To build a wardrobe that works

J.: Well, Irene, I’ve found out today that I have a wardrobe full of clothes and “nothing to wear”. What would you advise me to do?

I.: It means that it’s time to pull it together. Have you thought of the right outfits for every occasion?

J.: I have no idea about that. You mean that I should arrange my clothes into outfits for each activity, don’t you?

I.: Yes, exactly so. If I were you, Jane, I’d work out a plan like that: I’d think of all the things I do and plan what kind of clothes I’d need. And then I’d take a look through my wardrobe.

J.: You mean to say that then I could see where certain places or whole outfits are missing, couldn’t I?

I.: Besides you could consider how each article looks on you. If there is something you really don’t like, despose of it. The very thing you need is to build a wardrobe that works.

J.: Yes, no doubt whatever but how can one make one’s clothes work?

I.: Well, let’s take the wardrobe as a whole. First of all, there are basic items and mixers in it. As to the basic items, they include first-coats: heavy-weight, light-weight, raincoat; second dresses: multi-purpose, jumper dress, dress and vest, print dress; third – three-piece suit: a jacket, pants and a skirt; fourth – short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts, a pullover and a cardigan. As to mixers, they are so variable that everyone can create the most flattering effect for oneself. They could include a dinner dress with a jacket or without any, some skirts in different colours, pleated, straight, etc…, some kinds of pants in classic pattern and jeans, print blouses, dressy blouses, two colour tweed cardigan, etc.

J.: There are so many things to this wardrobe that I don’t know what to begin with.

I.: Oh, this wardrobe is quite general. The matter is that everybody’s wardrobe needs are different. If you are, for example, carrying for a home and family, you’ll need clothes that are comfortable, flattering and easy to care for. And then referring to the suggested checklist for a Basic Wardrobe, you can substitute your requirements for the items that don’t fit your need. The most important thing is to look your very best at all times.

J.: And if your days are crammed with a hectic job, what’s then?

I.: Well, you probably should eliminate some extra dressing gowns, skirts, pants and blouses suggested in the list, and replace them with some attractive, basic dresses. You must do it step by step. Building a wardrobe that works is not a crash project.

Suggest an ideal wardrobe for your friend to follow

For ideas: to pull the wardrobe together, to plan, to arrange clothes into outfits for each activity, to miss, basic items and mixers, to begin with, to replace, step by step.

Act as an interpreter. Render the following texts into Russian:

Г. Шанель

Платье не может существовать само по себе. Самое главное в нем сама женщина.

Главное в моде – это женщина, а не платье.

Мой совет: правильно носите платье. Это значит – нужно совершенно забыть, что вы его носите, т.е. чувствовать себя свободно и непринужденно, без претенциозности, легко дышать и двигаться, удобно стоять и сидеть.

____________________________________________________________

Use these words: to exist, advice, to advise, to wear, to forget, to feel, easy, to breathe, to move, comfortably.

Одеваться со вкусом – значит подбирать одежду, соответствующую вашему типу и вашему образу жизни. Даже очень красивая женщина, если она с пренебрежением относится к своей внешности, становится непривлекательной. Одеваться со вкусом Вам помогут не столько деньги, сколько ваша интеллигентность, ваше чутье, ваша психология.

Всегда имейте в виду, что эксцентричность редко бывает красивой. Элегантна та женщина, которая умеет подчеркнуть в себе самое красивое. Ничего нет досаднее, чем жаловаться на неизбежное. Не сетуйте, если Вы изменились или постарели, - обаятельная женщина не стареет.

____________________________________________________________

Use these words: tastefully, to select, to suit, the way of life, to ignore, attractive, intuition, cultural level, to emphasize, to complain of smth, inevitable, charming.

Communicating:

Problem 1. Some people want to have very many clothes. Others believe that a great interest for clothing reveals one’s narrowmindedness and philistinism.

What is your opinion of it?

Problem 2. Nowadays there is a tendency to merging of the fashion for young men with that for girls. Both boys and girls wear acid-washed jeans and denim jackets, shirts, pullovers and training shoes.

Do you think girls are becoming less feminine?

Problem 3. Since ancient times clothes have been the indicator of man’s belonging to a definite social group. There is a proverb “Clothes make the man”.

Do you think it is still topical today? Has anything changed in its contents? Do clothes indicate the social status of people nowadays?

Problem 4. They say tastes differ. Do you think that:

a) people who are helpless in matters of taste try to protect themselves with this saying?

b) it is just a form of politeness protecting people who lack taste?

c) according to G. Chanel “one can dispute on tastes, there can’t be any dispute only on poor taste”?

PART II

Clothing