IELTS Essay: Clothes, Culture, & Character
Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes.
Do you agree or disagree?
Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures. This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history. It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.
Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world. A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate. There are also individual differences that are, on average, greater than the disparity between cultures. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.
Analysis
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. 2. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. 3. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures. 4. This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history. 5. It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- You can have a second main idea.
1. Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world. 2. A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. 3. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. 4. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate. 5. There are also individual differences that are, on average, greater than the disparity between cultures. 6. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. 7. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
- For this one I have a second related idea to develop.
- And another example to extend fully.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures. This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history. It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.
Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world. A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate. There are also individual differences that are, on average, greater than the disparity between cultures. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.
Answers
argue point out
character personality
determined decided by
point to argue
international companies multinationals
manufacture made
identical the same
all around the world everywhere
consumers buyers
influenced impacted by
media entertainment
admire look up to
public figures famous people
modern convergence coming together these days
production making of
disparate nations different countries
at any point in human history at any time before
unusual not normal
for instance for example
preferences tastes
reveal show
values what you consider important
project to the outside world show to everyone else
suit and tie fancy work clothes
appears seems
professional formal
matches fits
formally professionally
indicate mean
office culture workplace
casual not formal
tropical climate hot weather
on average generally
greater than more than
disparity between cultures differences between countries
sporty clothes athletic wear
regardless of nonetheless
social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
contribute add to
trend pattern
emulate copt
Pronunciation
ˈfæʃən ˈʧɔɪsɪz
kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən
ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti
ˈkʌlʧə
ˈlɑːʤli ɪn əˈgriːmənt
kənˈsiːd ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
ˈpɑːtli əbˈskjʊəd
dɪsˈtɪŋkʃənz
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈkærɪktə
dɪˈtɜːmɪnd
pɔɪnt tuː
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈkʌmpəniz
ˌmænjʊˈfækʧə
aɪˈdɛntɪkəl
ɔːl əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld
kənˈsjuːməz
ˈɪnflʊənst
ˈmiːdiə
ədˈmaɪə
ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪgəz
ˈmɒdən kənˈvɜːʤəns
prəˈdʌkʃən
ˈdɪspərɪt ˈneɪʃənz
æt ˈɛni pɔɪnt ɪn ˈhjuːmən ˈhɪstəri
ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl
fɔːr ˈɪnstəns
ˈprɛfərənsɪz
rɪˈviːl
ˈvæljuːz
ˈprɒʤɛkt tuː ði ˌaʊtˈsaɪd wɜːld
sjuːt ænd taɪ
əˈpɪəz
prəˈfɛʃənl
ˈmæʧɪz
ˈfɔːməli
ˈɪndɪkeɪt
ˈɒfɪs ˈkʌlʧə
ˈkæʒjʊəl djuː tuː
ˈtrɒpɪkəl ˈklaɪmɪt
ɒn ˈævərɪʤ
ˈgreɪtə ðæn
dɪsˈpærɪti bɪˈtwiːn ˈkʌlʧəz
ˈspɔːti kləʊðz
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ɒv
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
trɛnd
ˈɛmjʊleɪt
θɪəˈrɛtɪkəli
dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ
kənˈtɪnju(ː) tuː biː
sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən
Vocabulary Practice
Those who a_______e that a person’s culture and c__________r cannot be d__________d from their clothing p____________o the impact of globalization. There are now i_________________s like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that m_____________e and ship i_____________l clothes a___________________d for consumers. These c__________s are i______________d by the same m_______a and a_______e the same p_______________s. This m_____________________e of p______________n and culture means that d_____________________s are more similar than a_____________________________y. It is not u__________l to see an individual living in South America, f____________e, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.
Nonetheless, fashion p___________s still r___________l what a person v_______s and what they wish to p__________________________d. A person who wears a s____________e a_________s p______________l and this likely m________s their personality. If they dress very f____________y when at work it might also i___________e the o________________e in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more c_________l due to the t__________________e. There are also individual differences that are, o___________________e, g___________n the d_________________________s. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear s_____________s r_____________f where they live. S_______________a and globalization can even c_____________e to this t______d as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and e_________e both their personality and fashion choices.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://magazine.psykhefashion.com/features/fashion-psychology/personality-traits
Speaking Practice
Shoes
- Do you prefer to wear shoes that are comfortable or fashionable?
- Do you buy many shoes?
- How many pairs of shoes do you have?
- What is your favourite pair of shoes?
Writing Practice
The number of people who are interested in and wearing fashionable clothes is increasing.
Is this a positive or negative development?
It is an incredibly common belief that clothes maketh a man. Some assert the possibility of distinguishing an individual’s culture as well as personality from the clothes they choose to wear. While some people would argue that not all judgements can be perfect, in my opinion, it is possible to arrive at some conclusion about the person’s background by looking at their attire.
To begin with, people’s clothes speak a lot about their culture since it is easy to identify which culture they belong to. For instance, Sari is a traditional women’s dress from India. When a woman wears a sari, we can instantly recognize she belongs to India. Secondly, a well-dressed man in a suit and tie is perceived as an erudite person. Immaculate clothes are usually a sign of a person being intelligent, smart and well-mannered. Also, rich people often wear expensive branded clothes since they can afford it. Conversely, a shabby dressed person may appear to have less education or be impolite in nature. If a person wears old, torn, or dirty clothes, they may be considered as homeless or impoverished. Lastly, the style of clothing projects what kind of a person they may be. For instance, introverts may like to be dressed in subtle colors, whereas extroverts may prefer vibrant colors and a party wardrobe.
However, some people feel that one cannot be judged based on their clothes. Not all wealthy people wear exquisite labelled clothes. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Although they can afford to buy them, they dress themselves like laymen. Another contrasting idea is that people from another culture may choose to wear clothes from a different culture because of fashion. For example, an American woman may want to wear a sari to work simply because she is fond of the design, yet this does not mean that she is an Indian. So, people may wear clothes they love, and, therefore, clothes do not determine a person’s culture and character.
In conclusion, while some people have contradicting agruments due to some exceptions, from my perspective, clothes definitely define a person’s identity and potrays the culture they hail from. Various clothes from all over the world are symbols of cultural diversity, and people’s characteristics can be diagnosed from their clothes.
There is a statement that the outfit of a person can reflet his culture and personality. In my opinion, people buy clothes based on their hometown and preferences.
A certain area would likely sell local clothes, which can present the culture of a place. In ancient times, people would weave clothes depending on the local situation, such as the weather, local industry, and lifestyle. For example, in mid-east Asia, there are a lot of deserts, and the weather is dry. It would be very cold when the night comes, and become extremely hot during the day. Therefore, their local clothes are primarily long white coats. Moreover, clothes can also show the religious selections. Women in mid-east Asia wear long balck coats and masks which only display their eyes. Such signals ensure that people could identify their cultures easily.
People choose clothes based on their preferences. There are different attitudes towards clothes. Some may consider them as functional items, while some may think that clothes are methods to show personal status. Hence, different selections show different perceptions of clothes. For example, the dressing of a professor may lead to different images. In China, a professor wore so simple that a freshman student asked him to show the way to dorm. A later report showed that this professor was the headmaster of this university, and he just wanted to be as normal as others. By contrast, if a professor wears an expensive skirt and puts on a LV belt with a large logo, it is easy to tell that he wants to be respected and be different from others.
In sum, clothes present the culture and the personality with local historical reasons and peosonal preference. In addition, we can judge a person not only by how they look, but also by how they behave.