Discussion Topic - Clothe.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Q. 1. Where do you buy most of your clothes? [Why?]
Answer: I try to buy most of my clothes from some big and popular shopping
centres mainly because they have a huge collection of clothes from different
brands form which I pick up my favourite clothes. Besides, most of the times, the
stores at a big shopping mall offers a great discount on their clothing items which
make my purchases rather cheaper.
Q. 2. How often do you buy new clothes for yourself? [Why?]
Answer: I try to buy new clothes only once in a couple of months, unless, of
course, I am attending some ceremonies or celebration, mainly because my
clothes don’t exactly become old or worn out before a few months or so. Besides,
I try not to waste money on “unnecessary” things if I don’t need them.
Q. 3. How do you decide which clothes to buy?
Answer: Well, before I buy any clothes, I think whether I need those clothes in
order to wear them during some kind parties/ceremonies or I just want them for
casual use. Once I make up my mind, only then I buy my clothes. Sometimes,
the seasonal factors (clothes for summer or winter) also influence my decision in
buying my clothes.

Q. 4. Have the kinds of clothes you like changed in recent years?

[Why?/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I think the kinds of clothes, I liked in the past, has changed
significantly especially with regard to their styles and types of fabrics. Of course,
today’s clothes have more unique styles and fashions but the quality of fabrics
has deteriorated in my opinion.
 

Part 3: Details Discussion

Q. 1. What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country? Why?
Answer: I believe it depends on what kind of works people do, and what kinds of
dress codes the companies choose to put in place. For example, if they work at
an office environment, they usually put on their trousers/pants and full-sleeve
shirt with ties because that’s usually the business professional attire standard in
my country. On the other hands, if they are working in a factory environment,
they either wear jeans with a shirt or a “draped” garment to cover the lower part
of their bodies and a shirt because of the flexible and casual working
environment in a factory.
Q. 2. How have clothes fashions changed in your country over the last few
decades?
Answer: Time changes and so do the styles, fashion ideas and the way people
dress with it, especially, when we are living in a world which is more like a
“globalized village” and when people can easily learn about the styles and
fashions of other countries and communities in just a “click” of a few computer
keys. Anyway, today we have more fashionable clothes in my country, made
from a variety of fabrics, in order to make ourselves comfortable in any kind of
environments and weather systems which we could only dream of about a few
decades ago. Besides, the young generation is more inclined to western fashions
today than they were a few decades ago.
Q. 3. What is the difference between clothes that young people and old
people like to wear?
Answer: I sometimes wonder if there really is any significant difference between
the clothes of young people and that of old ones today! Well, I don’t really think
so because both people want to look good and feel good when they wear any
clothes. Both the young and old people today want to fit in any kind of
environments and weather conditions so that other people can understand and
appreciate their fashion ideas and styles. Both the old people and young people
today want to make sure that they look “unique” in their clothes no matter what
they wear and when they wear them. Having said that, some old people still
prefer traditional dresses while young people are bold in their sense of fashion
and clothing.
Q. 4. What influence has the fashion industry had in your country? Why?
Answer: The fashion industry has had a significant impact and influence in my
country because, one way or another, it has affected the lives of our people and
the society as a whole by redefining our lifestyles and culture anew. In fact, what
we eat, where we go, what we enjoy and what we wear have all been affected by
the fashion industry of my country. Of course, the economic activities as a whole
have increased in my country, due to our fashion industry, as people today want
to find satisfaction in new trends and styles, but we have also become
“superficial”, to some extent, in the process.
Q. 5. What do you think will be the effects of the fashion industry in the
next ten years?
Answer: Well, I have a feeling that in the next 10 years, the fashion industry will
lose its appeal to consumers, along with their niche fashion ideas, in the
traditional sense because consumers will define and dictate the terms of fashion
rather than the fashion industry. In other words, there will be consumers’ effects
on the fashion industry and not the other way around. And when that happens,
the so-called “brands” will have only as much appeal as any other regular
companies, competing with each other to fit into their customers’ expectations.
Q. 6. How does advertising influence what clothes and dresses people
choose to buy? Is this true for everyone?
Answer: Advertising significantly influences what clothes and dresses people
choose to buy by displaying the clothing items in a glamorous way as well as by
appealing to their fashion sense by being “creative” on different kinds of media
outlets. Regular consumers most of the times are unsure about what to buy or
what to wear when, and the advertising companies take advantage of this
“natural weakness” of the consumers in order to “push” a certain kind of clothing
item or fashionable item. However, luckily, this is not true for all consumers.

