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3ºESO B UNIT 6 – FASHION

READING

What is Fashion?

The big fashion houses lead the way in new trends

It's not that easy to answer the question, "what is fashion?" because it means different things

to different people. Fashion is an art. It's a religion. It's a job. It's a peek into a personality. It's

playfulness. It's an escape or a disguise. It is a feast for the eyes. But ultimately, fashion is an

individual statement of expression for each of us. French fashion designer Coco Chanel once

said, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street;

fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."It's true. Fashion isn't

defined solely by our clothing choices, but is also conveyed through the way we carry

ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world. At its most fundamental (and straight

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from the dictionary), fashion is simply the prevailing style or custom, as in dress or behaviour.

So, who exactly answers the question "what is fashion"? Who decides what's fashionable and

what isn't? What's in or what's out?

Fashion Designers

The iconic fashion houses - Prada, Gucci, Chanel -

are referred to as haute couture, French for "high

sewing." These designers lead the way in creating

trend-setting fashion. While some of their designs

are outrageous and completely unrealistic when

it comes to everyday wear, generally the theme is

adapted into versions suitable for wearing.

Media

Fashion trends are often sparked by characters

on popular television shows and movies as well

as adopted from magazine pages. "Sex and the

City," "The Devil Wears Prada," these shows introduced us to new, cutting-edge designs. While

you might not be caught dead wearing a Carrie Bradshaw original, you might take ideas

inspired from her look and piece together your own creation.

Celebrities

A prime example of a celebrity-driven fashion trend? UGGs. Until

Kate Hudson and Jessica Simpson were spotted wearing them around

L.A. several years ago, no one had given any thought to UGG boots.

Now they are everywhere.

Musicians

Musicians have always been very influential when it

comes to dictating fashion. Rock 'n' roll is fashion.

Elvis is an iconic example. In the 1950s, everyone

wanted to dress like Elvis. What about the heavy

metal hair bands so popular in the 1980s? Axl Rose

reinvented the head bandana while Poison, Motley

Crue and Bon Jovi set the pace for big, rocker hair.

Just because you don't know if a Prada bag is fall

2007 or spring 2008 doesn't matter (unless you

work in the fashion industry, of course). All that

matters is that you like it and it's an expression of you. That is fashion.

NOW READ THE TWO TEXTS IN YOUR ENGLISH TEXTBOOK (UNIT 6) AND DO THE

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS.

Coco Chanel

Elvis Presley

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LISTENING/WATCHING

Here is a video lesson by Mister Duncan about fashion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VGciIh1bAA

Fashion week: London Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Week Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSNCBQF8MBA

SONGS

1. The Kinks – Dedicated Follower of Fashion (with lyrics):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAR-nx4w88

Which decade does this song represent? Which two famous streets and one famous square,

all in London, are mentioned in the song?

2. David Bowie – Fashion (with lyrics): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQF0sreEpMc

When was David Bowie a real trend-setter?

What does “brand new” mean? What are “brand-name” clothes?

3. Lady Gaga Fashion (lyrics): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGTKtqtXeE

Which decade does this song represent?

4. Marilyn Monroe – Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq1lb_marilyn-monroe-diamonds-are-a-g_music

Which famous New York jeweller’s does Marilyn mention? In which film does this same

store play an important part? Who is the actress in that movie? Can you find an image of her

outside this shop?

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Famous fashion designers

Women's fashion has been shaped over the years by

famous designers

Here are some of the 20th century's famous fashion

designers

Famous artists always made their subjects appear

grander, more universal, more important than life. Today,

fashion designers are like artists, turning women's

clothing into art. Here are some famous fashion designers

of the 20th century.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel: Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's is a true rags-to-riches story. Born in 1883,

Chanel spent her early childhood in a French orphanage where she learned how to sew. She

left school in 1901 to work with a Parisian tailor. During this time she began designing hats,

which attracted the attention of the elite. In 1910 she opened her own business. After World

War I, Chanel made her mark on the fashion world by using common, everyday fabrics and

simple designs to create an elegant and understated style. In 1926, she introduced the little

black dress, a simple design that proved versatile and long-lasting. Other famous creations

include the Chanel handbag and Chanel No. 5, a perfume that still enjoys popularity today.

Chanel is also famous for introducing trousers to women's fashion.

Prada: Miuccia Prada's résumé ranged from a Ph.D. in political science to work as a mime. In

1978, Prada inherited a leather goods company started by her grandfather Mario more than

60 years before. When Prada took control of the company her designer prowess became

apparent. She designed the first Prada handbag in black, which is still synonymous with the

Prada name. In the 1980s and '90s, Prada introduced a new line of clothing that accentuated

clean lines and elegant fabrics. Prada also experimented with more exotic materials,

incorporating latex and pieces of mirror in her designs.

Yves Saint Laurent: Yves Saint Laurent's 35-year career as a fashion designer is widely

considered one of the greatest. His is renowned for his updated 1920s line, which was his first

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as a fashion designer. Saint Laurent pioneered the concept of ready-to-wear fashion. In 1966,

he introduced the power suit for women and the smoking jacket for men. Similar to Coco

Chanel, Saint Laurent redesigned traditionally male wardrobe staples into beautiful clothing

for women. He died in 2008.

