Clothing styles and fashion

Styles vestimentaires et mode

Talk about your favourite outfit.
Describe your outfit and fashion.

Explore French clothing styles and fashion vocabulary like "chemise" (shirt), "pantalon" (pants), and "robe" (dress) through dialogues on work attire, shopping, and casual style.

Vocabulary (18)

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Une époque

An era Show

La mode

Fashion Show

La robe

The dress Show

Les talons aiguilles

Stiletto heels Show

Le gilet

The waistcoat Show

La cravate

The tie Show

Être à la mode

To be in fashion Show

Être démodé

To be out of fashion Show

Les baskets

Trainers Show

Le costume

The suit Show

La tenue de sport

The sports kit Show

Enlever

To remove Show

Commencer

To begin Show

La cabine d'essayage

The fitting room Show

La haute couture

High fashion Show

Le prêt-à-porter

Ready-to-wear Show

Un accessoire

An accessory Show

La collection

The collection Show

Exercises

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These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

Rencontre entre collègues le matin

Example 1

Bonjour ! J'aime beaucoup ta tenue aujourd'hui.

Hello! I really like your outfit today.

Merci ! Je porte une chemise bleue et un pantalon noir. Et toi, quelle est ta tenue préférée pour le travail ?

Thank you! I'm wearing a blue shirt and black pants. And you, what is your favorite work outfit?

Je préfère les robes simples avec un blazer. C'est élégant et confortable.

I prefer simple dresses with a blazer. It's elegant and comfortable.

Oui, il est important de se sentir bien dans ses vêtements au bureau.

Yes, it's important to feel good in your clothes at the office.

Example 2

Salut ! Ta veste est très jolie, c'est ta préférée ?

Hi! Your jacket is very nice, is it your favorite?

Oui, c'est ma veste préférée. Elle est à la fois décontractée et chic.

Yes, it's my favorite jacket. It is both casual and chic.

Je porte souvent des jeans avec un pull léger. C'est pratique.

I often wear jeans with a light sweater. It's practical.

Moi aussi, j'aime un style simple et professionnel.

Me too, I like a simple and professional style.

Shopping en boutique de vêtements

Example 1

Bonjour, je cherche une tenue pour une soirée décontractée.

Hello, I am looking for an outfit for a casual evening.

Avez-vous une robe élégante mais confortable ?

Do you have an elegant but comfortable dress?

Oui, cette robe en coton est très agréable à porter.

Yes, this cotton dress is very pleasant to wear.

Elle a une belle couleur. Je la trouve parfaite pour la soirée.

It has a beautiful color. I find it perfect for the evening.

Merci, je vais l'essayer.

Thank you, I will try it on.

Super, dites-moi ce que vous en pensez.

Great, let me know what you think.

Example 2

Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me conseiller ?

Excuse me, could you advise me?

Bien sûr, quel style aimez-vous ?

Of course, what style do you like?

Je préfère un style classique avec des couleurs neutres.

I prefer a classic style with neutral colors.

Ces pantalons gris sont très élégants et faciles à assortir.

These gray pants are very elegant and easy to match.

Je les trouve vraiment beaux, je vais les prendre.

I find them really nice, I will take them.

Bonne idée, ils sont aussi très confortables.

Good idea, they are also very comfortable.

Discussion sur la mode entre amis

Example 1

Quel est ton style de vêtements préféré ?

What is your favorite clothing style?

J'aime un style décontracté mais soigné, comme un jean et un pull.

I like a casual but neat style, like jeans and a sweater.

Aujourd'hui, je porte un t-shirt blanc et une veste en jean.

Today, I am wearing a white t-shirt and a denim jacket.

C'est un look simple mais efficace.

It's a simple but effective look.

Oui, j'aime être à l'aise sans faire négligé.

Yes, I like being comfortable without looking sloppy.

Example 2

Comment décrirais-tu ta tenue aujourd'hui ?

How would you describe your outfit today?

Je porte une chemise rouge et un pantalon beige.

I am wearing a red shirt and beige pants.

C'est une bonne combinaison, les couleurs vont bien ensemble.

That's a good combination, the colors go well together.

Merci, j'aime mélanger les couleurs classiques avec un peu de couleur.

Thank you, I like mixing classic colors with a bit of color.

Ton style est vraiment sympa et naturel.

Your style is really nice and natural.

Merci beaucoup ! C'est important pour moi d'avoir un style pratique et élégant.

Thank you very much! It’s important for me to have a practical and elegant style.

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Quand j'__________ la tenue, je sentais que c'était parfait pour la soirée.

