirited style inspired by artists and creatives

Preppy: A neat, traditional style associated with private preparatory schools

Streetwear: Casual clothing inspired by urban culture

Fast fashion: Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers

Sustainable fashion: Clothing produced with consideration for environmental and socio-economic aspects

Shopping and Retail Vocabulary

Useful terms when shopping for clothes:

Sale: A period when items are sold at reduced prices

Clearance: Final sale of items at deeply discounted prices

Fitting room: A small room where you can try on clothes

Size chart: A guide showing the measurements for different clothing sizes

Return policy: The rules for returning purchased items

Exchange: Swapping one purchased item for another

Tailor: A person who makes or alters clothing

Alterations: Changes made to clothing to improve the fit

Care Instructions

Understanding care labels is important for maintaining your clothes:

Wash: To clean with water

Dry clean: A cleaning process using solvents instead of water

Tumble dry: To dry clothes in a machine

Iron: To remove wrinkles using heat

Steam: To remove wrinkles using hot vapor

Bleach: A chemical used to whiten or disinfect clothes

Fabric softener: A liquid used to make clothes softer

Delicate cycle: A gentler washing machine setting for fragile items

Describing Clothing

Adjectives and phrases to describe clothing:

Stylish: Fashionable and attractive

Trendy: Very fashionable or up-to-date

Chic: Stylish and sophisticated

Elegant: Graceful and stylish in appearance

Shabby: Worn and in poor condition

Baggy: Loose and hanging in folds

Tight: Fitting closely to the body

Revealing: Showing more of the body than is usual or considered proper

Conservative: Not drawing attention; modest

Comfortable: Providing physical ease and relaxation

Outfit Combinations

Some common outfit combinations and related phrases:

Suit and tie: Formal attire typically worn by men, consisting of a jacket, trousers, shirt, and tie

Little black dress: A simple, often short black dress suitable for many occasions

Jeans and a T-shirt: A classic casual combination

Mix and match: To combine different pieces of clothing to create various outfits

Layering: Wearing multiple layers of clothing, often for warmth or style

Color blocking: Wearing blocks of solid colors together in an outfit

Dress it up/down: To make an outfit more formal or casual by changing accessories or certain pieces

Fashion Events and Concepts

Important terms related to the fashion industry:

Fashion show: An event where new clothing collections are displayed on models

Runway: The platform or catwalk where models walk during a fashion show

Fashion week: A week-long event where designers showcase their new collections

Capsule wardrobe: A small collection of versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched

Signature style: A distinctive, recognizable way of dressing

Fashion forward: Ahead of current fashion trends

Timeless: Not bound to any particular era or time; classic

Body Measurements

Understanding these terms is crucial when buying clothes:

Bust/Chest: The measurement around the fullest part of the chest

Waist: The measurement around the narrowest part of the torso

Hips: The measurement around the widest part of the hips

Inseam: The distance from the crotch to the bottom of the leg

Shoulder width: The measurement across the back from shoulder to shoulder

Seasonal Clothing

Different types of clothing are worn in different seasons:

Swimwear: Clothing designed to be worn while swimming

Bikini: A two-piece swimsuit for women

Trunks: Men’s swimwear shorts

Winter coat: A heavy coat for cold weather

Mittens: Warming coverings for the hands with a single section for four fingers

Earmuffs: Coverings worn over the ears for warmth

Sun hat: A wide-brimmed hat that protects from the sun

Professional and Specialized Clothing

Certain professions or activities require specific clothing:

Uniform: A distinctive set of clothes worn by members of an organization

Scrubs: Loose, comfortable clothing worn by medical professionals

Lab coat: A knee-length coat worn by scientists or medical professionals

Chef’s whites: The traditional uniform worn by professional chefs

Sportswear: Clothing designed for sports and exercise

Workwear: Durable clothing suitable for manual work

Final Thoughts

This big list of words about clothes and accessories can help you talk about fashion in English.

Just like fashion changes, language changes too, with new words coming up all the time.

Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know a word.

Whether you’re talking about your style, shopping for new clothes, or chatting about the latest trends, these words will help you say what you mean.

Fashion is a way to show who you are, and having the right words can help you share your ideas and likes.

So, next time you see someone with a cool outfit, look for a perfect black dress, or want to talk about a new accessory, you’ll have the words to do it well in English.

Have fun with your style!

Expand More Vocabulary:

Resources:

Manoj Sharma is an English teacher and soft skills trainer with more than 10 years of experience in teaching students of different age groups and levels. He specializes in spoken English, vocabulary building, grammar, phrasal verbs, and daily-use English.

Through his website Love You English, he helps learners speak English confidently using simple explanations, real-life examples, and easy learning techniques. His goal is to make English learning practical, enjoyable, and stress-free for students, job seekers, and professionals.