12.3 Describing styles and preferences

French fashion is all about personal style and self-expression. From casual streetwear to elegant haute couture, the French have a knack for combining clothing items and accessories to create unique looks.

When describing fashion in French, you'll use specific vocabulary for clothing, adjectives for styles, and expressions for preferences. You'll also learn to compare trends and share opinions on different fashion choices.

French Fashion Styles

Personal Fashion Styles and Preferences

• Key vocabulary for clothing items
  • "une chemise" (shirt)
  • "un pantalon" (pants)
  • "une jupe" (skirt)
  • "une robe" (dress)
  • "des chaussures" (shoes)
  • "un chapeau" (hat)
• Adjectives to describe clothing styles
  • "élégant(e)" (elegant)
  • "décontracté(e)" (casual)
  • "à la mode" (fashionable)
  • "classique" (classic)
  • "unique" (unique)
• Expressions for personal preferences
  • "Je préfère..." (I prefer...)
  • "J'aime porter..." (I like to wear...)
  • "Mon style personnel est..." (My personal style is...)
  • "Je me sens à l'aise dans..." (I feel comfortable in...)
• Adverbs to modify adjectives
  • "très" (very)
  • "assez" (quite)
  • "un peu" (a little)
  • "vraiment" (really)

Combining Vocabulary to Describe Personal Style

• Use clothing items, adjectives, and adverbs to create detailed descriptions
  • "Je préfère porter une chemise élégante avec un pantalon classique" (I prefer to wear an elegant shirt with classic pants)
  • "Mon style personnel est assez décontracté, j'aime les jupes et les robes à la mode" (My personal style is quite casual, I like fashionable skirts and dresses)
• Express comfort and confidence in personal fashion choices
  • "Je me sens vraiment à l'aise dans des chaussures confortables et un chapeau unique" (I feel really comfortable in comfortable shoes and a unique hat)
  • "J'adore mon style décontracté et élégant à la fois" (I love my style that is both casual and elegant)

Fashion Trends and Styles

Comparing and Contrasting Fashion Trends

• Comparative and superlative structures
  • "plus... que" (more... than)
  • "moins... que" (less... than)
  • "aussi... que" (as... as)
  • "le/la/les plus..." (the most...)
• Vocabulary for different fashion trends and styles
  • "bohémien(ne)" (bohemian)
  • "rétro" (retro)
  • "minimaliste" (minimalist)
  • "punk"
  • "streetwear"
• Expressions for comparing and contrasting
  • "D'un côté... de l'autre côté..." (On one hand... on the other hand...)
  • "Contrairement à..." (Contrary to...)
  • "Tandis que..." (While...)
• Conjunctions for linking ideas
  • "et" (and)
  • "mais" (but)
  • "ou" (or)
  • "cependant" (however)

Forming Comparative Sentences

• Compare two or more fashion styles using appropriate structures
  • "Le style bohémien est plus décontracté que le style minimaliste" (Bohemian style is more casual than minimalist style)
  • "Le streetwear est moins élégant que la haute couture, mais il est plus confortable" (Streetwear is less elegant than haute couture, but it is more comfortable)
• Contrast different trends using conjunctions and expressions
  • "D'un côté, le style rétro est unique et vintage, de l'autre côté, le style punk est rebelle et audacieux" (On one hand, retro style is unique and vintage, on the other hand, punk style is rebellious and bold)
  • "Le style minimaliste est simple et épuré, tandis que le style bohémien est coloré et excentrique" (Minimalist style is simple and streamlined, while bohemian style is colorful and eccentric)

Fashion Opinions in French

Expressing Opinions on Fashion Choices

• Opinion expressions
  • "Je pense que..." (I think that...)
  • "À mon avis..." (In my opinion...)
  • "Je trouve que..." (I find that...)
  • "Selon moi..." (According to me...)
• Adjectives to express positive opinions
  • "magnifique" (magnificent)
  • "superbe" (superb)
  • "élégant(e)" (elegant)
  • "chic"
• Adjectives to express negative opinions
  • "affreux(se)" (awful)
  • "laid(e)" (ugly)
  • "démodé(e)" (outdated)
  • "ridicule" (ridiculous)
• Expressions for agreeing and disagreeing
  • "Je suis d'accord" (I agree)
  • "Je ne suis pas d'accord" (I disagree)
  • "C'est vrai" (That's true)
  • "Ce n'est pas vrai" (That's not true)

Sharing and Responding to Fashion Opinions

• Share personal opinions using appropriate expressions and adjectives
  • "Je trouve que cette robe est magnifique et très élégante" (I find that this dress is magnificent and very elegant)
  • "Selon moi, ce chapeau est ridicule et complètement démodé" (According to me, this hat is ridiculous and completely outdated)
• Agree or disagree with others' opinions politely
  • "Je suis d'accord avec toi, ce pantalon est vraiment chic" (I agree with you, these pants are really chic)
  • "Je ne suis pas d'accord, à mon avis, cette jupe n'est pas très flatteuse" (I disagree, in my opinion, this skirt is not very flattering)

French Fashion's Global Influence

Famous French Fashion Figures and Houses

• Famous French fashion designers
  • Coco Chanel
  • Christian Dior
  • Yves Saint Laurent
  • Jean-Paul Gaultier
• Iconic French fashion houses
  • Chanel
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Hermès
  • Dior

Key Vocabulary and Expressions Related to Fashion Influence

• Key vocabulary related to fashion influence
  • "la haute couture" (high fashion)
  • "le prêt-à-porter" (ready-to-wear)
  • "une tendance" (a trend)
  • "un défilé de mode" (a fashion show)
• Expressions for discussing influence
  • "avoir un impact sur..." (to have an impact on...)
  • "influencer" (to influence)
  • "inspirer" (to inspire)
  • "être à l'origine de..." (to be at the origin of...)

Historical and Cultural Context of French Fashion

• The importance of Paris as a fashion capital
  • Paris has been a center of fashion since the 17th century
  • Many famous fashion designers and houses are based in Paris
  • Paris Fashion Week is one of the most important events in the fashion industry
• The role of fashion in French society and economy
  • Fashion is an important part of French culture and identity
  • The fashion industry contributes significantly to the French economy
  • French fashion is known for its elegance, sophistication, and craftsmanship