Clothes & Fashion Vocabulary in English
15 essential clothing items with meanings, example sentences, and free interactive games — ideal for A1–B1 learners.
Clothes vocabulary is one of the most practical and enjoyable topics to learn in English. Whether you are shopping, describing someone, reading a fashion article, or writing about what you wore to an event, clothing words appear constantly in everyday English communication.
This page covers 15 essential clothing vocabulary items, from basic everyday garments like shirt and trousers to more specific terms like cardigan and leggings. Each word includes its meaning and a natural example sentence. The Group Sort exercise is particularly useful for clothes vocabulary — you can practise categorising items by type, formality, season, or gender.
Clothes vocabulary connects naturally with colours, materials, and adjectives. A complete fashion description might combine all three: "She wore a navy blue wool coat." Learning clothing words together with colour vocabulary (see our Colours page) gives you the language to describe outfits in detail.
After studying these words, explore Colours vocabulary for describing clothing colours in detail, and Jobs and Professions where some professions have distinctive uniforms or dress codes worth describing.
Word List
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| shirt | a garment with a collar and buttons, worn on the upper body | He ironed his white shirt for the job interview. |
| trousers | a garment covering the legs, from the waist to the ankles (US: pants) | She wore smart black trousers to the office. |
| dress | a one-piece garment worn by women and girls covering the body and reaching the legs | She wore a floral summer dress to the garden party. |
| jacket | a short coat with long sleeves | He put on his jacket before going outside. |
| coat | a long outer garment worn to protect against cold or rain | She buttoned up her coat before stepping out into the snow. |
| jumper | a warm knitted garment for the upper body, without buttons (US: sweater) | He wore a thick woolly jumper in the cold office. |
| jeans | casual trousers made of denim fabric | She prefers to wear jeans at weekends. |
| skirt | a garment that hangs from the waist, worn by women | She wore a knee-length skirt with a white blouse. |
| shoes | hard-soled footwear covering and protecting the feet | She bought a new pair of black leather shoes. |
| boots | footwear that covers the foot and ankle, sometimes the calf | He wore waterproof boots for the hike. |
| socks | short coverings worn on the feet inside shoes | He always wears odd socks — they never match. |
| scarf | a strip of fabric worn around the neck for warmth or decoration | She wrapped a warm scarf around her neck. |
| hat | a head covering with a shaped crown | He wore a wide-brimmed hat to protect himself from the sun. |
| cardigan | a knitted garment similar to a jumper but fastened with buttons at the front | She wore a grey cardigan over her dress. |
| leggings | tight-fitting stretch trousers usually worn by women for exercise or casual wear | She wore black leggings and a long T-shirt to the gym. |
Practice with These Exercises
Flash Cards
Review clothing words with spaced repetition
Matching Pairs
Match clothing item cards
Wordsearch
Find clothing words hidden in the grid
Group Sort
Sort clothing by type or season
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'clothes', 'clothing', and 'garment'?
'Clothes' is the common plural noun for items you wear: 'Put on your clothes.' It has no singular form — you cannot say 'a clothe'. 'Clothing' is an uncountable noun, used more formally or in commercial contexts: 'winter clothing', 'a clothing store'. 'Garment' is a formal or technical word for a single piece of clothing: 'a beautifully made garment'. In everyday speech, 'clothes' is the most natural choice.
What is the difference between 'trousers', 'pants', and 'jeans'?
'Trousers' is the standard British English term for the garment covering both legs from the waist down. 'Pants' is the American English equivalent — in British English, 'pants' means underwear, so be careful! 'Jeans' are specifically made from denim and are casual. 'Leggings' are close-fitting stretch trousers. 'Shorts' are leg-covering garments that end above the knee.
What is the difference between a 'jumper', 'sweater', and 'cardigan'?
A 'jumper' (British English) or 'sweater' (American English) is a knitted garment pulled over the head to cover the upper body. A 'cardigan' is similar but opens at the front with buttons or a zip. A 'hoodie' is a sweatshirt with a hood. A 'pullover' is another informal British word for jumper/sweater. In formal contexts, 'knitwear' refers to all knitted garments as a category.
How do you describe what someone is wearing in English?
Use 'wearing' or 'dressed in': 'She is wearing a red dress', 'He is dressed in a blue suit.' To describe fit: 'it fits well/badly', 'it is too tight/loose.' Materials: 'a cotton shirt', 'leather boots', 'a woollen coat', 'a silk scarf'. Pattern: 'a striped jumper', 'a checked shirt', 'a floral dress', 'a plain jacket'. In IELTS Speaking Part 2 descriptions of people, clothes vocabulary is very useful.
What do you call the things you use to close clothing?
Different fasteners have specific names: buttons (round discs pushed through buttonholes), a zip/zipper (sliding interlocking teeth), a hook and eye (small metal fasteners), a buckle (on belts and bags), a toggle (a barrel-shaped button on duffle coats), velcro (a fabric fastener with tiny hooks), and a snap/press stud (small metal closures that press together). These words appear in clothes descriptions and product reviews.
What is the difference between formal and informal clothing vocabulary?
Formal clothing: suit, dress shirt, tie, blazer, tailored trousers, court shoes, evening gown. Smart casual: chinos, collared shirt, blouse, loafers. Casual: jeans, T-shirt, hoodie, trainers/sneakers, leggings. Work wear/uniform: scrubs (medical), hi-vis vest (construction), overalls (mechanics). In IELTS Writing and Speaking, being able to categorise clothing by formality level demonstrates sophisticated vocabulary use.
What clothing vocabulary is used in IELTS and Cambridge exams?
Cambridge A2/B1 exams test basic clothing vocabulary in shopping scenarios and picture description tasks. IELTS Listening sometimes features clothing in shopping conversations (size, colour, material, price). IELTS Reading may include a passage about fashion history, the textile industry, or sustainable clothing. Being able to describe outfits, discuss trends, and use material/colour/style adjectives all contribute to a higher vocabulary score.
What are common clothing collocations in English?
Important collocations: 'put on' (get dressed in), 'take off' (remove clothing), 'try on' (test clothing in a shop), 'wear out' (use until damaged), 'dress up' (wear smart/formal clothes), 'dress down' (wear casual clothes). Nouns: 'a change of clothes', 'a full outfit', 'school uniform', 'work attire', 'sportswear'. These collocations are more natural and fluent than single vocabulary items alone.
What are British and American English differences in clothing vocabulary?
Key differences: jumper (British) = sweater (American); trousers (British) = pants (American); waistcoat (British) = vest (American); trainers (British) = sneakers (American); tights (British) = pantyhose (American); dressing gown (British) = bathrobe (American); vest (British underwear) = undershirt (American). If you are unsure which variety to use, British English is standard for most international English exams.
How do I use the Group Sort exercise for clothes vocabulary?
The Group Sort exercise presents a set of words that you drag into categories. For clothes, you might sort by: warm vs cool weather clothing, formal vs casual, types of footwear vs upper body clothing, or British vs American English terms. Creating your own categories before doing the exercise — and then checking them against the game — is an excellent way to actively process and organise your vocabulary knowledge.