Clothing & the Author

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Paul Whybrow

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Jun 20, 2015
Cornwall, UK
This article in the New York Times made me consider how much I use descriptions of clothing to denote character:

Your Literary Idols and Their Wardrobes

How the writer dresses can all be a part of their brand, which is tackled in the book. I dread to think how I'd present myself, though I guess I could ape how my protagonist detective dresses, which is practically for the sometimes rough landscape where he investigates crimes—hence, he favours supportive walking boots, wax proof coats and leather jackets.

The British actress Beryl Reid said that she found how to play a role through choosing the shoes that the character wore.

This approach makes sense, and it's an oft-given piece of advice on how to judge personality.

What Do Your Shoes Say About Your Personality?

Have you ever used clothing to indicate characteristics in your fiction? Do you dress distinctly, hoping to establish an image?

wol0-005.jpg

Tom Wolfe (keeping his local dry cleaning shop in business!)
 
I dress for ease which for me mostly means sleeveless maxi dresses, a small cardi, bare feet if the weather allows and slip on pumps. That's how I dress at home or out and even if I'm on my own at home. Makeup too, even if I'm on my own, not a lot, - ageing anyway- but always some, and perhaps this to me feels hieratic in some way- and companies like Barry M do cruelty free makeup. People come for readings and that's an inward looking thing, and I keep it friendly and minimal, but still, presentation is integral to any service, not least mine while also, there are daft stereotypes needing defying. Jingly head gear. I mean! Naff. Don't ever make a fictional card reader wear jingly head gear, please. And in real life, if they tick all those costume tropes, chances are, they're not sure of their footing or they are over invested in their own image and are play acting. There is also some of that about some writers perhaps, as with some journalists and presenters who think it is now about them, and that THEY are now the story.
 
I have a character in The Dragon Slayer's Son who is Peruvian. He always wears a brightly knit hat with ear flaps (check out any tourism photo for Peru, you'll see what sort of hat I mean). He does so in order to hide his missing ear (dragon injury; he's also missing an eye), but more importantly for me, it reflects his upbeat and friendly nature, which is out of keeping with his gruesomely scarred face. It also comes in handy when characters need to recognise him from a distance--there's no mistaking that hat.

Me. I most definitely dress to project a persona. When I do entomological outreach, I always wear a garish bug-themed vest. I go for the stylish-but-ready-to-slog-through-mud-at-a-moment's-notice look, because, as an entomologist and all-around nature girl, I regularly slog through mud at a moment's notice. I make all my own clothes (except for the socks--can't knit to save my life), so each piece is crafted with care to look decent in town, but also serve me off the beaten track. My signature feature is a zippered welt pocket--sleek enough to look sharp, but holds whatever I need securely. No makeup, no jewelry.
 
Yes, and I am essentially fashion-challenged, but clothing sets a mood. That carries over into my writing. Especially for women, clothing serves as a way to express self. Describing how a character dresses tells something about how she wants to be viewed by the world and how important, or not, that is to her. This is not just a chick lit thing; first impressions matter, and much of a first impression comes from how a person is dressed. The MC in my first three books wasn't fashion conscious, my new MC is, and that is part of them being very different people.
 
I have a character in The Dragon Slayer's Son who is Peruvian. He always wears a brightly knit hat with ear flaps (check out any tourism photo for Peru, you'll see what sort of hat I mean). He does so in order to hide his missing ear (dragon injury; he's also missing an eye), but more importantly for me, it reflects his upbeat and friendly nature, which is out of keeping with his gruesomely scarred face. It also comes in handy when characters need to recognise him from a distance--there's no mistaking that hat.

Me. I most definitely dress to project a persona. When I do entomological outreach, I always wear a garish bug-themed vest. I go for the stylish-but-ready-to-slog-through-mud-at-a-moment's-notice look, because, as an entomologist and all-around nature girl, I regularly slog through mud at a moment's notice. I make all my own clothes (except for the socks--can't knit to save my life), so each piece is crafted with care to look decent in town, but also serve me off the beaten track. My signature feature is a zippered welt pocket--sleek enough to look sharp, but holds whatever I need securely. No makeup, no jewelry.


Post a pic of the 'garish bug themed' vest? Like to see that. I 've seen dragonflies today, iridescent blue and black out on the pond. Sometimes in twos. Sometimes seeming in pursuit of one another....mating? Think they're dragonflies at any rate. They're strong fliers; too high above the water to be damselflies, I reckon.
 
I'm all about comfort. I'm also fortunate enough to be able to wear jeans and athletic shoes to the real job every day. The only time I dress up a bit for work is when the boss's bosses are the building for a meeting, which is about twice a year. At home, I'm in PJs all day long and as soon as I get home from work on weekdays. Can't recall the last time I dressed up, as in a suit or dress, to go somewhere that required it. :)

I describe my characters' clothing only to the point my readers get a quick visual overview. From there, they can picture the character anyway they'd like. :)
 
Those are fabulous - and you made them? I love the dragonflies. Did you use a pattern?
I made two of those pictured. My MIL made the pink/black one for me. The middle one was the first one I made, using a commercial pattern. The one on the right is my own pattern. I've made a bunch of non-insect vests, too. Used to wear them a lot. Now that I have a serger and have developed a t-shirt pattern I like, I don't wear vests as much (I realised I wore them to hide icky women's t-shirts).
 
Depends on mood and circumstance for me. For characters I'd stick to a few brushstroke otherwise it would bore me, let alone the readers.
 
I made two of those pictured. My MIL made the pink/black one for me. The middle one was the first one I made, using a commercial pattern. The one on the right is my own pattern. I've made a bunch of non-insect vests, too. Used to wear them a lot. Now that I have a serger and have developed a t-shirt pattern I like, I don't wear vests as much (I realised I wore them to hide icky women's t-shirts).
I used to sew a lot - made clothes for the whole family, curtains and duvet covers, etc. - but that was ages ago, and I don't even own a sewing machine anymore. But I'm thinking of picking up a used one. Your vest are inspiring me. Now, to find a good fabric source...
 
I used to sew a lot - made clothes for the whole family, curtains and duvet covers, etc. - but that was ages ago, and I don't even own a sewing machine anymore. But I'm thinking of picking up a used one. Your vest are inspiring me. Now, to find a good fabric source...
Yeah, it's the fabric source that kills me here--fabric choices are limited, and prices are high. The only bright spot is a truly wonderful independent store--a little hole in the wall crammed floor to ceiling with fabric--owned by a family of tailors, it specialises in quality apparel fabric. It's one of those places where the owners are the ones ringing up your purchases, and they always give you a little extra fabric or a discount (and, of course, they know what you tend to buy, so when you walk in they're always like, "Oh! We've just gotten this new fabric in I think you'll like..." and naturally you go home with twice as much as you intended to...)
 
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