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London
The capital city of England and the United Kingdom lies on the River Thames, which winds through the city. Its many bridges are a famous sight. The oldest is London Bridge, originally made of wood but rebuilt in stone in 1217. The most distinctive is Tower Bridge, which was designated to blend in with the nearby Tower of London.
12. Clothes and Person’s Appearance
(Lab. Workbooks: ‘Appearance’, 1999,
Fashion
Fashion begins in the international world of haute couture (= high fashion), led by top fashion designers and fashion houses. There is great public interest in fashion shows, when the latest styles are worn on the catwalk by highly-paid supermodels, even though few ordinary people expect to wear such clothes. Fashion magazines such as Vogue and television programmes such as The Clothes Show show the latest styles.
Only a few people can afford to buy designer label clothing (= clothes by famous designers) even though here are now more young designers and less expensive labels. The most popular designers include Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint-Laurent. Famous British designers include John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood.
Design ideas from fashion shows are quickly copied at more affordable prices. New ranges of clothing reach British shops in time for each new season. As well as department stores and fashion stores such as Dorothy Perkins, Etam and Oasis, people buy clothes in markets and from mail-order catalogues. Many people, men as well as women, spend a lot of time shopping for clothes.
High-street fashion is aimed mainly at young women because they are most fashion-conscious (= wanting to wear the latest fashions). New colours, designs and fabrics create the latest look or style. Recently, shiny fabrics and clingy, Lycra-based materials in black, grey and dark red have been used for strappy party dresses and close-fitting tops. Black is a fashion colour, and many young women wear black most of the time. Long plain black dresses are especially popular.
Hemlines (= the length of skirts) vary from year to year. Skirts below the knee were fashionable in the 1990s, though miniskirts, popular in the 1960s, also reappeared. Smart shoes have high heels and wedges, but many people wear more practical shoes such as trainers or Doc Marten's if they have to walk far. The season's colours, fabrics and hemline are used in clothes for women over about 25 in shops like Laura Ashley and Hobbs.
Grunge, a style of the early 1990s, was based on loose-fitting layers of clothes, often torn or with holes in, and heavy shoes. Second-hand shops were a popular source of clothes. The ethnic look, characterized by long flowing dresses and trousers in Indian patterns, has also been fashionable. But in the 1990s individualism was strong and no single look dominated the fashion scene.
Women of all ages wear tight stretchy leggings with a T-shirt. Jeans remain popular with both men and women. Changes in men's fashion are most noticeable in ties, the style and colour of shirts, and the design of jackets and trousers. Children's clothes are often small versions of adult fashions. Most people dress up to go to a party, and some wear smart clothes for work, but many wear casual clothes most of the time ({delta} note at formal and informal dress).
Americans are not adventurous in the way they dress and prefer practical, comfortable clothes. Simple styles that do not quickly go out of fashion are most popular. The western or cowboy look is no longer fashionable but, because it was very practical, parts of it are still common, especially jeans, heavy cotton or denim shirts, wide leather belts, and boots. In the early 1980s the preppy style became popular. Preppy clothes such as chinos (= cotton trousers) and Oxford cloth shirts with button-down collars are still easy to buy.
Clothes may be brightly coloured, but people must follow rules about what colours match. Blue and red match, and red matches orange, but an orange shirt should not be worn with a blue sweater. Although it looks strange, people wearing suits or dresses go to work in running shoes because they are more comfortable, and change into smarter shoes at the office.
The outlet store is a popular place to buy clothes. Outlets sell clothing that was in stores the previous season but was not sold. Many Americans prefer to buy clothing at a low price, and do not care whether it is fashionable.
For many younger Americans, the world of sport sets fashions. Some try to wear the same kind of basketball shoes that their favourite players wear. They may also buy T-shirts, pants and jackets with the names of sports teams on them. This type of clothing can be expensive.
Fashion is not just about clothes. A person's figure is important, as well as their hairstyle, make-up and accessories. Fashion models are usually thin, and it is often difficult for overweight people to buy fashionable clothes, so many people try to diet to improve their figure.
In the 1990s men and women had short hair, compared with the long styles of the 1960s and 1970s. Some people dye their hair, or have a pink or green streak; others have coloured cords plaited in. Styles may be influenced by television characters, e.g. the 'Rachel cut' from Friends.
Make-up colours change to match the season's clothes. Tattoos, designs pricked on the skin and then coloured, are still common among men. Some people have less permanent designs painted on their skin with henna. Jewellery is now less chunky and obvious. Some men wear a single earring. Younger people may wear several earrings in one ear, or try body piercing and wear rings in the nose or navel.
No fashion look is complete without the right accessories. Top designers are now expanding their ranges to include cosmetics, glasses and sunglasses, as well as scarves and bags.
waistcoat
vest
trousers
pants
tights
pinafore dress
jumper
dinner jacket
dressing gown bathrobe
trainers
Formal and Informal Dress
In general, people in Britain and the US dress fairly informally. Many wear casual clothes most of the time, not just when they are at home or on holiday. Men and women wear jeans or cords (= corduroy trousers) with a shirt or T-shirt and a sweater to go shopping, meet friends, go to a pub or bar, or take their children out. Leggings (= women's trousers that stretch to fit tightly) or jogging pants are also popular. Older people are more likely to dress more smartly, with women wearing a dress or skirt and blouse, and men a shirt, jacket and trousers, when they go out. In summer younger people may wear shorts (= short trousers/pants), but some people think they are only appropriate on the beach. When the weather is hot some men take off their shirts, though some people do not like this.
Most people in Britain dress up (= put on smart clothes) to go to a party or restaurant. Some restaurants will not let in people who are wearing jeans, or men without a tie. People sometimes talk of putting on their glad rags, wearing their Sunday best, or being dressed to the nines. Many people do not now dress up to go to the theatre, as was once common, but prefer to wear casual or office clothes. Young people are most interested in following fashion and regularly buy new clothes to wear when they go out with their friends.
Men wear lounge suits, and women wear suits or dresses, for formal occasions like funerals or interviews for jobs. Some wear suits or smart clothes every day because their employer expects it or because they think it makes them look more professional. In London many City businessmen wear pinstripe suits made of dark cloth with narrow grey vertical lines. Most people prefer casual, comfortable clothes for work but some companies do not like people wearing jeans. Employees in banks and some shops have smart uniforms.
People tend to dress less formally in the US than in Britain. Americans believe that people should be judged according to how they behave, not how they dress. Jeans are worn on many occasions, including at dinner in a restaurant, and sometimes even to work. But many Americans wear formal clothes for work. Men wear dark suits and women wear skirts or dresses in brighter colours, or occasionally trouser suits. It is acceptable to wear informal clothes in very hot weather, and some employees are allowed to dress more informally on Fridays than during the rest of the week. People also dress more informally in the western US than in the east.
For formal occasions during the day, such as a wedding, men may wear morning dress. This includes a jacket with long 'tails' at the back, dark grey trousers and a grey top hat. Women wear a smart dress and often a hat. For formal events in the evening, men may wear evening dress, also called white tie, which consists of a black tailcoat, black trousers, a grey waistcoat, white shirt and white bow tie. Women usually wear a long evening dress or ball gown. For less formal evening events men wear black tie, consisting of a black dinner jacket, black trousers and a black bow tie.