The clothes someone wears tell us about their cultural identity and life status. When we need to describe someone to someone else, we talk about their outer beauty/appearance and inner qualities/personality. While describing someone’s appearance, the first thing that comes up is the clothes. If you wonder how to describe clothes, this post is for you.
As a general rule, you should talk about the color, pattern, material, and type to describe clothes. There are so many adjectives that you can use to describe clothes. Remember! While describing clothes in English, it’s crucial to follow the order of adjectives.
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Some Common Adjectives to Talk about Clothes
| Adjectives | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Classy | Stylish and sophisticated | The gown you wore yesterday was classy. |
| Stylish | Fashionably elegant and sophisticated | He is old but stylish. |
| Baggy | Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds | I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. |
| Casual | Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions | Since it’s a friends’ get-together, let’s wear casual attire. |
| Formal | Clothing suitable for an official or important occasion | Please join the seminar in formal dress. |
| Snazzy | Stylish and attractive | I loved your snazzy silk dress. |
| Colorful | Having much or varied color | She likes colorful dresses. |
| Plain | Ordinary clothes | He prefers plain shirts and pants. |
| Tasteful | Showing an excellent aesthetic taste in clothes | Her tasteful selection of dresses is appreciable. |
| Fashionable | Representing a currently popular style | He is fashionable from an early age. |
| Well-fitted | Fitting closely or comfortably | I always prefer well-fitted t-shirts. |
| Tight-fitting | Fitting or covering in a close manner | Tight-fitting dresses are a bit less comfortable in summer. |
| Trendy | Very fashionable or up to date. | Zara loves to wear trendy clothes. |
| Flattering | Enhancing someone’s appearance. | I don’t find sleeveless dresses flattering |
| Scuffy | Having lost its original fresh or new appearance | They were in scruffy T-shirts and jeans. |
| Sleeveless | Clothes having no sleeves | Do you want to buy this sleeveless blouse? |
Suppose you are a salesperson at a clothing store or an apparel business person. In that case, you must know how to describe clothes to sell your product to the customers. And even while shopping, you may need to describe your desired clothes to the salesperson to get them quickly.
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There are so many adjectives that you can use to describe clothes. But remember! English adjectives have their specific order. Let’s know how to describe clothes in terms of color, pattern, material, type, size, fitting, brand, etc.
How to Talk about COLORS While Describing Clothes
Color is a crucial feature of someone’s dress. In most cases, we describe clothes in terms of their color. The most common colors of clothes are red, black, yellow, brown, blue, green, white, grey, pink, etc.
To improve color vocabulary, let’s see some example sentences that describe clothes well in terms of color.
- He was wearing a blue suit.
- She is wearing a pink t-shirt.
- You look gorgeous in red sarees.
- The man wearing a black shirt is my brother.
- This white Punjabi suits your personality.
- You may choose to wear these maroon pants.
- These blue jeans are very comfortable to wear.
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| Colour Vocabulary to Describe Clothes |
| Red, black, yellow, brown, blue, green, white, grey, pink, purple, orange, khaki, navy, sky blue, lilac, aqua, burgundy, beige, blush, champagne, coral, fuchsia, gold, ivory, light blue, peach, rose gold, royal blue, silver, turquoise, etc. |
How to Talk about PATTERNS While Describing Clothes
Clothes can be of different patterns. While describing someone’s clothes, mentioning the pattern can help get a clear overall idea about the dress. Typical patterns of dresses are camouflage, plaid/check, floral, striped, tie-dyed, etc.
The following examples can help you learn some vocabulary related to clothes patterns.
- I would love to buy this animal print t-shirt.
- He was wearing an argyle-patterned sweatshirt.
- I have a fascination with dresses with camouflage.
- I will wear a check shirt this evening, how about you?
- I like plain dresses as they seem formal.
| Pattern Vocabulary to Describe Clothes |
| Argyle, paisley, pinstriped, plain, gingham, polka dot, camouflage, plaid/check, floral, striped, tie-dyed, herringbone, houndstooth, basketweave, buffalo check, chevron, damask, fret, honeycomb, ikat, lattice, suzani, toile |
How to Talk about MATERIALS While Describing Clothes
Like colors and patterns, there are too many variations in terms of the materials of clothes. Besides cotton and wool, there are other common materials from which dresses are made. They are leather, silk, nylon, fibers, etc.
The examples below show how to talk about materials while describing clothes.
- My brother loves to wear leather jackets.
- I would love to buy you some silk scarves.
- She is wearing a nylon dress.
- We all will wear the same cotton shirts at the party.
- He loves denim jeans.
| Material Vocabulary to Describe Clothes |
| Linen, synthetic, sateen, denim, cashmere, organza, terrycloth, leather, silk, brocade, nylon, fibers, cellulosic, bast, chiffon, dimity, muslin, taffeta, lawn, chintz, dobby, voile |
How to Talk about TYPES While Describing Clothes
There are different types of clothes we wear. Sometimes it depends on the culture you belong to or your personal preferences. The typical dress types are shirts, pants, t-shirts, jackets, suits, sweaters, etc. Let’s see some examples of sentences to describe clothes types in English.
- Jackets are my favorite attire for winter.
- I will buy my brother a Punjabi this Eid.
- Her scarves are phenomenal.
- Their shirts are of good quality.
- I prefer shirts to t-shirts while traveling.
| Types Vocabulary to Describe Clothes |
| T-shirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, jeans, socks, shorts, tracksuits, vests, pajamas, shoes, boots, raincoats, tanktop, swimsuits, skirts, blouses, bras, panties, stockings, suits, shirt, ties, bow-ties, briefs, wool hat, scarf, handkerchief, shawl |
How to Talk about SIZE While Describing Clothes
In general, clothes can be of different sizes, such as small (S), medium (M), large (L), etc. However, there are some technical terms used in clothing industries, like extra small (XS), extra-large (XL), and double XL (XXL). Here are some examples that show the uses of these size vocabulary while describing clothes.
- This shirt might be oversized; you should take a medium one.
- May I have another extra small t-shirt with this pattern?
- The L size (Large) will fit you better.
How to Appreciate Someone’s Clothes
Appreciating someone’s clothes can help you build a good rapport while meeting them. Your compliment can also boost their confidence and make them feel good. Let’s see some examples using some adjectives to appreciate someone’s clothes.
- This shirt fits you very well.
- Nice dress!
- Wow! It’s a well-tailored suit.
- The shoes match well with your coat.
- You look fabulous in this attire.
- The color suits you well.
- You look gorgeous in sarees.
- Nice jeans! The blue goes well with the t-shirt.
- You look taller in these pants.
In Conclusion
The above adjectives and words can help you describe clothes. You will indeed sound confident by using the above expressions. Whether you are a customer or a salesman, you can definitely use the vocabularies I mentioned above.
Learn the words and expressions and keep practicing to sound natural wherever you need to talk about clothes.
Thank you!
Happy learning!
