May 31, 2019　=========

☆  loose  ゆったりした

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Clothes that are loose are rather large and do not fit your body closely. Another word you could use is baggy, or earlier in the month, we used the word “oversized.” There is a slight difference in the nuance of these two words though.

Clothing that is loose, might be loose because you have lost weight, or because the style doesn’t fit you well. Or because you bought a bigger size than you needed. Or it might have even stretched after being washed a lot! However, something that is oversized, is usually deliberately bigger and looser than it needs to be, because that is how it isRead more about May 31 – loose[…]

May 30, 2019　=========

☆  fitted ぴったりした

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A fitted piece of clothing is designed so that it is the same size and shape as your body, rather than being loose. This month’s Q&A question is, “What’s your style?” One of the sample answers is, “I like fitted clothing to show off my shape.”

I don’t really like fitted clothes, however, I do like my jeans to be fitted, otherwise I feel like they are always falling down! Ha ha. How about you? Do you like fitted clothing? What would you say your style is? Do you have a favorite style, or do you like to wear a range of different styles?

Bye,

Chris

May 29, 2019　=========

☆  suede スエードの

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Suede is a leather with a soft, slightly rough surface, rather than smooth like regular leather. Do you own any suede items? I used to own a suede bomber jacket. I absolutely loved it! It was my “go to” jacket for winter in Australia.

Then I went to live in Tokyo for quite a few years, and every winter, I would bring out my trusty suede bomber jacket and wear it. And each day I would think, “I’m so cold!” but I couldn’t work out why… my jacket always kept me so warm in Adelaide.

Finally, after a few winters of being cold in Tokyo, I realized myRead more about May 29 – suede[…]

May 28, 2019　=========

☆  flared （スカートなどが）フレアーの

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Clothing that is flared is wider at the bottom or at the end of the legs than at the top. So, for example, in the 1970’s flared trousers were very fashionable. In fact, if you search Google for flared clothing images, you’ll get a lot of photos from the 1970’s from fashion history pages. There are some pretty funny images!

For me, I’m not really a fan of flared clothing. My high school uniform was a flared green skirt. These days, I rarely wear green, and I avoid wearing flared skirts – they don’t suit my shape, and they remind me of being in school!

Do you haveRead more about May 28 – flared[…]

May 27, 2019　=========

☆  metallic  メタリックの

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Metallic paint or colors shine like metal. Metallic shoes are really popular in Australia at the moment. Especially for women, in a sneaker style or slip-on style (notice this slip-on is an adjective, meaning no laces to tie up.)

In fact, it’s not just shoes, but also bags that often have this metallic look. But it doesn’t stop at shoes and bags! Fashion for 2019 includes metallic pants, jackets, shorts, t-shirts… pretty much everything you wear can now come in a cool metallic look according to the fashion blogs on Google. I think I might stick to just metallic shoes though…

Is this metallic style popular in JapanRead more about May 27 – metallic[…]

May 26, 2019　=========

☆  slip on さっと着る

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If you slip on clothes or shoes, you put them on quickly and easily. You can also say “slip off” meaning the opposite, that you take clothes or shoes off easily. Some example sentences are:

Just slip this on to see if it fits.
Is it cold out? I might slip on a sweater over my t-shirt.
I hate wearing a suit and tie. I slip on something more comfortable the moment I get home.
Slip on some shoes and let’s get going.

And, using “slip off”
No shoes in the house! Slip them off at the door, thanks.

That last one about no shoes in the house, I have to sayRead more about May 26 – slip on[…]

May 25, 2019　=========

☆  try on 試着する

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Today’s word means to try on a piece of clothing, to see if it fits you or if it looks nice. This word is usually used in shops, where the shop assistant might ask you if you’d like to try something on. If you get asked this, the most common response is “No thanks, I’m just looking.”

In fact, because so many people reply “No thanks.” some shops do training with their staff to make sure that they ask questions that can’t be answered with “no.” If the customer says “no” it’s the end of the conversation. So, an open-ended question or statement is better. ForRead more about May 25 – try on[…]

May 24, 2019　=========

☆  throw on  （服を）さっと引っ掛ける

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If you throw on something, or throw something on, it means you quickly put on a piece of clothing. For example, if you are going out and realize it’s colder than you thought, you might quickly throw on your coat as you run out the door.

