Adapted from The Guardian

The 10 best-dressed people of 2012

Ben Whishaw as Q
A brilliant piece of knitwear: Ben Whishaw as Q in Skyfall.

It was a total stroke of genius casting Ben Whishaw as Q in Skyfall, bringing a modern spin to the geek role. The specs and cord jacket worn by Whishaw in a scene with Daniel Craig's Bond were the perfect mix of London-meets-Burberry. Meanwhile, when Whishaw is using various hi-tech devices, he wears a brilliant piece of knitwear: a cardigan with contrast burgundy and navy trim. At first, this cardigan was thought to be of Marni or Balenciaga but it is, in fact, the always marvellous Dries van Noten. And his hair? Monumental. Malia and Sasha Obama
Malia (left) and Sasha Obama: all-American elegance. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Michelle Obama's style was the fashion story of Obama's first term. Now the fashion sense of their daughters seems to be the style story that defines his second. "The Obama girls might be the fashion news tonight full skirts, bright colour, cute" tweeted Cathy Horyn, fashion editor of the New York Times, as the family took to the stage in Chicago in November. There is a simple allAmerican elegance that is recognisably their mothers' influence, but Malia favours electric blue, while Sasha loves an abstract pattern.

Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne on the Burberry catwalk at London fashion week 2012. Photograph: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

When Grazia calls a model cooler than Kate Moss, they have made an impact. Such is the case with Cara Delevingne, model of the year at the British fashion awards in November. With catwalk moments from Burberry to Victoria's Secret, it's her off-runway antics that have scored her a spot on this list. Although her style is casual she wears Converse, for example , she loves onesies, while her shimmering minidress at the British fashion awards felt absolutely fresh. She might not be cooler than Kate yet, but she's on the way.

ACTIVITIES

1. Useful vocab: knitwear hi-tech devices off-runway antics be on the way stroke of genius trim score modern spin fashion editor casual geek abstract pattern onesies specs and cord jacket catwalk shimmering minidress

2. Comprehension questions: a. Who is Ben Whishaw and what does he wear? b. Obamas daughters are under the spotlight because of their style. From whom do they get it? c. Cara Delevingne is a famous model. What is she famous for?

3. Speaking activity: a. You have just read about 3 of the 10 best-dressed people in 2012. Do you think they deserve to be in the list? Why (why not)? b. If you could make a list of the 10 best-dressed people in your country or the world, who would be in your list? Why? c. If you were a personal shopper or fashion manager working for these famous people, would you change the way they dress? Why (why not)? d. Why do you think we care so much about how celebrities/politicians/TV presenters/etc. dress? Would you like to dress like them?