This week: Characters That Have Style Edited by: Dawn Embers  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
For Authors Newsletter by Dawn
A discussion on the clothes and style that help create a developed characters. At times, we might go a little obvious. Other times, it will be the smallest details that really bring them off the page. |
Most of the time, I don't think that much about fashion for myself, let alone for my story characters. This topic came in part from going back to watching old episodes of Project Runway. That and I'm having to create designs for a character in the real world: myself as a drag king. One thing that ties these all together is that the judges will often ask the designer for a story about the person wearing the design. They would to know about the character wearing the weird peacock coat, little black dress or avant garde contraption.Even when mostly using models there is a story behind the person that would wear each outfit.
For us, we get the character first and probably consider their style later. It could be something simple as they tend to wear all black, do the color blocking thing or maybe only dress in outfits from the 1920's with their favorite store consisting of thrift clothes. It is a bonus fact, though, not a requirement. We don't need to design the outfits for every character or any of them exactly, but it does help to paint a picture to bring the reader into the world of the story.
When it comes to character fashion, there is one example in my fiction thus far where I have taken that into consideration. I have to admit, however, that he dresses very stereotypical. The character is a male witch who runs an occult store in Oregon. His clothes are the typical goth styling but for two reasons. There is the obvious connection to the occult and goth fashion style. That probably wouldn't be enough to give reason to keep it except, much like how you have dichotomy between roommates in Wednesday, the look is done that way to stand out against his pair: a detective. Even if not wearing a police uniform, the other character has a more plain style that is more office than streetwear. When the witch has to join him as a pair for a new police unit, his fashion style will really stand out as a flamboyant, Edgar Allen Poe type of way. This does sort of bring out a fact that some genres will have stereotypical styles and other elements will stand out more.
Which brings about the question: Do you go with the obvious?
This can work at times but will really depend on not only the genre but the particular character. It also depends on what they are going to be doing. It's hard to run or climb in certain styles or fabrics. The whole idea that intricate lace and flowing skirts don't make the best options when going horseback riding comes to mind. And there is also the existence of culture when it comes to pattern, material, styles, and expectations for what they can do in their clothes. The prince in delicate formal attire will have the same rule about not getting dirty that may be put on a girl in a cotton dress, depending on the setting.
We also can't forget that the lack of style, is in some ways a type of style. It can be overdone at times but there are going to be characters who either don't have style or have a reason for their ignorance. I've read a series that the main character couldn't see color so he admitted that he didn't care much about what he wore because he couldn't see a part of it that others did. In fact, he got tired of being taunted or having someone point out that his clothes clashed when he had no clue. There are specific elements like that where aspects of character influence the reason for their style/non-style.
What you write will also have an influence on these decisions. Fantasy can get away with more whimsical or different attire compared to a mystery or detective noir type story. Romance depends on the setting and the type of characters, since most of mine don't wear dresses but a couple of them do (men can wear dresses too). The trick is finding the way to use their style without coming off forced or putting too many things into a story that get away from the point of telling a story. Are you going to consider style when making decisions for your characters? Let us know.
|
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2339644 by Not Available. |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Does what the character wears have an influence on how they act? Is their fashion too obvious?
Last time, for this newsletter, I talked about the self. That is, writing things that you want to write as the main reader, without concern of others. It is fitting, in a way, that there is one comment about the topic submitted a couple months ago:
Comment by Quick-Quill  :
When I first joined WDC, I believed that I could write the way I wanted, no matter what critiques I received. I soon learned that attitude got me nowhere. I still write what I like, but I learned the craft of writing, and I love critiques, which show me where I need to make changes that will resonate with readers. Not the subject matter, but how I portray what I want to say. rearranging words so they sound better or describe something better.
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
For Authors: May 14, 2025 Issue [#13130]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
