Learn English with Mr. Duncan - Lesson 37 (Fashion)

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Hi everybody, this is Misterduncan in England. How are you today? Are you OK?… I hope so! Are you happy?… I hope so! In today's lesson we will take a look at the in's and out's of a very big subject that affects many of us. The world of Fashion.

The word 'fashion' relates to any item or behaviour that is considered the most popular or relevant during a certain time or with a particular group of people, or something that generally appeals to the majority (Most) in each group. It can be used as a Verb, when creating something into a certain shape or form. It can also be used as a Mass Noun to describe the marketing (Selling) of clothes and cosmetics. Fashion is more that a wordit shapes our everyday way of livingnot to mention our behaviour too.

There are many words related to fashion such asChic, Craze, Cult, Fad, Fandom, Following, Hype, Mode, Sect, Style, Trend and Vogue.

From a social point of view, fashion affects all of us in many different ways. The clothes we wear. The cars we drive. The way we decorate our homes. The music we listen to. The phone we carry. The food we eat. Right down to our choice of where to drink a cup of Coffee. Fashion is always changing. However, this change is normally a slow one and happens over a period of time. It would be true to say that fashion tends to change about every ten years or so.

When we look back in time it seems as if very decade (10 years) had it's very own unique (Individual/Special) set of styles and trends. In the 1940's women mostly wore long skirts and men dressed in suits and ties. During this time, there was no great following of fashion among teenagers, mainly due to very different attitude towards the youth that time. The rule back then was that teenagers should be seen and not heard. Although all that changed in a big way during the late 1950's with the birth of "Rock and Roll" music and the resulting fandom among the young who listened to it.

The 1960's and 70's saw similar changes and as the decades passed, new trends and styles followed. These days it seems as if everything revolves around trends and fashion. Some people say that we have become too obsessed with what to wear which mobile phone to carry and how to look. What do you think?

If something is popular or considered fashionable then we say that it isChic, Cool, Hip, Hot, In Fashion, Stylish, Trendy, In.

If something is not popular anymore we say that it isGay, Lame, Old Fashioned, Out of date, So last year, Square, Unfashionable, Out.

It would be fair to say that we all follow fashion in some way. These days it seems more important than ever to be in touch with what is popular and in vogue. Although if a person becomes too obsessed with fashionable items and their appearance then we may begin to dislike them and describe them asVain, Shallow, Self Centered, A victim of Fashion.

Before I finish my lesson today I would like to say a special 'HELLO' to my new friends watching inAustralia, Bhutan, China, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Poland, Russia and Turkey. I will see you all next time right for another lesson. So until then, stay happy, because you have such a lovely smile! This is Misterduncan in England sayingta-ta for now.