In this fun ESL lesson for C1 students, you’ll dive into the hilarious and controversial ideas from the video “How to Look Bad in Your Clothes.” With bright images and engaging vocabulary practice, students will have a blast discussing and dissecting fashion choices that go against the grain. You’ll do a bunch of exciting activities that let everyone share their thoughts and debate how clothes influence our self-image.
| Type | Level | Vocabulary | Video length | Lesson time |
| Regular Lesson | C1 / Advanced | 12 words | 3:47 min | 60 min |
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Vocabulary
- Formfitting
- Second skin
- Ostentatious
- Bold colors
- Striking patterns
- Clash
- Mannequin
- Aesthetic
- Tailor (verb)
- Garment
- Accessorize
- Opt for
Contents
- Lead-in 1
- Lead-in 2
- Vocabulary preview
- Vocabulary
- Video
- Summary
- Hot takes
- Vocabulary practice
- Style disaster
- Then & Now
Lead-in
This advanced C1 ESL lesson kicks off with five images of celebrities rocking some truly outrageous outfits. Instead of passing judgment, encourage your students to express their opinions on these looks, sharing whether they love or hate them. They should also suggest how they would change or style the outfits differently on the following page. To spark deeper conversation, three discussion questions invite students to reflect on fashion: How has their style evolved over the past 10 years? What’s the worst fashion advice they’ve ever received? And which current fashion trend do they believe needs to vanish?
Vocabulary preview, Vocabulary
Next, students will find a vocabulary preview page featuring 12 words. They’ll need to put a tick in the box next to the words they’re familiar with and provide a brief explanation for each. After that, they can discuss any unfamiliar words on the following page, which includes simple and clear definitions. Encourage students to share additional examples as needed to enhance their understanding!
Video, Summary
The main content of this lesson is a humorous video titled “How to Look Bad in Your Clothes.” Students will watch the video and take notes on the tips for looking terrible, all delivered with plenty of sarcasm and irony. Encourage them to keep it light-hearted and not take it personally if they see themselves in any of the tips. Following the video, there’s a summary page with nine frames and sentences; the task is to go through each frame and use the sentences on the right to provide a detailed summary of the video.
Vocabulary practice
The vocabulary practice page includes 12 questions alongside the lesson’s vocabulary on the right. Students will read each question, fill in the blanks, and then ask a classmate. Encourage them to answer and engage in lively discussions!
Hot takes
The hot takes activity presents six controversial statements about clothing, fashion, and personal style. Students will read each statement and share their opinions, encouraging them to disagree and back up their views with real-life examples. This is a great opportunity for lively discussions and diverse perspectives on fashion!
Style disaster, Then & Now
The next task might take some time, so feel free to assign it as homework if you’d like. Students will choose a popular mainstream fashion website and create the worst possible outfit for you—yes, their English teacher! They’ll explain their selections and why they chose that particular style. The final page, titled “Then and Now,” asks students to find an old photo from 10 years ago and pair it with a current one. They’ll put the two photos side by side, show them to the class, and discuss how they’ve changed over the years.
