什么样的穿着适用于任何场合呢，换句话说，什么样的装扮最保险，我想应该是牛仔裤搭衬衫或者T恤吧.

 

 

Jennifer: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English, I'm

Jennifer and with me today is Rob.

Rob: Hello Jennifer!

Jennifer: Now Rob, you’re a man of taste – what would you usually wear to the office?

Rob: Well I think it’s important to look smart, but in my job I can be casual, so

perhaps a nice shirt and some jeans or casual trousers?

Jennifer: Very nice, and what about the women, what do they wear?

Rob: Well, there’s quite a range at work – some ladies are quite smartly dressed

and might wear a dress or a skirt and blouse, but others are more casual. Of

course, they ALL look lovely – including yourself.

Jennifer: Hmm, I’m not sure how sincere you are about that, but I’ll give you the

benefit of the doubt. We’re talking about the importance of dress codes on 6

Minute English today, but before we get to our story, I’ve got a question for

you and it’s all about fashion, something I’m sure you know lots about. Are

you ready for the all-important question, Rob?

Rob: Yes I am.

Jennifer: Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is known for his bold statements about

fashion and famously said: “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a

what?”

(a) Pair of jeans

(b) Little black dress

(c) Pair of high heels

Rob: Oh dear, I don’t even understand the quote? What does it mean exactly?

Jennifer: If you are overdressed, you look too formal. If you are underdressed, you are

not formal enough – so he thinks there is one fashion item which is perfect for

all occasions – is it a pair of jeans, the little black dress, or a pair of high

heels?

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Rob: Well surprisingly I have no idea about women’s fashion. I’ll go for a) a pair of

jeans…

Jennifer: Well we’ll see if you’re right at the end of the programme. Now back to our

story which is about a controversial microblog post which has sparked a

debate in China.

Rob: That means it has lots of people talking about it – and often arguing about it!

Jennifer: The post was from a metro operator in Shanghai who suggested that women

should dress in a conservative way in public.

Rob: If you dress conservatively, you wear traditional clothes and avoid anything

outlandish or revealing.

Jennifer: The blog post included a photograph of a woman wearing a see-through, or

transparent, dress.

Rob: That’s certainly the opposite of conservative! I don’t think many people would

go out in public wearing an outfit you could see through!

Jen: Probably not, but this blogger’s comment about the outfit has caused

controversy. Listen to this clip from the BBC’s John Sudworth – what

comment was made about the photo?

BBC correspondent John Sudworth:

The Shanghai Metro authority used its official Weibo account, the Chinese version of Twitter,

to publish a photograph of a woman in what appears to be a see-through dress, standing on

a subway platform. “It’s not surprising that women get harassed if they dress like this,” the

caption reads, adding “it’s hard to avoid perverts. Girls, please cherish yourselves.”

Rob: The Metro authority said that if women wear see-through clothes, then it’s not

surprising they get harassed.

Jennifer: Thousands of female passengers have been voicing their anger at this, as

they feel it is an attempt to blame them for any sexual harassment they

receive.

Rob: Those passengers think they should have the right to dress however they like

- without being harassed.

Jennifer: But on the other hand, there are people who have said that women should not

dress provocatively, as it might encourage people to make unwanted

comments.

Rob: It seems that opinion is divided.

Jennifer: Here’s the BBC’s John Sudworth again with some of the responses to the

statement. 

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BBC correspondent John Sudworth:

“The issue is currently the second most discussed topic on Weibo and has even prompted a

small tube-train protest. One woman, angered by the statement, held up a banner reading;

“I can be coquettish but you can’t harass me.” Other internet uses through have spoken out

in defence of what they say is simply common-sense advice. In an online poll, with 45,000

respondents so far, almost 70% said that women should dress more conservatively when

taking trains or buses.”

Rob: So it’s even prompted a protest by some women who feel it’s their right to

dress how they like without people making comments.

Jennifer: That includes dressing coquettishly – or in a flirty manner.

Rob: But other people have said it’s only common sense – or good judgement –

to dress conservatively, as then nobody is likely to bother you.

Jennifer: Maybe not – but they argue that everyone should be treated with respect no

matter what they choose to wear.

Rob: Sexual harassment is a huge problem in society and the question of how to

avoid it is a difficult one. Who is responsible for harassment – the people who

dress provocatively, or the people making the unwanted comments?

Jennifer: It’s a difficult question, and I’m sure the debate will carry on for a long while.

Speaking of difficult questions, I asked you a tricky one about clothing at the

start of the programme. Karl Lagerfeld once said “One is never over-dressed

or underdressed with a what?”

(a) Pair of jeans

(b) Little black dress

(c) Pair of high heels

Rob: And I said …

Jen: And you were wrong! Jeans are very important, very handy for the wardrobe,

but according to Lagerfeld, every woman should have own a little black dress,

as they are so versatile!

Rob: Have you got one?

Jen: I’ve got far too many. Ok, we’ve come to the end of today’s programme. Rob,

will you remind us of some of the words that we’ve heard today?

Rob: Of course, they are:

sparked a debate

conservative

coquettishly

common sense

sexual harassment 

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Jennifer: That's all we have time for today but do join us again for more 6 Minute

English and for more help with any aspects of your English language studies

go to our website BBCLearningEnglish.com. Bye for now!

Rob: Bye!