Or, if you are at home in your PJs relaxing on a day off from work, and the doorbell rings, you might throw on a dressing gown before you answer the door. Or imagine you’ve rushed out the door to meet friends, and they say when you get there, “Oh, you look nice!” you might just say, “Oh, I wasRead more about May 24 – throw on[…]

May 23, 2019　=========

☆  wrap up 着込む

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This is probably not a word you’ll need to use in Japan for a while, but in Australia, at least where I am, it’s a word we use every day! In fact, as we leave the house each day, the useful phrase is exactly what I say to everyone: “It’s cold outside, better wrap up.”

What season do you like best? Do you love the crisp winter days when you wrap up in cozy winter clothes? Or do you prefer to able to head out into the fresh air of spring or summer without needing to wrap up warm? I think I prefer not having toRead more about May 23 – wrap up[…]

May 22, 2019　=========

☆  take up （裾などを）短くする

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Now, this is a word I am familiar with! When I was younger, I was short – well, OK, I am still short, kind of average height – and so most of my school uniform clothes needed to be taken up. The skirts and dresses and pant legs were too long. My mom was an expert seamstress – she would sew clothes for all of us, but she was also able to do alternations such as taking up a hem, very easily.

Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit her sewing talent! So, when I was young, all my clothes were the right length… now as an adult, it’sRead more about May 22 – take up[…]

May 21, 2019　=========

☆  take in （服を）小さくする

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On the other side of alterations, we can also have clothes taken in. Now, this is the one we’re probably all happy to do, right? Clothes that are too big? Let’s take them in – we definitely don’t want to keep them just in case they fit us later! Ha ha!

When I chose my wedding dress, on the hanger it was huge! I liked the design, but I was sure it wouldn’t fit me. My friend said I should try it on anyway, as they could take it in. I didn’t believe her (as I said, I more of a casual clothes kind of person,Read more about May 21 – take in[…]

May 20, 2019　=========

☆  let out  （服を）大きくする

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This week, we have a few words to use when you are altering clothing. So for today’s, if you have some clothes that you love but that no longer fit you, one option is to have them let out. Take them to a tailor and get them to let out the waist a little so they fit properly.

I wonder if this is something that is popular in Japan? In Australia, as with the bespoke clothing, it’s more common for men to have their suit jackets or pants let out, than it is for women. On the other hand, Aussie women tend to buy new clothes,Read more about May 20 – let out[…]

May 19, 2019　=========

☆  glamorous  魅惑的な

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Someone or something that is glamorous is attractive and more interesting than ordinary people or things. My niece got married in March (I think I told you that, right?) Her wedding dress was soooooo glamorous! She had been searching for the dress that was perfect for her, and she found it but it was only in Melbourne.

So, she went on a weekend shopping trip to Melbourne to buy this dress that was apparently dazzling and glittering and just amazing, but we all had to wait until the wedding day to see it. When she walked in, her soon-to-be husband gasped and started crying a little. ItRead more about May 19 – glamorous[…]

May 18, 2019　=========

☆  oversized 特大の

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The other day I mentioned Sylvia Weinstock and her glasses. They are a classic example of when something oversized works really well, and looks fashionable instead of ridiculous!

Apparently oversized is back in fashion in Australia for winter 2019 (winter starts next month! Noooooo!) And so, the oversized sweaters are actually now called “oversized sweater dresses.” Was that popular in Japan this past winter? The goal is to keep warm, by wearing an oversized sweater dress with high heels for fashion, or sneakers for casual. I feel the cold though, so even if my oversized sweater was technically a dress, I think I would also need aRead more about May 18 – oversized[…]

May 17, 2019　=========

☆  casual  カジュアルな

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Recently I was looking at an online course about choosing the best clothes for your skin and hair color, and body shape. It looked great, and had lots of videos and advice to help you decide. The goal was to never have to say, “I have nothing to wear” ever again!

