📘 Part 3: Clothing and personal style

This episode's vocabulary

Tendency (noun) – a usual way of behaving or happening. → Young people have a tendency to push the envelope.

Push the envelope (phrase) – to go beyond the limits of what is considered acceptable. → Young people have a tendency to push the envelope more than old people.

Trend (noun) – a general direction in which something is developing or changing, especially in fashion. → Young people usually follow and help set the latest trends.

Outlier (noun) – someone or something that is very different from others in a group. → Of course, there are outliers, like with what I just said about my mum.

Three-piece suit (noun) – a formal outfit consisting of trousers, a jacket, and a matching waistcoat. → It's tempting to say people wear three-piece suits at work.

Outrageous (adjective) – very unusual or shocking. → These days pretty much anything goes, provided it's not too outrageous.

Constitute (verb) – to be considered as or to make up something. → The norms around what constitutes workplace attire are more flexible now.

Attire (noun) – clothing, especially formal or specific types of clothes. → Workplace attire is more flexible than it used to be.

Time-saving (adjective) – helping to save time. → Buying clothes online could be quite time-saving.

One-size-fits-all (phrase) – suitable for all people or situations. → Baseball caps are one-size-fits-all.

Testy (adjective) – easily irritated or annoyed. → You might get a bit testy if you wear clothes that are too tight.

Relaxed (adjective) – calm and comfortable. → If you wear comfortable clothes, you're more likely to be relaxed.

Headgear (noun) – items worn on the head, like hats or turbans. → Some religious groups encourage people to wear different kinds of headgear.

Identity (noun) – who someone is, including their beliefs, appearance, or group. → Clothing is used to show religious or cultural identity.

Subculture (noun) – a cultural group within a larger one, often with different interests or styles. → Goths are an example of a subculture that expresses identity through clothing.

Wardrobe (noun) – the collection of clothes someone owns. → She updated her wardrobe with a few stylish pieces for summer.

Fit (noun) – how well clothes match the shape and size of a person. → The jacket has a perfect fit and looks very flattering.

Accessorise (verb) – to add accessories to an outfit for decoration. → She likes to accessorise her outfits with bold jewellery.

Fashion-forward (adjective) – very up to date or ahead of current fashion trends. → His fashion-forward style always turns heads.

Statement piece (noun) – an item of clothing or accessory meant to stand out. → Her rhinestone jacket is definitely a statement piece.

Questions and Answers

Maria: What are the differences between clothes worn by old people and those by young people?

Rory: Well, I suppose young people have a tendency to push the envelope more than old people, just based on the fact they usually follow and help set the latest trends. Apparently that's the case. Older people seem to have a more fixed style. Of course, there are outliers, like with what I just said about my mum in the last part.

Maria: What kind of clothes do people wear in their workplace?

Rory: Well, it's tempting to want to say things like three-piece suits and ties, but these days pretty much anything goes, provided it's not too outrageous or showing too much flesh, of course. Well, and even then, there are plenty of workplaces where that is actually acceptable. The norms around what constitutes workplace attire are a lot more flexible than they used to be.

Maria: Do you think it's a good idea to buy clothes online?

Rory: Well, for some items of clothing, you should be fine. For example, you might want to get something from a company where you have experience at the sizing, so you would buy that online, because you no longer have a need to go in and see if it fits or not, because you know what sizes are appropriate for you. And that could be quite time-saving. Certain clothes, like baseball caps, are one-size-fits-all, so those would be perfect for that kind of thing.

Maria: Do people's clothes influence their mood?

Rory: Well, I mean, if it's uncomfortable, then clearly that isn't exactly going to be pleasant, is it? So you might get a bit testy if you wear things that are, well, too tight, for example.

Maria: And can clothes influence people's mood in a positive way?

Rory: Well, I imagine they could. If you're wearing a piece of clothing you consider lucky, for example, that might make you feel more positively about a situation. And then if you're wearing things which are comfortable, you're more likely to be relaxed. So there are positives, definitely.

Maria: Do you think people would use clothing to show their identity?

Rory: Oh yeah, they definitely do. I mean, you just have to look at certain religious groups, for example, that encourage people to wear different kinds of headgear, like turbans, for example. And then we look at how people are dressed in places like the Vatican, that they also wear different robes for various occasions. And that's influenced by their Catholic identity, and it also allows them to show this identity too. So yes, it's definitely something that can be displayed to others, through clothing in particular.

Maria: Why do so many people care so much about their clothing?

Rory: Well, I mean, we just talked about religious people who wear various kinds of clothing. And so, if you're a religious person, then you would care very much about appearing to be as religious as the other people around you, if you're part of a community. And of course, you might care about the afterlife too. So that's one aspect. Another thing is, people invest a lot of time and money into their clothes sometimes. So from this perspective, if you have made this effort, that means that you care about it. And the other vice versa is also true as well. Because you care about it, you invest a lot of time in it.

Maria: And what about non-religious people? Why can they care so much about clothes?

Rory: Well, like I say, if they're expensive, then you want to look after your clothes and have them be well presented. And that reflects on you as well. There's also, I mean, this is kind of connected to religion, but it's a little bit of a separate issue. There are various subcultures that display their identities through clothing. And so, good presentation in terms of the clothes is a reflection of your connection to that subculture. I think the most obvious one is probably things like Goths, for example, who wear the very dark clothes, lots of leather, dark tones and chains. And so theoretically, the more you have invested in your clothes, the stronger your connection to the subculture.