Clothing & Fashion — Complete Wardrobe

Why This Matters

Clothing vocabulary is essential for shopping, describing people, understanding fashion media in French, and navigating daily life — from picking up a parcel to getting dressed and heading out. Plus, France is the world capital of fashion!

🦝 Remy says: "French fashion has a secret: it's about attitude as much as clothes. But before the attitude, you need the vocabulary. Let's build your wardrobe — in French!"

Core Lesson

Tops — le haut

| French | English | |

--|

| | une chemise | a shirt (button-up) | | un t-shirt | a t-shirt | | un pull / un pull-over | a sweater | | un sweat(-shirt) | a sweatshirt | | un débardeur | a tank top | | une blouse | a blouse (women's) | | un gilet | a cardigan |

Bottoms — le bas

| French | English | |

--|

| | un pantalon | trousers / pants | | un jean | jeans | | une jupe | a skirt | | un short | shorts | | un legging | leggings |

Dresses & Suits

| French | English | |

--|

| | une robe | a dress | | une robe du soir | an evening dress | | un costume | a suit (men's) | | un tailleur | a suit (women's) | | un smoking | a tuxedo |

Outerwear

| French | English | |

--|

| | un manteau | a coat | | une veste | a jacket | | un imperméable | a raincoat | | un blouson | a casual jacket | | une écharpe | a scarf |

Footwear

| French | English | |

--|

| | des chaussures (f) | shoes | | des baskets (f) | sneakers | | des bottes (f) | boots | | des sandales (f) | sandals | | des talons hauts (m) | high heels | | des chaussettes (f) | socks |

Accessories

| French | English | |

--|

| | un chapeau | a hat | | une casquette | a cap | | un sac à main | a handbag | | une ceinture | a belt | | des lunettes de soleil | sunglasses | | une montre | a watch | | un collier | a necklace | | des boucles d'oreille (f) | earrings |

Key Clothing Verbs

| Verb | Meaning | Example | |

|

|

| | porter | to wear | Je porte une chemise bleue. | | mettre | to put on | Je mets mon manteau. | | enlever | to take off | Enlève ta veste! | | essayer | to try on | Je peux essayer cette robe? |

🦝 Remy says: "Porter = to wear (right now, in general). Mettre = to put on (the action of dressing). 'Je porte un jean' (I'm wearing jeans) vs. 'Je mets mon jean' (I'm putting on my jeans). Same garment, different moment!"

📝 Exercise 1 — Fill in the blank

Complete each sentence with a clothing word.

1. Il fait froid — je mets mon ___ et mon ___. (coat + scarf)
2. Pour la plage, elle porte un ___ et des ___. (dress + sandals)
3. Il travaille dans une banque, donc il porte un ___ tous les jours. (suit — men's)
4. Mes pieds me font mal — je vais enlever mes ___ à ___. (high heels)
5. Je cherche une ___ pour aller courir. (sneakers)

✅ Answers:

1. manteau / écharpe
2. robe / sandales
3. costume
4. talons hauts
5. paire de baskets

📝 Exercise 2 — Build sentences

Describe what each person is wearing using porter.

1. Thomas: blue jeans, white t-shirt, black sneakers, cap
2. Sophie: elegant black dress, high heels, gold necklace, handbag

✅ Model answers:

1. Thomas porte un jean bleu, un t-shirt blanc, des baskets noires et une casquette.
2. Sophie porte une robe élégante noire, des talons hauts, un collier en or et un sac à main.

📝 Exercise 3 — Translate

1. Can I try on this jacket in size 40?
2. She always wears a watch and earrings.
3. Take off your coat — it's warm inside!
4. He put on his suit for the meeting.
5. I'm looking for a raincoat and boots for autumn.

✅ Answers:

1. Je peux essayer cette veste en taille 40?
2. Elle porte toujours une montre et des boucles d'oreille.
3. Enlève ton manteau — il fait chaud à l'intérieur!
4. Il a mis son costume pour la réunion.
5. Je cherche un imperméable et des bottes pour l'automne.

🎯 Today's Challenge

Write a "what I'm wearing" post as if you were a French fashion blogger. Describe your full outfit for today or for a special occasion — include tops, bottoms, shoes, and at least two accessories. Use porter, mettre, and at least one color/material from yesterday's lesson.

⭐ Key Takeaways

• French clothing vocabulary is gendered — note articles carefully (une robe, un pantalon, des bottes).
• Use porter for wearing and mettre for putting on — they are not interchangeable.
• Accessories — la montre, les boucles d'oreille, le sac à main — complete any outfit and any description!