Unfortunately, the more I looked at it, the more I realized it was mostly “pretty” clothes and women wearing a lot of makeup with perfectly styled hair. Now, don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to be that type of person, but I’m just not – I like messy hair and casual clothes! If I haveRead more about May 17 – casual[…]

May 16, 2019　=========

☆  showy 人目を引く

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Clothing that is showy is noticeable because it is large, colorful, or bright. It’s not really a way to describe someone in a positive way. For example, you might say something like, “It’s way too showy for me.” Or, “I’d prefer a simple design that is smart but not showy.”

Have you heard of Sylvia Weinstock? She is a wedding cake decorator (aged 89), and is famous for her cakes (of course) but also her glasses. They are huge, round and black. You can see a picture of her here: https://bit.ly/2WESrRs

On someone else, these glasses would probably be too showy. However, they suit her, and she isRead more about May 16 – showy[…]

May 13, 2019　=========

☆  chic シックな

May 14, 2019　=========

☆  timeless  時代を超えた

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And, now catching up on this week’s first two adjectives. Again, I hadn’t planned to do these two words together (“life just got in the way” last week!) but they are nicely suited to a joint email too!

Chic comes from the French word, chique which means skills and elegance. It refers to fashion that is smart and stylish and without being a victim to the latest fashion. In other words, being chic is all about having a timeless sense of style.

Interestingly though, being chic and having a timeless style is not just about the clothes that you wear, but making sure thatRead more about May 13 – chic, May 14 – timeless[…]

May 11, 2019　=========             

☆  fabric  布

May 12, 2019　=========

☆  body type  体型

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Just doing a little catch up on some missing mails! Let’s talk about the final two nouns from last week. So, I hadn’t planned on doing these two mails together, but in fact, it’s worked out well!

Why? Well, all the best colors and designs for your body type might not actually look good on you if you choose the wrong fabric! It is important to make sure you are choosing fabrics that sit well on your body type – so depending on your body type, you probably don’t want clingy fabrics that are too lightweight. Wool versus cotton for example.

WhoRead more about May 11 – fabric, May 12 – body type (mini mail catch up!)[…]

May 15, 2019　=========

☆  bespoke  オーダーメイドの

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Hello!! I’m back! Sorry if you’ve missed a few mails from me – Internet problems and sick children! Hopefully everyone and everything is all fixed and healthy now. I’ll send a catch up mail a bit later on.

So, bespoke clothing is basically order made clothing. In Australia, bespoke clothing generally means shoes and suits for me. Of course, women order bespoke clothing too, but for women it is more common for them to buy clothes and then have them altered to fit correctly, rather than ordering something made especially for them.

Men, on the other hand, buy suits and have them fitted, but they are also moreRead more about May 15 – bespoke (And an apology!)[…]

May 10, 2019   　=========

☆  contour  輪郭

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Sorry today’s mail is a little late – this morning my oldest son performed in his school choir for the first time, so I was watching him sing! Actually, I couldn’t tell if he was really singing or pretending – ha ha – but the whole choir sounded pretty good!

So, back to today’s word. Contour when talking about fashion, refers to the general shape or outline of an object. So, you can talk about the contours of a piece of clothing. In fact, at many colleges where you can study fashion design, there is a dedicated “contour fashion” course, which looks at fashion from theRead more about May 10 – contour[…]

May 9, 2019   =========

☆  must-have  必需品

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You can add “must-“ to a verb, such as “have” (or “see” or “read”) to form a noun, which describes things that you think people should have (or see, read, do etc.) So, for today’s word, a must-have is something that you think people should get. It is used in spoken English, and a lot in journalism, especially fashion magazines.

Fashion magazines always talk about the must-have items for the season. Of course, the Internet does too. If you search for “Spring must-haves” you’ll get lots of choices of what you should be wearing this spring. “Top ten must-haves for spring.” Or the “Essentials for spring.”Read more about May 9 – must-have[…]

May 8, 2019      =========

☆  appearance  外見

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Your appearance is the way you look. For example, if you always like to wear the best clothes and be fashionable, you might say something like, “I’m fussy about my appearance.”

