This episode’s vocabulary
Well presented
adjective phrase — looking neat, stylish, and put-together. → Steve has always been quite well presented.
Outfit
noun — a set of clothes worn together, especially for a particular occasion. → I’ve never seen him in the same outfit more than twice.
Gothic / goth
adjective/noun — relating to a dark, dramatic subculture and fashion style involving black clothing and accessories. → He stood out with a particularly gothic look.
Attire
noun — clothing, especially formal or distinctive. → It used to be typical goth attire.
Loud colours
noun phrase — bright and attention-grabbing colours. → He wears lots of loud colours on relatively formal clothes.
Formal clothes
noun phrase — clothing suitable for official or important occasions. → Like trousers and suit jackets.
Fashion icon
noun — a person who is very stylish and influences others in fashion. → He looks like a fashion icon.
Standoffish
adjective — unfriendly or distant in manner. → Some people might think it makes him look standoffish.
Expression of personality
phrase — a way to show one’s character through appearance or behavior. → It’s an expression of his personality.
Pro-social
adjective — intended to help or benefit others; sociable and friendly. → His personality is very pro-social.
Trendy
adjective — fashionable or up to date with the latest styles. → He always wears something trendy and current.
Mix and match
verb phrase — to combine different items of clothing creatively. → She likes to mix and match patterns and textures.
Stand out
phrasal verb — to be noticeable or distinctive. → His look really makes him stand out in a crowd.
Statement piece
noun — an item of clothing or accessory that draws attention and defines the look. → His jacket is a real statement piece.
Quirky
adjective — unusual in an interesting or charming way. → He has a quirky sense of style that suits him perfectly.
Questions and answers
You should say who he or she is, how you knew them, what his or her dressing style is, and explain why he or she dresses this way.
My friend Steve has always been quite well presented. We've been friends for about 20 years now, but in that time, I don't think I've ever seen him in the same outfit more than twice, and they've always been pretty good choices. To tell you a bit more about how we knew each other, we met at a party in a forest where we lived about 20 years ago, like I said, so we'd both have been teenagers at the time. Even back then, he stood out with a particularly gothic look. Come to think of it, I'm surprised we didn't lose him, since he'd have blended into the surroundings fairly easily back then. In more detail about what he wears, while it used to be typical goth attire, with lots of dark shades and a huge amount of black involved, this evolved into a more almost, I don't know, formal punk kind of style, with lots of loud colours on relatively formal clothes, like trousers and suit jackets. If that sounds bizarre, well, that's because it is, and he's very easy to find in a crowd as a result, so there's less blending in these days. However, because it comes so naturally to him, it looks fantastic, like he's some sort of fashion icon, mixing formality with some rule-breaking colour choices. Some people might think that would make him look standoffish or unapproachable, but he's actually one of the nicest people I know. Even back when we were kids, people called him a friendly goth, and I can see why. When it comes to the reasons he gets dressed up like this, I imagine it's the same reason anyone dresses in a fairly unique manner. It's an expression of his personality, which is very pro-social, so it invites a lot of comment and conversation, which I think is exactly what he's after. If he didn't dress so well, I'm sure he'd still be a popular guy, but I suspect this makes his life a lot easier in that regard.
And do your friends like this person?
The ones I've talked to about him do, yeah.