Clothing?

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

Since "clothes make the man", I tend to at least offer a few lines about what a character generally wears. For example, I have a scene in my science fantasy WIP where the villain (Isaac Magnin) kidnaps his daughter (Naomi Bradleigh) in order to manipulate the protagonist (Morgan Stormrider). Magnin doesn't mean to harm Naomi; he just doesn't have time for Morgan to play detective and figure out that the Magnin is the bad guy.

Naomi wakes up in Isaac Magnin's mansion, having been transported from her own home. She wasn't given an opportunity to pack a bag, as she was taken while asleep. All she has is the nightgown in which she went to bed. Magnin knew about this, so the closet in Naomi's room is full of clothing that Magnin suspects that Naomi would like. I show her examining the clothes and getting dressed in order to reveal something about Isaac Magnin's character. He might be a manipulative bastard who's willing to use his own daughter as a tool, but he tries to be civilized about it, treats the people he's kidnapped as honored guests, and extends to them every possible courtesy.

lucidzfl · Aug 21, 2009

MGraybosch said:
Since "clothes make the man", I tend to at least offer a few lines about what a character generally wears. For example, I have a scene in my science fantasy WIP where the villain (Isaac Magnin) kidnaps his daughter (Naomi Bradleigh) in order to manipulate the protagonist (Morgan Stormrider). Magnin doesn't mean to harm Naomi; he just doesn't have time for Morgan to play detective and figure out that the Magnin is the bad guy.

Naomi wakes up in Isaac Magnin's mansion, having been transported from her own home. She wasn't given an opportunity to pack a bag, as she was taken while asleep. All she has is the nightgown in which she went to bed. Magnin knew about this, so the closet in Naomi's room is full of clothing that Magnin suspects that Naomi would like. I show her examining the clothes and getting dressed in order to reveal something about Isaac Magnin's character. He might be a manipulative bastard who's willing to use his own daughter as a tool, but he tries to be civilized about it, treats the people he's kidnapped as honored guests, and extends to them every possible courtesy.

I keep seeing people writing about how men are picking out clothes for women, or shoes, or etc etc.

I do not know where you find such men.

I know my wife pretty well but I could not go to her closet and pick out "things she likes".

I do not know a single (straight) man who would be ballsy enough to try and give his wife shoes or clothes for a present either.

scarletpeaches · Aug 21, 2009

You don't know any men with a foot fetish, then.

lucidzfl · Aug 21, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
You don't know any men with a foot fetish, then.

Typically men with fetishes don't discuss it with other men so its quite possible I do and don't know it.

Still don't know how a man would know what kind of shoes a woman would like.

My wife likes diamonds. Thats as far as my knowledge of her tastes go.

scarletpeaches · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
Typically men with fetishes don't discuss it with other men so its quite possible I do and don't know it.

Still don't know how a man would know what kind of shoes a woman would like.

My wife likes diamonds. Thats as far as my knowledge of her tastes go.

Here's a crazy idea. He could ask.

Wark · Aug 21, 2009

I don't say what they're wearing or what they look like if I can help it. Your imagination fits what you want to see better than I can.

Sometimes you have to let the reader know something. I have a love interest with sun poisoning. She wore a tank top and shorts walking in the sun for days. That information is needed. At the same time we let on that the MC doesn't like wearing shorts and is wearing long pants.

Besides the info I just said, no other. Pick your own color of tank top. Jeans or cargo pants for the MC.

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
I do not know a single (straight) man who would be ballsy enough to try and give his wife shoes or clothes for a present either.

Considering that Isaac Magnin managed to get about six billion people to kill themselves decades before my novel even begins, I doubt that he has any trouble finding the nerve to see what sort of clothing his daughter has purchased over the years and filling a closet based on her purchasing history after he has kidnapped her.

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
Still don't know how a man would know what kind of shoes a woman would like.

You don't go shopping with your wife?

The Lonely One · Aug 21, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Here's a crazy idea. He could ask.

But then we wouldn't have Sex and the City and Battle of the Sexes board games.

Wait. What am I saying. We should ask.

Clothing can be used for characterization, but it depends on the writer's ability to craft a scene. As a reader, I don't want a play-by-play of clothing items any more than of facial features and hair color. If you stay in voice, make it interesting, highlight important facets, I'm okay with a little bit of wardrobe.

But then again I'm convinced a writer who can stay in voice, make things interesting and highlight important facets could pull anything over on me.

lucidzfl · Aug 21, 2009

MGraybosch said:
You don't go shopping with your wife?

