Shopping, Clothes and Fashion

Maturita topic 7, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is Parts of a Computer and Their Use, Types of Computers.

What to talk about

• types of shops and where you like shopping
• shopping online vs. in real shops
• consumerism, advertising, sales and Black Friday
• your style of clothes, fashion trends, brands
• fast fashion vs. sustainable shopping, second-hand clothes

Model answer

I wouldn’t call myself a shopaholic – for me shopping is more of a necessity than a hobby. We do our weekly shopping in a big supermarket, where you can get everything under one roof, but I prefer small local shops and markets for things like bread or vegetables. When I need clothes or electronics, I usually shop online. It’s convenient, I can compare prices and read reviews, and if something doesn’t fit, I can return it. On the other hand, I sometimes miss the chance to try things on and get advice from a shop assistant.

As for clothes, my style is casual and comfortable – jeans, T-shirts, hoodies and trainers. I don’t follow fashion trends very closely, and I don’t care much about brands, but I like clothes that suit me and that are good quality. For formal occasions, like my school-leaving ball, I have a suit, which I hardly ever wear.

Fashion is a huge industry and it changes very quickly. Fast fashion chains offer cheap clothes that follow the latest trends, so many people buy more than they need and throw clothes away after wearing them only a few times. This has a negative impact on the environment – producing clothes uses enormous amounts of water and energy – and on the people, often in Asia, who make them for very low wages. That’s why second-hand shops, clothes-swapping events and apps for selling used clothes are becoming popular among young people. I think it’s a good trend: you save money, and you can find something original.

Advertising plays a big role in what we buy. Shops use special offers, discounts, loyalty cards and big sales like Black Friday to make us spend money, and influencers on social media promote products all the time. I try to think twice before I buy something and ask myself whether I really need it.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• too / enough: These jeans are too tight. They aren’t big enough.
• passive: Most cheap clothes are made in Asia.
• I’d rather + infinitive: I’d rather buy fewer, better clothes.

Useful phrases

• I’m not really into shopping, but…
• The thing that annoys me most about shopping is…
• It’s definitely worth paying more for…
• I’d rather…, because…
• I’ve recently noticed that…

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion