Fashion (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Fashion
Fashion is a key topic in Spanish conversation and writing. This vocabulary will help you describe clothing, shopping experiences, and personal style preferences for your Leaving Cert Spanish exam.
Essential clothing vocabulary
Understanding the names of different clothing items is fundamental for discussing fashion and daily activities. Spanish clothing vocabulary follows standard gender rules - most items ending in -a are feminine, while those ending in -o or consonants are typically masculine.
Critical Grammar Point: Always learn clothing vocabulary with the correct article (el/la) as gender affects adjective agreements. For example: "la camisa blanca" (white shirt) vs "el vestido blanco" (white dress).
Main clothing items
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| el traje | suit | Formal wear |
| el abrigo | coat | Winter outerwear |
| la chaqueta | jacket | General jacket |
| el impermeable | raincoat | Weather protection |
| la camisa | shirt | Formal or casual |
| la blusa | blouse | Typically for women |
| el jersey | jumper | Knitted garment |
| la rebeca | cardigan | Open-front jumper |
| la camiseta | t-shirt | Casual wear |
| el vestido | dress | One-piece garment |
| la sudadera | sweatshirt | Casual/sport wear |
| la sudadera con capucha | hoodie | Sweatshirt with hood |
| el chándal | tracksuit | Sports outfit |
Notice how formal wear items like el traje (suit) and la camisa (shirt) are essential for describing professional or special occasion outfits, while casual items like la sudadera (sweatshirt) are perfect for everyday conversations.
Trousers and legwear
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| el pantalón | trousers | Can be singular or plural |
| los vaqueros | jeans | Always plural |
| las mallas | leggings | Stretchy trousers |
| el pantalón corto | shorts | Summer wear |
| la falda | skirt | Various lengths |
| las medias | tights | Hosiery |
| los calcetines | socks | Footwear accessory |
Pay special attention to los vaqueros (jeans) - this word is always used in the plural form, even when referring to one pair of jeans.
Footwear
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| los zapatos | shoes | General term |
| las botas | boots | Higher cut shoes |
| las sandalias | sandals | Open summer shoes |
| las chanclas | flip-flops | Beach/pool wear |
| los tacones | heels | High-heeled shoes |
| las zapatillas de deporte | trainers/runners | Sports shoes |
Accessories and materials
Accessories complete an outfit and show personal style. Materials describe what clothes are made from, which is useful when shopping or describing quality.
Accessories
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| el cinturón | belt | Waist accessory |
| la corbata | tie | Formal neckwear |
| el sombrero | hat | Brimmed headwear |
| la gorra | cap | Baseball cap style |
| la bufanda | scarf | Neck warmer |
| los guantes | gloves | Hand protection |
| las joyas | jewellery | General term |
| el collar | necklace | Neck jewellery |
| la pulsera | bracelet | Wrist jewellery |
| el anillo | ring | Finger jewellery |
| los pendientes | earrings | Ear jewellery |
| el reloj | watch | Timepiece |
Jewellery vocabulary is particularly useful for describing special occasions and personal style. Remember that las joyas is the general term, while specific items like el collar and la pulsera help create detailed descriptions.
Materials
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| el cuero/la piel | leather | Both terms used |
| la lana | wool | Natural fibre |
| la seda | silk | Luxury fabric |
| el algodón | cotton | Common fabric |
Model sentences using fashion vocabulary
These sentences demonstrate how to use clothing vocabulary in context, incorporating different tenses and structures commonly tested in the Leaving Cert.
Worked Example: Using Fashion Vocabulary in Context
Me gusta llevar vaqueros y una camiseta los fines de semana. (I like to wear jeans and a t-shirt at weekends.) Grammar note: "Me gusta" + infinitive expresses preferences
Ayer compré una chaqueta de cuero muy bonita. (Yesterday I bought a very nice leather jacket.) Grammar note: Preterite tense for completed past actions
Para la fiesta, me pondré un vestido negro y tacones. (For the party, I'll put on a black dress and heels.) Grammar note: Future tense with reflexive verb "ponerse"
En invierno siempre llevo abrigo y bufanda porque hace mucho frío. (In winter I always wear a coat and scarf because it's very cold.) Grammar note: Present tense for habitual actions
¿Te gustan estas botas? Las compré en las rebajas. (Do you like these boots? I bought them in the sales.) Grammar note: Demonstrative "estas" agrees with feminine plural "botas"
Useful expressions and idioms for fashion
These phrases will enhance your speaking and writing about fashion and shopping.