My wife isn't a big shopper. In fact since we've met, I can only think of maybe 2 or 3 outfits she's bought and maybe 3 pairs of shoes. ( i forced her to buy new shoes when we went to a club in south beach )

jodiodi · Aug 21, 2009

My husband goes shopping with me sometimes, but couldn't care less what I buy. He's usually playing a cell-phone game while I shop. I used to ask his opinion, but he doesn't care. The only time he took an interest in my shoes was when I was looking for walking shoes. He doesn't even know what I wear on my feet any other time.

lucidzfl · Aug 21, 2009

jodiodi said:
My husband goes shopping with me sometimes, but couldn't care less what I buy. He's usually playing a cell-phone game while I shop. I used to ask his opinion, but he doesn't care. The only time he took an interest in my shoes was when I was looking for walking shoes. He doesn't even know what I wear on my feet any other time.

Sounds like my kinda guy

kaitlin008 · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
I do not know a single (straight) man who would be ballsy enough to try and give his wife shoes or clothes for a present either.

My boyfriend buys me clothes sometimes with great success. Without me there with him, even. It always fits perfectly, and is always my style. You don't have to be gay to know how to pick out clothes for a woman, you just have to be paying attention

It's to his benefit, imo. Because then he knows he'll like what I'm wearing!

on topic: I don't mind relevant clothing descriptions as long as they don't go on forever. But I don't care the exact brand, style, etc of every outfit each character wears.

Alan Yee · Aug 21, 2009

I sometimes describe clothing for certain characters, but I don't go overboard with it (I don't write full-page paragraphs describing just the clothes). Usually just a note that so-and-so is wearing jeans and a T-shirt or dress clothes, for example. I don't do it every time a character shows up or changes outfits, but if the POV character notices it, I at least make a brief mention of it.

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
My wife isn't a big shopper. In fact since we've met, I can only think of maybe 2 or 3 outfits she's bought and maybe 3 pairs of shoes. ( i forced her to buy new shoes when we went to a club in south beach )

My wife is different in that respect, and she isn't too pleased with my reluctance to bring her along when I go shopping for myself. The thing is, she likes my style and knows full well that I am perfectly capable of doing my own clothes shopping. I get it done faster by myself, as well.

But since I need a new suit for a job interview, I'll let her come along and "help".

Mr Flibble · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
Still don't know how a man would know what kind of shoes a woman would like.

He notices what shoes she normally wears?

My hubby could ( and does) pick out clothes that he'd know I'd like, no problem. He doesn't need to ask. He knows. He'd need a stiff drink after doing any clothes shopping. But he'd get me what I like, and in the right size. And no, he isn't metrosexual, or in touch with his feminine side or any other euphemism for not being a manly man. He just has eyes in his head and some brain cells. And uses them.

Any man who pays any attention whatsoever to his other half could pick something they'd like by basing it on what they normally wear.

It isn't brain surgery.

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
Any man who pays any attention whatsoever to his other half could pick something they'd like by basing it on what they normally wear.

It isn't brain surgery.

But that would require effort.

KTC · Aug 21, 2009

jennontheisland said:
Necessary. Cool.

Not. Not.

ditto dat

Mr Flibble · Aug 21, 2009

MGraybosch said:
But that would require effort.

Ah, but it gives you extra brownie points to spend as you will

It's effort that is rewarded.

If a bloke can't be bothered to pay attention to his missus, I don't want him.

MGraybosch · Aug 21, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
Ah, but it gives you extra brownie points to spend as you will

It's effort that is rewarded.

If a bloke can't be bothered to pay attention to his missus, I don't want him.

I won't tell you how I know, as the details are NSFW, but trust me: I know the truth of your words.

maestrowork · Aug 21, 2009

Whether you describe or not (hopefully for good reasons), remember this:

less is more.

(and going naked is not totally out of the question)

Charlie Horse · Aug 21, 2009

Only if it gives insight into your character's personality and further deepens the relationship between your character and the reader. Otherwise, it's just boring.

Red Sharpie · Aug 21, 2009

I assume all characters are naked unless I read a detailed description of what they are wearing, just like I assume they have no eyes, nose, legs, etc. unless I receive a description of each of these features.

It makes for some interesting reading! :tongue

(real answer is in agreement with what pretty much everyone else is saying)

lucidzfl · Aug 21, 2009

Interesting. I'm the fashionista of my house.

She wouldn't care what labels she wears but I love my armani and dolce.

maestrowork · Aug 21, 2009

lucidzfl said:
Interesting. I'm the fashionista of my house.

Brüno, is that you?

Clothing?

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