If someone asks “Does this look OK?” or “Does this outfit look good on me?” then they are asking for reassurance about their appearance.

If you go to a job interview, then your appearance is quite important for making a good impression.

Can you use appearance in a sentence?

Bye,

Chris

May 7, 2019 =========

☆  shape  体形

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The shape of a person is the appearance of their outside edges, for example, whether they are round, pear, curved, or fat.

These days, it’s common for people to talk about feeling comfortable in their body, and happy with their shape. Definitely in western culture, there is a lot of shaming of people who are not the “right” body shape.

Too fat, too slim, too curvy, not curvy enough, and so on! It’s pretty hard to know what the right body shape actually is! Hopefully most people know that it’s OK to love the body shape you have right now, even if you want to change itRead more about May 7 – shape[…]

May 6, 2019　=========

☆  silhouette シルエット

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When we use the word silhouette in terms of fashion, it means the outline something has, which often helps you to recognize it. It is the shape of the garment. There are only three basic silhouettes that form the basis for all clothing shapes! Do you know those shapes?

They are: the bell (with the outer form shaped round to the waistline). The straight, which hangs from the shoulders. And, the bustle back silhouette, the A-line and V-shape are modifications of the bustle back.

I thought it was really interesting that there is so much variety in fashion these days, but all of these are based on justRead more about May 6 – silhouette[…]

May 5, 2019　=========

☆  have a good eye for fashion  オシャレがうまい

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If someone has a good eye for something, it means that they are good at noticing the details, the small and important things that other people might not notice. So, someone who has a good eye for fashion, is able to notice what really works well together. For example, what colors go together, or what style really suits someone’s body shape.

Do you think you have a good eye for fashion? When I lived in Japan, I noticed that certainly most Japanese women always looked very fashionable and on trend, so I feel that most Japanese women do have a good eyeRead more about May 5 – have a good eye for fashion[…]

May 4, 2019　=========

☆  dress down  普段着を着る

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Yesterday we talked about dressing up, and today is the opposite, to dress down. I guess since it’s a Saturday and also midway through the Golden Week holiday, most people will be dressing down, today, right? No need to get dressed up, or put on business attire if you are relaxing at home!

Another way to use this word, is to describe the situation where famous people dress down when they go out in public to avoid being recognized by people and paparazzi. I’m guessing that most of us don’t need to worry about that, though, and instead just dress down because it’s the weekend!

Bye,

Chris

May 3, 2019    =========

☆  dress up  オシャレをする

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When you dress up, you put on nice clothes for a special occasion or event, such as going to a wedding or the opera. Of course, you can dress up for something as simple as going out to dinner with friends, too. It doesn’t have to be a big fancy event. Dressing up is fun whenever you have something or somewhere to go to.

This week’s useful phrase is: “I can’t wait to dress up for the party.” In this case, the speaker could mean that they are getting dressed up into nice, fancy clothes that they don’t often wear. Or, they could actually beRead more about May 3 – dress up[…]

May 2, 2019      =========

☆  find  見つけ出す

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Sometimes the hardest thing about fashion is finding what suits you, right? I’ve always been good at finding what clothes look good on other people, but not so much for myself! Ha ha…

How about you? Are you able to find clothes that suit your coloring and body shape easily? Do you follow the fashion trends or have your own style that you stick to? Recently, our winters have been quite cold, so I was very glad to go to Uniqlo on my visit to Melbourne… I found the most wonderful long down coat. I’ll be wearing that for the next few months, so I guessRead more about May 2 – find[…]

May 1, 2019　    =========

☆  adore  大好きである

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This month we are talking about Fashion and Beauty… but first, Happy First Day of Reiwa!! And, we are on day five of the 10-day break for Golden Week this year. What are you up to? I hope you are enjoying your long break.

So, today’s word is adore. Use this word if you want to say that you love or like something very much. It’s a great word when talking about fashion, since you can exaggerate the fact that you like something; just like the useful phrase for this week:

I absolutely adore your new jacket!

Are you wearing clothes that you adore today? I hope so!

Bye,

Chris