Hello, listeners, and welcome to the IELTS TIME Podcast! Today, we’re diving straight into a Part 2 cue card: Describe a person who you believe dresses well. You should say: Who he/she is, What kind of clothes he/she wears, How you know him/her, and explain why you like his/her sense of dressing. To give you a brilliant example, we’ll be playing a response from our regular contributor, Joseph. Let’s take a listen!
Let me tell you about my friend, Oscar, who I genuinely think has an incredible sense of style. He’s one of my closest mates at university, and we just really clicked.
Oscar’s style is what I’d describe as effortlessly chic with a bit of a vintage flair. He’s not really into fast fashion or anything super trendy. Instead, he focuses on timeless pieces and quality fabrics. You’ll often see him in well-tailored trousers – often high-waisted and a bit looser fitting – paired with a classic button-down shirt, sometimes with interesting patterns or muted colours. He’s a big fan of knitwear, especially chunky cardigans and fine-gauge jumpers, which he layers really effectively. For outerwear, he loves a good trench coat or a well-structured blazer. What really sets him apart is his attention to detail with accessories. He’ll often wear a cool watch, a simple ring, or a vintage-looking leather belt that perfectly complements his outfit. He’s also got a fantastic collection of loafers and brogues, which always look impeccably polished.
I’ve known Oscar for about three years now, ever since we started university. We’ve spent countless hours together on campus, and even back then, I could see how thoughtfully he put his outfits together. He always looked put-together, even during late-night study sessions!
What I really admire about his style is how authentic it feels. He doesn’t just follow trends; he wears what suits him and what he feels comfortable in. His clothes always look like they’re a part of him, rather than just something he’s thrown on. He is also incredibly versatile – he can go from a casual coffee with friends to a more formal exhibition opening, and he always looks appropriate and stylish. He invests in good pieces that last, and it really shows. Plus, he’s always impeccably groomed, which, combined with his clothes, just creates this really polished and sophisticated overall impression. It’s inspiring, actually, and it’s made me think more about my own wardrobe choices!
What a fantastic answer, right? Joseph really hit all the marks, demonstrating incredible fluency, coherence, a wide range of vocabulary, and precise grammar. Today, I want us to zoom in on some of the excellent vocabulary Joseph used, because these are the kinds of words and phrases that really make a response shine.
Let’s revisit how Joseph described his friend Oscar’s style. He immediately grabbed our attention by calling it “effortlessly chic” with a bit of a “vintage flair.” When we say someone’s style is effortlessly chic, we mean they look incredibly stylish and fashionable, but it appears as though they haven’t tried very hard at all. It’s a natural elegance, a sophisticated appearance that just seems to come to them with ease. And adding that vintage flair means his style incorporates elements or inspiration from clothing of an earlier period – perhaps the classic cuts of the 1950s, the patterns of the 70s, or even earlier, giving his look a unique, timeless edge rather than being strictly modern. This combination suggests that while Oscar’s style has a retro influence, it never feels forced or overdone – it’s still fresh, natural, and current. Joseph used this perfectly to paint a picture of Oscar’s inherent and unique style.
Moving on, Joseph also highlighted Oscar’s preference for “timeless pieces” and “quality fabrics.” Timeless pieces are those classic items of clothing that never go out of fashion. They are enduring designs that remain stylish and relevant regardless of what’s currently trending. And when timeless pieces are made from quality fabrics, they are not just stylish—they are built to last, making them both a fashion and sustainability choice. Quality fabrics refer to materials like pure wool, fine cotton, linen, or silk that are well-made, durable, and simply feel good to the touch, suggesting a focus on lasting garments rather than cheap, disposable fashion.
Joseph gave us some great specific examples of what Oscar wears. He mentioned Oscar is a big fan of “knitwear,” especially “chunky cardigans” and fine-gauge jumpers. Knitwear is a general term for any garment that has been knitted, typically from wool or synthetic fibers, encompassing sweaters, jumpers, and cardigans. A chunky cardigan specifically refers to a type of knitwear that is a knitted sweater that opens at the front, but made with a thick, heavy knit, giving it a more substantial and often cozy look. These are often layered, and Joseph mentioned Oscar layers them really effectively, showing a skill in putting outfits together.
For outerwear, Joseph noted Oscar’s love for a good “trench coat” or a well-structured “blazer.” A trench coat is a classic, typically beige, water-resistant coat often characterized by a double-breasted front, a belt, and sometimes shoulder epaulets – a truly timeless piece if ever there was one. A blazer, on the other hand, is a type of jacket, similar to a suit jacket but generally more casual, often made from a different color or fabric than matching trousers, and commonly worn for smart-casual occasions. These choices further underline Oscar’s preference for classic, well-made garments.
And finally, Joseph described Oscar’s fantastic collection of shoes, specifically mentioning “loafers and brogues.” These are both popular types of men’s dress shoes or smart-casual shoes. Loafers are slip-on shoes, often made of leather, without laces, known for their comfort and ease. Brogues are lace-up shoes distinguished by decorative perforations, or tiny holes, on the leather, giving them a distinctive pattern. The fact that Oscar’s shoes always looked “impeccably polished” just added to that overall image of someone who truly pays attention to detail and takes pride in his appearance.
So, as you can hear, Joseph’s response wasn’t just about describing what Oscar wore, but how he wore it, the qualities of his clothing, and the types of garments he prefers, using this rich and specific vocabulary. He blended these terms naturally into his response, demonstrating not just a wide range of words, but the ability to use them precisely and coherently. This kind of detailed, natural language is exactly what examiners are listening for to award those higher bands.
Your homework for this week, dear listeners, is to try incorporating these words into your own practice. Think about people you know who dress well. Can you describe their style using terms like “effortlessly chic,” “vintage flair,” “timeless pieces” made of “quality fabrics,” and specific items like “knitwear,” “chunky cardigans,” a “trench coat,” a “blazer,” or specific footwear like “loafers and brogues”? Record yourself and listen back!
That’s all for this episode of the IELTS TIME Podcast. Thank you for tuning in, and until next time, keep practicing, keep learning, and keep speaking!
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