Learning a new language often entails diving into the specific vocabularies of daily life, and one such essential category is clothing and fashion. Whether you are shopping, packing for a trip, or simply trying to describe what someone is wearing, these German words for clothing and fashion will prove useful.

Kleidung simply means “clothing”. This is a general term used to talk about clothes broadly.
Wo kann ich günstige Kleidung kaufen? – Where can I buy affordable clothing?

Hemd refers to a “shirt”, typically a dress shirt or button-up shirt.
Er trägt ein blaues Hemd zur Arbeit. – He wears a blue shirt to work.

Hose means “trousers” or “pants” in English.
Diese Hose ist mir zu lang. – These trousers are too long for me.

Jacke is the word for “jacket”. This can refer to a variety of jacket types, from light windbreakers to heavy winter jackets.
Vergiss nicht deine Jacke, es ist kalt draußen. – Don’t forget your jacket, it’s cold outside.

Schuh translates to “shoe”. It encompasses all types of footwear.
Ich brauche neue Schuhe für die Wanderung am Wochenende. – I need new shoes for the hike this weekend.

Pullover or Pulli for short, means “sweater” or “jumper”.
Dieser Pullover ist sehr warm und bequem. – This sweater is very warm and comfortable.

Kleid means “dress”, referring to the one-piece garment for women or girls.
Sie sah wunderschön in ihrem roten Kleid aus. – She looked beautiful in her red dress.

Rock stands for “skirt”.
Ein langer Rock ist perfekt für den Sommer. – A long skirt is perfect for the summer.

Anzug translates to “suit”, typically a set comprising a jacket and trousers.
Er trägt einen Anzug zu dem Jobinterview. – He is wearing a suit to the job interview.

Krawatte means “tie”, the accessory commonly worn with a dress shirt and suit.
Ich kann diese Krawatte nicht binden. – I can’t tie this tie.

Mantel refers to a “coat”, usually a heavier piece of clothing for cold weather.
Sie hing ihren Mantel an die Garderobe. – She hung her coat on the coat rack.

Unterwäsche is the word for “underwear”.
Frische Unterwäsche ist wichtig für die persönliche Hygiene. – Fresh underwear is important for personal hygiene.

Bademode signifies “swimwear” or “swimsuit”.
Hast du deine Bademode für den Urlaub eingepackt? – Have you packed your swimwear for the vacation?

Mode simply translates to “fashion”. It’s a broad term referring to current trends in clothing and personal style.
Sie ist immer auf dem neuesten Stand der Mode. – She is always up-to-date with the latest fashion.

Accessoire, similar to its French root, means “accessory”.
Accessoires können ein einfaches Outfit aufwerten. – Accessories can enhance a simple outfit.

Stiefel means “boots”.
Im Winter trage ich am liebsten warme Stiefel. – In winter, I prefer to wear warm boots.

Hut translates to “hat”.
Ein Hut bietet im Sommer Schutz vor der Sonne. – A hat provides protection from the sun in summer.

Handschuhe are “gloves”.
Es ist so kalt, dass ich meine Handschuhe brauche. – It’s so cold that I need my gloves.

Schal means “scarf”.
Der Schal geht gut mit deinem Mantel zusammen. – The scarf goes well with your coat.

Mastering these German words for clothing and fashion will certainly aid you in shopping, packing for a trip, or describing someone’s attire. Remember that like English, German has its fashion colloquialisms and slang, so as you learn, keep an ear out for the trendy terms of the moment. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)