| Spanish | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| ir a la moda | to follow fashion | Describes someone fashionable |
| estar de moda | to be in fashion | Describes trendy items |
| las rebajas | the sales | Shopping period |
| ¿Qué tal me queda? | How does this look on me? | Trying on clothes |
| Me queda bien/mal | It fits me well/badly | Describing fit |
| ¿Cuál es tu talla? | What's your size? | Shopping question |
| probarse la ropa | to try on clothes | Shopping activity |
| ir de compras | to go shopping | Activity |
| tener buen/mal gusto | to have good/bad taste | Style judgement |
Essential Shopping Phrases: Master "¿Qué tal me queda?" and "Me queda bien/mal" as these are frequently tested and essential for natural conversation about trying on clothes.
Shopping and fashion verbs
Understanding these action words is essential for discussing fashion activities and preferences.
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| probar | to try on | Voy a probar estos zapatos |
| ponerse | to put on | Me pongo el abrigo |
| llevar | to wear | Llevo una camisa azul |
| comprar | to buy | Compré un vestido nuevo |
| costar | to cost | ¿Cuánto cuesta esta chaqueta? |
| quedar | to fit/suit | Este pantalón me queda bien |
Pay attention to the difference between "llevar" (to wear) and "ponerse" (to put on). Use "llevar" for general wearing and "ponerse" for the action of putting clothes on.
Sample dialogue: discussing fashion preferences
Here's a natural conversation about fashion using the vocabulary and expressions from this topic. Pay attention to how different tenses, connectors, and opinion phrases are used.
Worked Example: Fashion Conversation
¿Qué tipo de ropa te gusta llevar normalmente?
Me encanta llevar ropa cómoda y casual. Durante la semana, suelo ponerme vaqueros con una camiseta o una sudadera, depende del tiempo que haga. Para ir al instituto prefiero las zapatillas de deporte porque son más cómodas que los zapatos normales.
Los fines de semana me gusta vestirme un poco mejor. Si salgo con mis amigos, me pongo una camisa bonita con pantalones negros y zapatos de cuero. Para ocasiones especiales, como fiestas o celebraciones, prefiero llevar un vestido elegante con tacones y algunas joyas - normalmente unos pendientes y una pulsera.
No soy una persona que siga mucho la moda, pero me gusta tener mi propio estilo. Prefiero comprar ropa de buena calidad que dure mucho tiempo, aunque sea un poco más cara. Ir de compras no es mi actividad favorita, pero cuando necesito algo nuevo, me gusta probarme la ropa antes de comprarla para asegurarme de que me queda bien.
En cuanto a los colores, prefiero los tonos neutros como el negro, el azul marino y el gris porque combinan con todo. Sin embargo, en verano me gusta llevar colores más vivos como el rojo o el amarillo para alegrar mi guardarropa.
What type of clothes do you normally like to wear?
I love wearing comfortable and casual clothes. During the week, I usually wear jeans with a t-shirt or a sweatshirt, depending on the weather. To go to school, I prefer trainers because they are more comfortable than normal shoes.
At the weekends, I like to dress a bit better. If I go out with my friends, I wear a nice shirt with black trousers and leather shoes. For special occasions, like parties or celebrations, I prefer to wear an elegant dress with heels and some jewellery – usually some earrings and a bracelet.
I am not a person who follows fashion much, but I like to have my own style. I prefer to buy good-quality clothes that last a long time, even if they are a bit more expensive. Shopping is not my favourite activity, but when I need something new, I like to try clothes on before buying them to make sure they fit me well.
As for colours, I prefer neutral tones such as black, navy blue, and grey because they go with everything. However, in summer I like to wear brighter colours such as red or yellow to brighten up my wardrobe.
Key phrases to note:
- "Me encanta llevar" - expressing strong preference
- "suelo ponerme" - habitual actions
- "Para ocasiones especiales" - introducing different contexts
- "me gusta probarme la ropa" - shopping preferences
Key Points to Remember:
- Clothing vocabulary follows standard gender rules - learn the articles with each word
- Use "llevar" for wearing clothes and "ponerse" for putting them on
- "Ir a la moda" (following fashion) and "estar de moda" (being fashionable) are key expressions
- Practice describing what you wear in different situations using various tenses
- Remember that many fashion items are borrowed from other languages, so pronunciation may vary
- Master essential shopping phrases like "¿Qué tal me queda?" and "Me queda bien/mal"