1. What clothes do you usually like to wear?

2. Do/did you wear the same clothes at school and at home?
3. Will you change your clothes when you go home today?
4. Did you have any special clothes to wear when you where a child?
5. Did you like them?
Well, actually I don't have any instinct for fashion and my look says I'm a laid-back kind of guy.
So I usually wear casual clothes. I'm most comfortable wearing jeans, a T-shirt and my flip-
flops.
Oh, definitely not. I always wore school uniform which was a blue jacket with a white shirt. They
were very simple and boring. So when I reached home, I tended to put on my favourite outfits.

Oh, yes. Formal clothes really make me nervous so when I go home, I take them off and change
into my sweatshirts.
Yes, when I was a child, I needed to wear a uniform at school from primary school all the way to
the very last year of high school; it is a tradition in China, so I believe my parents had to follow
this tradition too.
No, I really couldn't stand the school uniform because the clothes were a bit too old- fashioned; in
addition, sometimes I was reluctant to wear them because they were too large. I don’t know why
they couldn't be a bit more trendy and colourful like the ones in other countries, like Japan and
Australia.

Q2.What kinds of clothes you like to wear?

Ans. On a daily basis, I prefer getting dressed up in casual wear like jeans and T-shirt but for
special occasions, I stick to formal wear like a saree or salwar suit. I believe that it’s really
important to wear clothes according to the occasion so as to be a part of your social group.
Are clothes and clothing fashion important for you?
Well, too an extent they are important, I like to wear clothes that suit my personality, however I
don’t always go after the latest fashion or trend. For me, clothes are a way of representing
myself, and I tend to choose likely.
What different clothes do you wear for different occasions?
I am a travel host, so in my job, I wear the clothes that symbolize the place that we are presently
shooting. Like if we are in Southern India, I am more likely to wear, ghagra choli or a sari.
However, apart from that, I am most likely to wear casual clothes in daily life.
Do you wear different kinds of clothes as compared to ten years from
now?
Surely, yes. The trend has completely changed, although at basic level I wear the same kind.
Like ten years back I wore plain jeans, now I am more likely to wear a rugged jeans.
Do you think the clothes we wear say something about us?
Yes, of course. I think it expresses the person’s personality too an extent. So, like a person
wearing bright clothes tends to be more extrovert as compared to the one wearing mild clothes.

4. Clothes:
 How important are clothes and fashion to you?
I’m not that much worried about clothing or fashion. I believe that clothing gives
a decent look and make people presentable before all. So, regarding attires, I
actually prefer less gorgeous clothes but it should not be interpreted like the way
that I should be too shabby to feel shy meeting people with the attires. Comfort is
my first priority while choosing my costume.
 What kind of clothes do you dislike? Why? 
I dislike clothes which are too stunning and made with the use of eye-irritating
 colours. I like simple but attractive clothes which will make me look good and
nice. I believe the colourful clothes do not make me look nice rather makes me
look strange. Besides, I dislike unfit clothes as well.
 How different are the clothes you wear now from those you
wore 10 years ago?
Well, there are not too many differences. People now prefer shorter clothes while
the length was a bit more 10 years ago. The fashion has also been influenced by
the western themes which were absent in that past.  For me, I used to wear
casual dresses mostly- a pair of jeans, a pair of shoes and T-shirts were my most
common dresses but these days I prefer to wear more formal dresses.
 What do you think the clothes we wear say about us?
Yes, clothes say a lot about us. When we are in worn out attires, usually people
won’t look at us or pay the right attention, while they will adore us unexpectedly
when we are in a stunning suit. So, I firmly believe that clothes say many things
in our favour. The type of dresses someone wears gives hints about his social,
economic, and job status. The colour preferences and style in dresses also
reflects someone’s lifestyle and personality.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Clothes.

