Let’s meet Sarah and Jenna, two 9 th form schoolgirls. They are talking about the contest, but they are concerned about the new school rules and about wearing uniforms at school. - Have you heard, uniforms will be compulsory at our school. The good news is that the students are asked to design their own uniforms for girls and boys. We are free to propose any style we consider, but we have to respect some rules. - Oh, we can ask Audrey, she is an exchange student and she talked about wearing uniforms in her country. She also seemed to know a lot of things about fashion.

Let’s read together what the contest is about, then begin our researches! BE STYLISH, MODERN AND FASHIONABLE RESPECTING SOME SIMPLE RULES! SCHOOL CONTEST DISCOVER FASHION BY DESIGNING YOUR SCHOOL UNIFORM!

-Hello, Audrey, can you help us, we have to design our own uniforms, can you describe what do you wear at school in your home country?? Audrey: Well, at my school girls wear short dresses with bowtie and embellished U neck. The dress is very elegant, we can wear it with white shirt or jumper. We wear newsboy cap. Boys wear light grey tailored suit, light blue shirts, and red tie with blue stripes. We are free to wear some accessories, if we respect the rules. Our schoolbags must be blue or black. We are not allowed to wear high heels or make up. Boys have to wear black or dark blue shoes, sneakers are not permitted.

Vicky also heard about wearing uniforms. She does not know anything about the rules, but she knows a lot about fashion, clothing styles, formal and informal clothes. Now she is talking to Jenna and Sarah about her idea concerning the ideal uniforms.. Vicky: I like romantic frilly dresses with floral patterns. I imagine a short dark blue dress with white frills, striped rugby socks and high heels shoes. My second choice would be a short knitted dress with round collar and long sleeves. Floral patterns can be very feminine. Knitted wool figure hugging dresses are very comfortable in any season of the year. Accessories are very important, I think about bracelets, stylish handbags and of course sunglasses. They can be so chick!

Kaneesha is an exchange student from India. She usually wears traditional clothes, now she tries to help the girls to find the right style for their uniforms by describing the dresses worn by women in India. Ethnic style: Kaneesha: In our culture we wear tunics and saris. This tunic is made of raw silk with embellished broidery. The pants are long and also made of silk or cotton. We wear sandals and bare shoulder dresses are often seen, because it is very hot. We like precious stones and very rich broidery and our dresses are usually hand made. We almost always wear flat leather sandals, Indian women do not wear high heels with traditional clothes.

Helen has just visited Scotland. She remembers the Scottish national wearing and tries to describe it to her colleagues in order to influence their choice for an elegant uniform. TARTAN Helen: I would never think about boys wearing kilt in our school. But tartan is fashionable and very lively. Look at the first picture: Scottish kilt features the tie and the skirt, matched with a dark coloured blouse. The result could be as seen below: Short tartan kick pleat skirt, wool socks and trainers for girls! For boys I imagine stripe or check shirt with point collar, three button, single breasted suit with straight, flapped pockets, white shirt and a pair of trousers with an elegant belt. I would not like to see blue jeans and denim at school. It is too informal, and you can wear it in your free time!

-What about accessories? – asked Jenna, I love accessories, even the dullest uniform can be changed with the right chosen jewelry, headbands, sunglasses, handbags and so many others… ACCESSORIES. I love cross body floral printed handbags but metal framed bags are my favourites. At school I would like to wear shoulder bags or rucksacks. I think a colourful stretch bracelet would be very nice, you also would love my earrings set made of golden and silver pieces. Floral headbands or grips can be elegant but also useful if your hair is long. But my favourites are colourful scarves made of silk, or cotton. They can be floral, animal print or striped, they will match well with everything you wear. A silver carved shell collar necklace would make my outfit quite elegant and exclusive!!

-My God, Jenna, you are not going to a royal weeding, you are just a student at 9 th grade! Who said that would not like blue jeans or denim at school? Look at these images! Aren’t they lovely? I imagine the ideal uniform as close as possible to our leisure time outfit. LOOK! These photos are from a famous fashion magazine!.The denim dresses are bare shouldered but you easily can find a blazer or jacket to put on. Vicky, you said you loved romantic style, denim can be decorated with frills, beads, elegant pearl buttons or an elegant belt. If you are the “trousers type” you can find a pair of skinny jeans, they are as comfortable as leggings, but more practical. Leather belts, scarves any accessories are welcome. You can wear boots, sandals or even high heels. Aren’t these models lovely? They could win any contest.

-You would win for sure only one contest “WHAT NOT TO WEAR”!! Haven’t you heard about the basic rules of wearing denim? Wearing 2 different colours of denim is a crime against fashion. It is simply ugly. But we forget the most important thing: SCHOOL RULES –The hem to the uniform CANNOT be 7 cm above the back of the knee. –Our hair accessories must be blue, black, or white. No two colours are to be in the same accessory. –Our earrings must be ear studs, not more than a diameter of 0.5cm, and must be of a solid color. –No other accessories are allowed, other than a watch. –No make up is to be put on unless there is a school performance. –Our school shoes must be sport shoes/sneakers, full white.Socks are to be school socks navy white or white. –Hair must be tied up when it touches the shoulder. –School uniform/PE uniform must comply to timetable –Only school jackets shall be used. All of them: We will be the ugliest girls in the world with these rules!!!!!