IELTS Speaking Part 1: Clothes Questions & Band 9 Answers (2026)

Clothes and fashion are frequent topics. The examiner might ask about your style, where you buy your clothes, or if you follow trends. To score Band 9, avoid saying "I wear jeans." Instead, use words like smart-casual, wardrobe staple, impulse buy, or fashion victim to describe your style.

How to Use These Sample Answers

Below are the latest 2026 questions for "Clothes."

Important: These answers are for a person who buys all their clothes online. They order many sizes and return the ones they don't like. But if you love shopping with friends in real stores, or if you buy a new pair of shoes every month, these answers are probably not for you.

So, here is the plan:

1. Read these samples to understand the Band 9 structure.

2. Use the IELTS Speaking Lab App to get personalized answers. It gives you perfect vocabulary that fits your real life—whether you are a fashionista or just wear a uniform.

Part 1: Questions & Model Answers about Clothes

1. Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Yes, I admit I am a bit of a shopaholic. I love browsing online stores to find the latest pieces. However, I view it more as a necessity than a hobby. I like refreshing my wardrobe every season to keep my look current.

2. Where do you usually buy your clothes?
I buy almost everything online. I find going to physical stores incredibly stressful and inefficient. I prefer to scroll through apps in the comfort of my own home. Plus, the variety online is endless compared to high street shopping.

3. Do you try clothes on before you buy them?
Since I shop online, I can't. My strategy is to order the same item in two or three different sizes. I try them on at home in front of my own mirror, keep the one that fits perfectly, and send the others back. I rely heavily on hassle-free returns.

4. What is your favorite piece of clothing?
My favorite item is definitely a classic leather jacket. It is a real wardrobe staple that goes with everything. It makes any outfit look instantly more stylish and edgy. I think it is a timeless piece.

5. Do you prefer smart or casual clothes?
I definitely prefer smart-casual. I like to look put-together but comfortable. For example, I might wear a nice blazer with a pair of clean jeans. I think it is a versatile look that works for both social events and work.

6. Do you follow fashion trends?
Not religiously. I keep an eye on what is in style, but I don't want to be a fashion victim who wears things just because they are trendy. I prefer to stick to clothes that suit my body shape and personal taste.

7. Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
I probably overspend more than I should. It is very easy to buy things with just one click. However, I try to look for sales and discounts to get value for money. I view good clothes as an investment in my self-confidence.

8. What kind of clothes do you dislike?

I really dislike clothes made from cheap, synthetic fabrics like polyester that make you sweat. I also hate anything that is too tight or restrictive. If I can't move freely in it, I won't wear it. Comfort is my top priority.

9. Do you wear a uniform?
Not currently, but I had to wear one at school. I actually liked it because it saved me time in the morning—I didn't have to suffer from decision fatigue wondering what to wear. It also created a sense of equality among the students.

10. What colors do you usually wear?

I tend to stick to a monochrome palette—lots of black, white, and grey. I find these colors easy to mix and match. Sometimes I will add a pop of color with a scarf or accessories, but generally, I prefer a minimalist look.

11. Do you think clothes are important?

Yes, absolutely. As the saying goes, "clothes make the man." Your appearance is the first thing people judge you on. Dressing well shows that you have self-respect and professionalism. It is a form of non-verbal communication.

12. How do you decide what to wear in the morning?

I usually check the weather forecast first. If it is raining, that dictates my choice immediately. Then I consider what I have planned. If I have an important meeting, I will dress up; if I am just staying home, I’ll wear loungewear.

13. Do you like shopping for clothes with friends?

No, I prefer to do it alone. Hobbies like shopping are personal to me. When I am online shopping, I don't need anyone's opinion. I know what I like, and I don't want to feel pressured into buying something by a friend.

14. Would you buy second-hand clothes?

I am open to it, especially for vintage items, but I rarely do it. I prefer the crisp, clean feeling of brand-new clothes. However, buying second-hand is much more sustainable and helps fight against the waste of fast fashion.

15. Have you ever bought clothes you never wore?

Yes, guilty as charged. I have a few items at the back of my closet with the price tags still on them. Usually, they were impulse buys that looked good on the model but didn't actually suit me when I tried them on.

16. Do you wear different clothes for travel?

Yes. When I travel, I prioritize comfort above all else. I usually wear loose-fitting trousers and layers so I can adjust to the temperature on the plane. I refuse to wear jeans on a long-haul flight.

17. Do you like traditional clothes from your country?

Yes, I think they are beautiful and elegant. We usually wear them for weddings or cultural festivals. They are often handmade and feature intricate embroidery. Wearing them gives me a sense of pride in my heritage.

