Leaving Cert Art: Fashion, costume & jewellery
How often Fashion, costume & jewellery comes up on the Art papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.
HL Asked on 1 of the last 3 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.
OL Asked on 3 of the last 3 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker
Quick ones on Fashion, costume & jewellery.
- Shoes
- Hats (millinery)
- Jewellery
- Use the cheapest fabric they can find
- Follow current street fashion as closely as possible
- Show character and period while allowing movement
- Bold repeating retro prints, like her stem pattern
- Gothic lace wedding gowns in ivory
- Minimalist, all-black tailoring with no pattern at all
Show the answers
(a) Hats (millinery)
(b) Show character and period while allowing movement
(c) Bold repeating retro prints, like her stem pattern
Higher Level
Asked on 1 of the last 3 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Not asked |
| 2024 | Not asked |
| 2023 | Q6 |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Fashion, costume & jewellery questions
Fashion, costume & jewellery, 3 marks
Fast fashion is criticised mainly because it?
- Relies on costly hand-woven cloth
- Is far too expensive for most young buyers
- Creates waste and relies on cheap labour
Show the answer
Creates waste and relies on cheap labour
Cheap garments made quickly and worn briefly fill landfill and depend on low-paid workers. Designers answer with slow fashion, repair and recycled fabrics.
Ordinary Level
Asked on 3 of the last 3 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker
Every paper, year by year
| Year | Where it came up |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Q7 |
| 2024 | Q3, Q6 |
| 2023 | Q6 |
Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.
More Fashion, costume & jewellery questions
Fashion, costume & jewellery, 2 marks
Irish designer Philip Treacy is world famous for designing what?
- Shoes
- Handbags
- Hats
Show the answer
Hats
Treacy, from Co. Galway, is a milliner (hat maker). His sculptural hats have been worn by royalty and pop stars and blur the line between fashion and sculpture.
Fashion, costume & jewellery, 2 marks
Clothes made in standard sizes and sold in shops are called what?
- Bespoke tailoring
- Ready-to-wear
- Haute couture
Show the answer
Ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter) is factory-made in set sizes. Haute couture and bespoke clothes are made to measure for one client, often by hand, and cost far more.
Fashion, costume & jewellery, 3 marks
Besides looking striking, what must a stage costume let the performer do?
- Move freely and safely on stage
- Stay completely still all the time
- Hide from the audience
Show the answer
Move freely and safely on stage
Costume must suit the character, time and mood, read clearly from a distance under stage lights, and allow dancing, fighting or quick changes.
Other Art topics
- Art elements & design principles
- Galleries, museums & curation
- Graphic design & advertising
- Public art, murals & street art
- The working artist & career
- Visual Studies Framework
- Art & the environment
- Artists: processes & media
- Artists: theory & thinking
- Craft: textiles & ceramics
- Photography, film & animation
- Architecture & interior design
- Art as social commentary
- Product & vehicle design