English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 27: Clothes

Word List
  • badge
  • baggy
  • belt
  • bikini
  • bra
  • buckle
  • button
  • casually
  • change into
  • cange out of
  • checked
  • close-fitting
  • collar
  • cuff
  • denim
  • designer
  • disguise
  • dress up
  • elegant
  • fit
  • flowery
  • grow out of
  • heel
  • helmet
  • hem
  • hood
  • hoodie
  • inside out
  • laces
  • let down
  • let out
  • long-sleeved
  • mask
  • match
  • national costume
  • pair
  • pinstriped
  • plain
  • pyjamas
  • recover
  • round-neck
  • sleeve
  • sleeveless
  • slippers
  • sole
  • spotted
  • striped
  • suede
  • suit
  • take in
  • take up
  • tartan
  • try on
  • V-neck
  • woollen
  • zip
Exercises

27.1 ‣ Which words illustrated in A opposite fit best in the following sentences?

  1. I've eaten too much -I'll have to loosen my .
  2. I must get my black shoes repaired. One _____ is broken and both the _____ have holes in them.
  3. Do up your _____ or you'll fall over.
  4. It's not very warm today. You should wear a _____ over your shirt.
  5. Put your _____ on -this floor is very cold.
  6. I've almost finished making my dress for the party but I've still got to take up the _____ and sew on some _____.
  7. It's starting to rain -why don't you put your _____ up so you don't get wet.
  8. Come on, children. It's time for bed. Go and put your _____ on.
  9. You must wear a _____ when you ride a motorbike.
  10. Maya went on holiday last week. She packed her beach towel but forgot her _____ so she couldn't go swimming.

27.2 ‣ Complete these sentences with any appropriate word. Use pair where it is necessary.

  1. Josh badly needs to buy a new .
  2. Blue _____ are a kind of international uniform for young people.
  3. It's too cold for _____ Put your trousers on.
  4. Dad needs some new underpants. Can you buy him three _____ today?
  5. I've got a hole in my tights. I'll have to change into a new _____.

27.3 ‣ Write two items of clothing that collocate with these adjectives.

  1. close-fitting
  2. baggy _____
  3. checked _____
  4. woollen _____
  5. suede _____
  6. denim _____

27.4 ‣ Which words and expressions from D do these pictures illustrate?


  1. Natasha always looks

  2. Japanese _____

  3. _____

  4. _____

  5. He's turned his pockets _____

27.5 ‣ Put the right verb, match, suit or fit, into each of these sentences.

  1. The blue dress her perfectly now she's had it taken in.
  2. The blue of her dress _____ the blue of her eyes.
  3. That blue dress _____ the girl with the blonde hair.
  4. I can lend you a pair of slippers if you like. I think these ones should _____.

27.6 ‣

Over to you

Describe in as much detail as you can how you are dressed. Use as many words as you can from this unit.
Answer Key
A ‣ Some items of clothing

At this level you probably already know most of the everyday words for clothes. Here are some items of clothing or parts of them which are perhaps less familiar.


  1. pyjamas

  2. zip

  3. hoodie

  4. badge

  5. bikini

  6. belt

  7. bra

  9. helmet

  10. slippers

Language help

Most items of clothing covering the legs are plural words only. If you wish to count them, you need to say, e.g.
Six pairs of trousers/shorts/tights/jeans/underpants or Jamie’s football shorts are too small for him now.
I need to get him a new pair.

B ‣ Verbs associated with clothing

Can I try on these grey shoes in the window?

I love dressing up for parties as I normally wear jeans.

The skirt is too tight and too short - it needs letting out and letting down.

The dress is too loose and too long - it needs taking in and taking up.

He changed out of his weekend clothes into his uniform.

Red usually doesn’t suit people with ginger hair.

Her black bag matches her shoes.

Those shoes don’t fit my son any more. He’s grown out of them.

C ‣ Adjectives for describing people’s clothing

How things fit: baggy [loose]       close-fitting [tight]      Style: long-sleeved       sleeveless       V-neck       round-neck       Materials: denim [jeans are usually made of this]       woollen [made of wool]       suede [a kind of leather that isn’t shiny]


  1. pinstriped

  2. spotted

  3. plain

  4. striped

  5. checked

  6. flowery

  7. tartan

D ‣ Other words and expressions useful for talking about clothing

Anna always looks very elegant even when she’s dressed casually. [in a casual or informal way]

I don’t think it’s worth spending money on designer sunglasses. [made by a famous or fashionable designer]

Does your country have a special national costume?

Alessandra’s put her top on inside out - I can see the label!

The burglars wore masks and hoods as a disguise in the hope that no one would be able to recognise them on CCTV.

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