1. Can clothing tell you much about a person?
2. Why do some companies ask their staff to wear uniforms?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having uniforms at work?
4. When do people wear traditional clothing in your country?
5. How have clothes fashions changed in your country over the last few
decades?
6. What is the difference between clothes that young people and old people
like to wear?

Q. Can clothing tell you much about a person?

Answer: No, I don’t think the clothing of a person tells “much” about a
person except only how much “fashion-conscious” he or she really is.
Besides, I never really feel “comfortable” with “judging” a person based on
his or her “clothing”. However, sometimes, the clothing of a person
provides a special “clue” to what a person does for his or her job. For
example, a person with “workboots” and “dirty trousers” would most likely
tell us that he or she works in the “farms” or he works in “construction”.

Q. Why do some companies ask their staff to wear uniforms?

Answer: Companies generally ask their staffs to wear uniforms mainly
because they want to ensure “uniformity” across all levels of their “staffs”.
This is done either to help employees identify with their companies or to
boost morale at all levels of their staffs. For example, if a “lower” level
employee at a company finds that he and CEO are wearing the same kinds
of “dress”, the “lower” level staffs feel that he is no “less” than his CEO
and that both contribute equally for the profit of the company. Besides,
some companies want their employees to be easily recognisable by
customers, for example, employees in a restaurant, and therefore ask the
staffs to wear uniforms during office hours.

Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having uniforms at

work?
Answer: The main advantage is that it helps reduce the “psychological and
ego” gap between the high-level employees and those of the lower levels
because they all wear the same kind of “dress”. Secondly, it helps promote
the company “brand”, especially, when wearing the uniforms outside of the
work. Thirdly, the uniform helps identify and separate the employees from
the customers, when working in an environment that involves serving
customers by remaining physically present with them.

The disadvantage, of course, of wearing uniforms at work is that it limits

“self-expression” of the employees as they can’t seem to “wear” what they
like. Besides, some uniforms may also be considered as “objectionable” to
some employees on religious and cultural grounds.

Q. When do people wear traditional clothing in your country?

Answer: It all depends on the moods of the people involved as well as the
weather. However, generally speaking, people in my country like to wear
traditional clothing during religious festivals and ceremonies and wedding
ceremonies. Many people also choose to wear traditional clothing during
“New Year” celebration (different from the English “New Year” calendar).

Q. How have clothes fashions changed in your country over the last few
decades?
Answer: Clothing styles and fashions have significantly changed in our
country over the last few decades. As a result, traditional clothing today is
“frowned upon” unless they are worn during some “traditional festivals
and celebration”. In fact, today we can see that even a 60-year-old person
is wearing “blue jeans” and “t-shirt” which was almost impossible to
imagine before a few decades. Besides, there are many more choices of
clothing fabrics today than what it used to before a few decades. Anyway,
these changes are not unexpected because the clothing companies are
coming up with newer and newer fashions in order to “break” into the new
market segments.

Q. What is the difference between clothes that young people and old
people like to wear?
Answer: As far as I can see, today there is a very small difference, if any at
all, between what young people and old people like to wear. However, it is
not unusual to see some old people still are choosing to wear traditional
clothing most of the times while young people have no interest in wearing
them whatsoever. Besides, both the “young” and “old” people today want
more from their lives, and therefore, it is only natural that both generations
would want to bring some “styles” and “colours” in their lives by wearing
dresses that are trendy and fashionable.