Versace: Gianni Versace, trained as an architect, embarked on a fashion design career at 25. In

1978, Versace opened his first boutique in Milan, Italy. His family-run fashion brand became

world famous. His creations appeared in "Miami Vice" and "Showgirls." Celebrities loved his

designs, and in turn he used celebrities to showcase his work. In 1997, Gianni Versace was shot

to death in Miami Beach, Florida. Close family members took over the business.

Ralph Lauren: Ralph Laurent started out as a road salesman for a neckwear manufacturer. He

launched Polo ties in 1967, followed by men's wear the next year and women's wear in 1971.

Ralph Lauren reached the pinnacle of his fame when he designed the men's clothing for "The

Great Gatsby," the 1974 film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel that starred Robert Redford.

Ralph Lauren became the first designer to launch a complete home collection in 1983.

Calvin Klein: In 1968, Calvin Klein started designing coats. By 1969 he had landed on the cover

of Vogue. While touring the country, Calvin Klein realized women wanted to buy all their

clothes from a single designer. He answered their need by designing a wardrobe of

interrelated pieces, allowing women to dress for any occasion.

These are some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th century. They proved that

clothes can be considered art; what you wear makes you stylish and contemporary.

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YOU ARE A YOUNG FASHION DESIGNER. DESIGN FASHIONABLE CLOTHES FOR A MAN AND A

WOMAN. Explain your fashion choices. REVISE VOCABULARY FOR CLOTHES.

MY FASHION CHOICES:

MALE: FEMALE:

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What is a “fashion victim? What do you think about such a person?

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SHOPPING VOCABULARY

Do you have money to spend on clothes? If you not, you can still enjoy window-

shopping. It’s free! When you window-shop, you just look at all the things for sale in a

store without intending to buy anything.

If you do have money to spend on clothes, do you prefer to wait for a sale or do you

shop when you need something? If something is for sale, you can buy it for money. If

something is on sale, the price has been reduced from the original price.

When you find a piece of clothing you like in a store, it’s a good idea to try it on first

before you buy it. You want to make sure that it fits. If you want to try something on,

find a sales assistant and ask: Can I try this on? or May I try this on? The sales

assistant will show you to the changing rooms (also called ‘fitting rooms’). While you

are trying the clothes on, the sales assistant sometimes asks: Does it fit? Would you like

to try it in another size? Or you might ask “Does this suit me?

When you have decided to buy something, take all your items to the cash desk (or

cashier) to pay for them. In the U.K. you have three options: you can pay by debit

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card (your bank card), use your credit card or pay cash. Most places accept a cheque,

but almost nobody uses cheques to pay for things in a store anymore.

The cashier will put your new clothes in a paper or plastic bag, and then you get to take

your new clothes home!

SHOPPING EXPRESSIONS

retail therapy: (noun) = this occurs when you go shopping and buy

yourself things in order to make yourself feel better (when you are sad or

unhappy)!

I’m really upset about breaking up with my boyfriend. I need some retail therapy!

a shopping spree: (noun) = you spend a lot of money and do a lot of

shopping in a short amount of time.

She went on a shopping spree this afternoon! It looks like she bought everything in the

store.

to shop till you drop: (verb expression) = to spend so much time and so

much money shopping that you are physically and financially tired, you are

ready to drop from exhaustion! You are so tired that you can’t shop

anymore!

A lot of stores are putting out their fall clothes now. Are you ready to shop till

you drop?

to shop around: (phrasal verb) = before buying an expensive item (like

household appliances or a car), you should compare the price and quality of

the item in different stores.

We shopped around before buying the kitchen table, and we found that Sears had the

best deal.

to shoplift: (verb) = to steal something from a store (to take something

without paying for it).

My son was caught shoplifting. He stole a $100 jacket from a department store.

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SPEAKING PROJECT

FASION THROUGH THE DECADES from the 1920s to the 2000s

In groups of three you are going to research fashion decade by decade from the 1920s to the

2000s. You will present your findings to the class. Try to include information about male and

female fashions, hairstyles, music, furniture, transport and so on. REMEMBER THAT YOU

MUST MAKE YOUR EXPLANATIONS EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR YOUR CLASSMATES.

Here are some web pages to help you out (of course, you must find your own information,

too):

Fashion through the decades: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg3db9lXoik

Fashion Trends through the decades: http://www.tufts.edu/~mlee21/trends.html

One hundred years of women’s fashion (Slide Share):

http://www.slideshare.net/marifex88/fashion-through-the-decades

Music and Fashion through the decades – This is a Slide Share:

http://www.slideshare.net/wright321/music-through-the-decades-13463051

Music through the decades: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzqCoZCawgM

WRITING

Write an essay on the following topic: “All Young People Are Fashion Victims. Do You Agree?”

Try to include relevant LINKERS and ADVERBS OF DEGREE.