Step 2: You are what you wear

STEP 2: You are what you wear

Linking fashion to identity

1 / ‘Every day is a fashion show, and the world is your runway’ (Coco Chanel)

Ex. 1

Discuss the following questions.

a What does ‘Every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway’ mean to you?

b Is the world a runway for you? To what extent do you agree with these statements?

1. I use fashion to show the world who I am.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

2. My clothing reflects different aspects of my personality.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

3. I have clothes that tell stories about me.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

4. I have clothing items in my wardrobe that hold strong personal or emotional significance.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

5. I sometimes judge people based on what they wear.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

6. I form my opinion of someone mainly based on first impressions.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

7. Your appearance is all you have in most cases.

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neiter agree nor disagree

agree

Strongly agree

Ex. 2

Watch the clip Wear I am and answer the questions.

a What is the main idea of this video?

b Which statements are true?

Ex. 2

Watch the clip Wear I am and answer the questions.

a What is the main idea of this video?

What you wear can show who you are.

b Which statements are true?

1. One girl mentions she wears heels – although they are uncomfortable – for 8 hours because she wants to wear them.

1. true
2. false

2. Through clothing you can expose a character (trait) that you could never show otherwise.

1. true
2. false

3. One girl states that it is important to show your ethnical background through your clothes.

1. true
2. false

4. One person says that they are being defined as female based on clothing.

1. true
2. false

5. If you let your personality shine within your clothing, you can become happy with yourself.

1. true
2. false

Ex. 3

Who are you?

a Choose 3 personality traits from this word cloud and match them to a specific element of your clothing style that conveys this personality trait. 

First, what do these words mean?

--> quiz

Emma was incredibly ...; she immediately noticed the subtle tension between her friends.

1. versatile
2. perceptive
3. thoughtful
4. amiable

The engineer came up with a(n) ... solution to the complex problem.

1. playful
2. ingenious
3. thoughtful
4. mature

His ... attention to detail made him a great artist.

1. meticulous
2. solitary
3. thoughtful
4. bright

This ... jacket can be worn both formally and casually.

1. playful
2. solitary
3. thoughtful
4. versatile

The lake was perfectly ... , with no ripples in the water.

1. mature
2. solitary
3. serene
4. witty

The ... shopkeeper greeted every customer with a warm smile.

1. bright
2. amiable
3. rebellious
4. adventurous

He preferred a(n) ... hike in the mountains to a crowded city tour.

1. introverted
2. solitary
3. thoughtful
4. open-minded

• Emma was incredibly perceptive; she immediately noticed the subtle tension between her friends.
• He bought her favourite tea without being asked, a truly thoughtful gesture.
• His rebellious spirit made him question every school rule.
• The amiable shopkeeper greeted every customer with a warm smile.
• This versatile jacket can be worn both formally and casually.
• Their conversation was full of playful teasing and laughter.
• She was too stubborn to admit she had made a mistake.
• He preferred a solitary hike in the mountains to a crowded city tour.
• As a sociable person, he made friends wherever he went.
• The engineer came up with an ingenious solution to the complex problem.
• Being introverted, she needed time alone after social events.

• His meticulous attention to detail made him a great artist.
• She was sensitive to criticism and took every comment to heart.
• The curious child asked endless questions about the stars.
• The lake was perfectly serene, with no ripples in the water.
• His witty remarks always made the class laugh.
• His extraverted/extroverted personality made him the life of the party.
• She was ambitious and dreamed of becoming a CEO.
• Being open-minded, she was eager to hear different perspectives.
• His mature response to the conflict impressed everyone.
•  She remained respectful even when she disagreed with the teacher.
• He was a bright student who grasped new concepts quickly.
• Their adventurous nature led them to explore remote islands.

My 3 personality traits:

Ex. 3

Who are you?

Now match these personality traits to a specific element of your clothing style that conveys this personality trait. 

Discuss with a partner.

Report back to the class.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 4

Which personality trait from exercise 3 works best in these sentences?

1 Despite his serious demeanour, Ismar often surprised his colleagues with his witty /perceptive / respectful remarks, always adding a touch of humour to every conversation.

2 Pippa’s stubborn / versatile / ingenious skills allowed her to transition from a successful careerin marketing to a flourishing role in fashion design, showcasing her adaptability and creativityin both fields.

3 The amiable / adventurous / curious receptionist greeted every visitor with a warm smile, setting a welcoming tone for the entire office.

4 Lily’s thoughtful / mature / sociable personality lit up any room she entered, as she effortlessly struck up conversations with strangers and made friends wherever she went.

5 Eli’s open-minded / meticulous / witty approach to his work was evident in his attention to detail, thorough research, and unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality results on every project.

6 As a child, Emily’s thoughtful / solitary / curious nature led her to explore the world around her with a constant thirst for knowledge.

Ex. 5

Watch the video Why Clothes Matter. Complete the sentences with one of these adjectives from the video. There are more adjectives than sentences.

aggressive – authoritative – dour – earnest – modest – resentful – tentative – vain

1 The creative director of the New York Fashion Week spoke to all models with an ___ voice. They had to listen to him.

2 The ___ expression on the people’s faces suggested that they were less than impressed with the latest collection showcased on the runway.

3 Children are often of ___ uniforms. They want to wear what they like.

4 Even if the dress is daring, it will seem more ___  if it is worn with sensible heels or classic jewellery.

5 After the model fell on the runway, she crawled back upright and walked on with ___ steps.

6 Amidst the sea of fashion trends, her ___ belief in sustainable clothing choices stood out as a testament to her environmental values.

aggressive – authoritative – dour – earnest – modest – resentful – tentative – vain

1 The creative director of the New York Fashion Week spoke to all models with an ___ voice. They had to listen to him.

1. aggressive
2. authoritative
3. earnest

2 The ___ expression on the people’s faces suggested that they were less than impressed with the latest collection showcased on the runway.

1. earnest
2. modest
3. dour

3 Children are often of ___ uniforms. They want to wear what they like.

1. aggressive
2. tentative
3. resentful

4 Even if the dress is daring, it will seem more ___ if it is worn with sensible heels or classic jewellery.

1. modest
2. vain
3. earnest

5 After the model fell on the runway, she crawled back upright and walked on with ___ steps.

1. earnest
2. tentative
3. vain

6 Amidst the sea of fashion trends, her ___ belief in sustainable clothing choices stood out as a testament to her environmental values.

1. vain
2. earnest
3. aggressive

Ex. 6

Now watch the video again and answer these content questions.

a What is the main message of this video? Explain.

b Describe the discrepancy in how Peter Blake might be portrayed by others, based on his work and how he wants to portray himself.

c The video mentions that we spend less time thinking about our clothing with close friends. Why?

2 / The psychology of fashion

We skip this part.