2. Avant de choisir ma robe, j'__________ toujours plusieurs modèles dans la cabine d'essayage.

3. Chaque année, la haute couture __________ à Paris, offrant des collections impressionnantes.

4. Quand je __________ à découvrir la mode des années 80, je pensais que les couleurs vives étaient très populaires.

Exercise 3: A shopping day for a perfect outfit

Instruction:

Hier, je (Commencer - Imparfait) ma journée en préparant une liste de vêtements à acheter. Au magasin, nous (Enlever - Imparfait) nos manteaux avant d'entrer dans la cabine d'essayage. Mon ami (Commencer - Imparfait) par essayer une robe de la nouvelle collection. Pendant ce temps, je (Enlever - Imparfait) mes baskets pour essayer une paire de talons aiguilles. Finalement, nous (Commencer - Imparfait) à choisir des accessoires pour compléter notre tenue.

Yesterday, I was starting (Commencer - Imperfect) my day by preparing a list of clothes to buy. At the store, we were taking off (Enlever - Imperfect) our coats before entering the fitting room. My friend was starting (Commencer - Imperfect) by trying on a dress from the new collection. Meanwhile, I was taking off (Enlever - Imperfect) my sneakers to try on a pair of high heels. Finally, we were starting (Commencer - Imperfect) to choose accessories to complete our outfit.

Verb Tables

Commencer - Commencer

Imparfait

je commençais
tu commençais
il/elle/on commençait
nous commencions
vous commenciez
ils/elles commençaient

Enlever - Enlever

Imparfait

j'enlevais
tu enlevais
il/elle/on enlevait
nous enlevions
vous enleviez
ils/elles enlevaient

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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Student worksheet

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Enlever to remove Share Copied!

Imparfait

French	English
(je/j') enlevais	I was removing
(tu) enlevais	you were removing
(il/elle/on) enlevait	he/she/one was removing
(nous) enlevions	we were removing
(vous) enleviez	You were removing
(ils/elles) enlevaient	they removed

Exercises and examples phrases

Commencer to begin Share Copied!

Imparfait

French	English
(je/j') commençais	I was beginning
(tu) commençais	you were beginning
(il/elle/on) commençait	he/she/one was beginning
(nous) commencions	we were beginning
(vous) commenciez	you were beginning
(ils/elles) commençaient	they began

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: Clothing Styles and Fashion

This lesson focuses on French vocabulary and expressions related to clothing styles, fashion, and shopping experiences. Designed for A2 learners, it develops your ability to describe outfits, discuss personal style, and navigate conversations about fashion in everyday situations.

Key Topics Covered

Describing clothing and styles: Learn how to talk about different garments, colors, and combinations, such as "une chemise bleue" (a blue shirt), "un pantalon noir" (black pants), or "une robe élégante" (an elegant dress).
Discussing preferences and opinions: Express what you like and why, for example, "J'aime un style décontracté mais soigné" (I like a casual but neat style) or "Je préfère les robes simples avec un blazer" (I prefer simple dresses with a blazer).
Fashion-related conversations: Practice dialogues that simulate workplace greetings, shopping advice, and casual discussions about style with friends.
Verb practice in context: Focus on the imperfect tense (l’imparfait) of commonly used verbs related to fashion activities, such as commencer (to start) and enlever (to take off), useful for narrating past actions and experiences.

Essential Vocabulary and Phrases

Une veste – a jacket
Un pull léger – a light sweater
Les accessoires – accessories
Une cabine d'essayage – fitting room
Être à l'aise – to feel comfortable
Style classique vs. style décontracté – classic vs. casual style

Grammar Highlight: The Imperfect Tense (L’imparfait)

This lesson integrates the imperfect tense to describe past habits or ongoing situations related to fashion. For example, "Quand j’enlevais la tenue..." means "When I was taking off the outfit...". The lesson provides conjugation tables for verbs like commencer and enlever to help solidify understanding.

Learning Tips on Language Differences

Unlike English, French verbs often change to express nuances of past actions with tenses like the imperfect, which conveys a continuous or habitual past action. For example, "I was trying on" translates to "j'essayais", highlighting an action in progress or repeated in the past, rather than the simple past form in English. Also, clothing terms in French are gendered (e.g., une robe feminine; un pantalon masculine), so be mindful of article and adjective agreements.

Useful phrases for everyday conversation include "J'aime beaucoup ta tenue aujourd'hui" (I really like your outfit today) and polite requests during shopping like "Pourriez-vous me conseiller ?" (Could you advise me?). These will help you engage naturally with French speakers about fashion and personal style.

Vocabulary (18)

Student worksheet

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