Interesting characters are what make engaging stories, but it can be difficult to give readers a good depiction of the character living in your mind. Readers only get one first impression of a character, which is why it is important to showcase the character correctly and create a vivid description that will last with the reader. A character's clothing is important when portraying a character because it gives readers a snapshot of who they are. From a character's clothes, the reader can infer the setting, time, and more. Here are 10 tips on how to properly describe the clothing of a character!
Research Unfamiliar Articles of Clothing
If you aren't familiar with a piece of clothing, it is important that you study the article of clothing in order to accurately describe it. If you depict an article of clothing incorrectly it can disrupt the flow of the story and lead readers to feel stuck on what the piece of clothing looks like.
Show the Character Arc Through Clothing
By letting your characters change clothing throughout the story, readers can get a sense of how the character is evolving. If a character starts the novel wearing a large ballgown complete with velvet buttons and pink silk bows and ends the novel wearing jeans and a t-shirt, it is quite evident that the character has experienced a major change. By marking the characters' clothing at certain parts of the novel, readers can identify how the character is growing.
Use Clothing to Showcase a Character's Status and Personality
Describing clothing is especially helpful in depicting a character's social/wealth status and personality. In our world, there are types of clothing typically associated with different social statuses. A character from a high status will be more likely to wear a tuxedo or ballgown than a character with a lower status. However, your characters don't have to wear all the clothes stereotyped to a certain social status, even a small thing like a diamond necklace can telegraph the idea of their status. It is also important to depict a character's personality through their clothing. Just like in the real world, characters should have their own sense of style based on their personality. Two characters can be wearing a jacket at the same time, but the descriptions of the jackets should be specific to them.
*For example Character A may be wearing a long Cashmere wool coat, while Character B is wearing a denim jacket decked out with graphic pins.
Use Clothing to Differentiate Between Characters
As mentioned above, when describing the clothing make sure that each character is somewhat different. Not only will this help readers visualize and remember your character, but it also helps readers differentiate between people. No two people are identical, and your characters shouldn't be either. Instead, represent those differences between two certain characters by describing the contrast in their clothing.
Ensure Outfits fit With the Time and Setting
It is important to research the time period and setting of your novel and ensure that the outfits you are describing fit into both. Fashion has greatly changed over time and it is important to create a realistic story where readers feel drawn into a specific world. Research the weather of the setting and ensure that the fashion, you are describing could work with the weather. It is crucial that the fashion makes sense for the time and setting to guarantee that readers feel encapsulated in the world.
Specify the Clothing Color
Nothing is quite as impactful and vivid as color. One of the first things, you should do when describing an article of clothing is to express the color. Colors are a very important visual for readers and will help readers paint a picture of a piece of clothing. When you describe the colors of your character's clothing it can also enliven your typical writing. When specifying the color of the clothing, it may also be helpful to use figurative language. Perhaps compare the color to another object.
Relate to the Senses
Although it is important to describe the color of an outfit, there is so much more to clothing than looks. Instead of just sticking to the look of a character's outfits when detailing an article of clothing, think of the other senses. For feel describe how the wool sweater itches at the character's skin or how the silk pajamas feel like butter against the skin of the character. For sound describe the sound a dress makes when it flows against the character's legs or the swooshing sound an athletic tracksuit makes when a character runs. Lastly, the smell can tell a lot about a character and the experiences they have been through. For example, describe how the sweater of the main character's grandmother always smells like peppermints.
Keep it Brief
Clothing description is important, though it shouldn't be excessive. When describing the clothing of a character, keep it concise. No reader enjoys reading through pages and pages of description. Instead, spread out information about a character's appearance and clothing throughout the novel. Remember as you write, you can elaborate on their appearance when it is relevant. Describe the details you only notice once you have known someone for the first time.
Verify That the Outfit is Realistic for a Character's job
Similar to a novel's setting and time period, it is important to verify that the outfit a character puts on at the beginning of the day, fits with their job. Make sure to incorporate the clothing of a character into their job description. If you’re describing a firefighter in a fire scene, describe the heat from their uniform or the stiffness of their gloves.
Remember to Include Flaws
Not everyone looks like a supermodel all the time, which is why you should never not give your characters flaws or blemishes. This could be as simple as a toothpaste stain on a sweater or a birthmark. If you describe a character as perfect, they won't feel authentic or stand out to the readers. Giving your characters flaws helps them feel realistic and also identifiable to readers.
Characters are crucial in novels, so the way you describe them is also important. As a writer, you shouldn't sell them short, but instead, display their personality and all their quirks. Clothing is extremely helpful in doing that as long as you make it realistic yet vibrant and keep it short!