18. What do you do with old clothes you don't wear anymore?

I usually donate them to charity shops. If they are in good condition, I might try to sell them on a resale app. I hate throwing clothes in the bin because I know they will just end up in a landfill.

19. Do you think men and women have the same fashion choices?

Not really. I think women generally have a much wider variety of styles and cuts to choose from. Men’s fashion tends to be more limited and conservative, although that is slowly changing with more gender-neutral trends emerging.

20. Will you change your style in the future?

Probably. My style has already evolved a lot since I was a teenager. As I get older, I think I will prioritize quality over quantity and build a capsule wardrobe of high-end pieces that will last for years.

Key Vocabulary for IELTS Topic: Clothes

Here is the complete glossary of every bolded word and phrase used in the answers above.

• Appearance: The way that someone or something looks.

• Body shape: The natural physical form of a person.

• Capsule wardrobe: A small collection of clothes that all go well together.

• Clothes make the man: A saying meaning people judge you by what you wear.

• Conservative: Traditional in style or manner; avoiding showy or flashy things.

• Created a sense of equality: Made everyone feel the same or equal (e.g., wearing uniforms).

• Decision fatigue: Getting tired of making too many choices (like what to wear).

• Donate: To give (money or goods) for a good cause, for example, to a charity.

• Dress up: To wear nice, formal, or fancy clothes (usually for a special event).

• Embroidery: Decorating cloth by sewing patterns on it with thread.

• Evolved: Developed gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form.

• Fashion victim: Someone who wears popular trends even if they look bad or stupid.

• Fast fashion: Cheap, trendy clothes produced very quickly (often bad for the planet).

• Gender-neutral: Suitable for both men and women; not specific to one gender.

• Hassle-free returns: Being able to send items back to a shop easily without problems.

• High-end pieces: Expensive, high-quality items.

• Impulse buys: Things you buy suddenly without planning.

• Inefficient: Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting effort or time.

• Investment: Buying something expensive because it will be useful or valuable for a long time.

• Landfill: A place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil.

• Long-haul flight: A flight over a long distance (usually intercontinental).

• Look current: To appear modern and fashionable.

• Loose-fitting: Clothes that are not tight; comfortable and roomy.

• Loungewear: Comfortable clothes suitable for relaxing at home.

• Minimalist look: A style that is simple, clean, and uses few colors or accessories.

• Mix and match: To select and combine different items of clothing or style.

• Monochrome: Using only one color or shades of one color (usually black/white).

• Necessity: The fact of being required or indispensable.

• Non-verbal communication: Communicating without words (e.g., through clothes or body language).

• Overspend: To spend more money than is allowed or sensible.

• Personal taste: An individual's preference for what they like or dislike.

• Pop of color: A small bright color in an outfit that is mostly dark or neutral.

• Pressured: Feeling forced to do something.

• Price tags: Labels on clothes that show how much they cost.

• Pride in my heritage: Feeling good and respectful about your cultural background.

• Professionalism: The competence or skill expected of a professional.

• Put-together: Looking organized, neat, and stylish.

• Resale app: Phone applications (like Depop/Vinted) where you sell used clothes.

• Restrictive: Limiting the freedom or movement of something (tight clothes).

• Shopaholic: Someone who is addicted to shopping.

• Smart-casual: A style of clothing that is neat and stylish but not too formal.

• Sustainable: Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level; conserving an ecological balance.

• Synthetic fabrics: Cloth made by chemicals, not natural sources (e.g., polyester/nylon).

• Timeless piece: An item of clothing that never goes out of fashion.

• Value for money: When something is worth the price you paid for it.

• Versatile look: An outfit that works well in many different situations.

• Vintage: Clothing from a previous era (usually 20+ years old) that is high quality.

• Wardrobe: A tall cupboard for hanging clothes; also refers to all the clothes a person owns.

• Wardrobe staple: An important piece of clothing that you wear often and rely on.

Create Your Own Band 9 Answers

The answers above are perfect—if you shop online and return items. But what if you love shopping with friends? Or what if you buy shoes every month?
Your answers need to be true so that you can easily recall them during a stressful exam.

IELTS Speaking Lab helps you turn your real ideas into Band 9 answers.

1. Select your topic - Clothes.

2. Input your rough idea (e.g., "I love going to the mall with my best friend to try on dresses").

3. Get personalized Band 9 answers instantly, with the perfect vocabulary for your story.

Start Generating Your Personal Answers Now →