This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Fashion, Beauty & Appearance. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
sun-damaged hair
Salt water and intense sun can leave swimmers with sun-damaged hair.
formal attire
Guests were asked to wear formal attire for the charity fashion gala.
project a polished image
The company website projects a polished image to potential clients.
raise her voice
The speaker had to raise her voice to be heard over the crowd.
fine bone structure
The sculptor admired the model's fine bone structure before sketching the portrait.
sheer epic grandeur
The couture show aimed for sheer epic grandeur rather than everyday elegance.
stunningly attractive
At a fashion-show briefing, the models were stunningly attractive.
lose their voice
After three days at fashion week, the presenter began to lose their voice.
face the facts
The creative director had to face the facts: the collection was over budget.
cannot face the thought of
The boutique could not face the thought of withdrawing the new collection after months of preparation.
new season’s look
The campaign introduced the new season’s look with clean lines and neutral tones.
clean-shaven face
At a fashion-show briefing, the models were clean-shaven face.
anti-aging properties
The serum's anti-aging properties were tested in an independent laboratory.
spotlessly clean
In a fashion-show briefing, the model was spotlessly clean.
undergo a cosmetic procedure
Some people undergo a cosmetic procedure to alter a feature they dislike.
formal dress
She chose a formal dress with long sleeves for the evening launch.
completely different
In a fashion-show briefing, the model was completely different.
face the consequences
The brand will face the consequences if it copies another designer's work.
lavish lifestyle
The celebrity's lavish lifestyle made her a regular subject of fashion columns.
haven’t a clue
The customer hasn’t a clue why the delivery is late.
excruciatingly uncomfortable
The model said the shoes were excruciatingly uncomfortable after an hour on the runway.
gruff voice
The stylist called instructions in a gruff voice across the busy studio.
flawless complexion
The makeup artist created a flawless complexion under the harsh studio lights.
crinkly eyes
When she smiled, her crinkly eyes made the portrait look warm.
pending the outcome
The investment was paused pending the outcome of the investigation.
launch a new collection
The designer will launch a new collection at Paris Fashion Week.
high-street fashion
Retailers use high-street fashion to adapt runway ideas for a wider audience.
what’s in fashion
The magazine reports on what’s in fashion for the new season.
face the challenge of doing something
Despite the difficulty, small labels must face the challenge of producing responsibly without raising prices.
long-lasting colour
The dye promised long-lasting colour even after repeated washing.