hello. this is my first time here my name is julia2912 i was having a problem describing this dress and mask for a character thanks to all the replies and help
First of all, beautiful dress and mask! Now, for the feedback…it depends what POV you're writing in. If its 1st person you'll describe things from the POV of your character, and I find that that's different than if you're in, for example, 3rd person. It also depends what you're writing style is, and I wouldn't try to change it when describing a dress and then changing back again to your own style, as it would be jarring to the reader. But the way I would describe this dress would be to compare it to things. You might describe the shape of the dress (where it flows down, how there is only one strap, etc.), and when I do this I usually attempt to keep my explaination short to not bore readers. Going back to the comparing, I would say something like "It twirled down into shocks of midnight blue, whispering silver hiding amongst the indigo; stars peeping through broken slits of sky." Of course, that's quite rough, but I'd do something like that. As for the mask, I'd point out the black (obsidian? Some kind off stone?) jewels and how the mask curls with elegance. Maybe you can also compare the ensemble's main colors and how they constrast/compare in relation to your character's skin color, hair, eyes, etc. I hope this helped and good luck!
Don't forget the sound the fabric makes as it moves, and the feel of the fabric against the characters bare legs.
Can't tell you how to describe it, that's your job. I will however show you how I managed it... very tricky it was. Think of the dress in emotional terms, as it relates to the characters, the story at hand, and even on a thematic level. Colors, sounds, how it catches the light are all unimportant and completely forgettable if you don't infuse the moment with meaningful emotions. As you'll read below, I spent very little time describing the dress in question (I've highlighted that part in bold letters). The bit I've pasted below is a conversation between Valerie (a courtesan), and Rosemarie (12 years old)... the year is 1792. ________________________________________________________________ “Yes, there were several victims, but that was so long ago. I’m sorry, forgive me, I shouldn’t have said anything. Come on, help me choose a gown. Poor Gael must be livid wondering where you’ve gone off to. Shall we follow Hugo’s advice, or something more provocative? Tonight, I’m feeling perfectly betwixt and between. Let us see what’s in that one there.” Valerie pointed to a pink box festooned with yellow daffodils. Rosemarie knelt down and untied the straps, swung open the lid, and let out a soft gasp, “It’s... beautiful.” She unfolded the dress and draped it over the couch. There was a calling card pinned to the collar. Valerie opened the card and read the message therein — Take care and do well my friend, that we’ll meet again under the shade of the tree by the brook and listen to the songbirds singing their misgivings. Love always - R. P. She got up from the couch and discarded her robe. “It’s time now.Help me on with it.” Rosemarie eagerly assisted, first helping her on with a simple underdress. “Shall I ring the bell to summon Hugo?” “No, that won’t be necessary.” “Then I’ll escort you to your appointment?” “No, I’m sorry, when we’re finished here I’ll see myself out. Lazare trusts that I wouldn’t put you in harm’s way without good reason. I know your uncle seems harsh at times. Don’t ever forget that he has his own tragedies to bear. You’re all he has left, you and this run-down opera house.” Valerie tousled Rosemarie’s hair. “Now, no more questions. I’ve come for a night of opera and here I am looking like the king’s mistress on a morning romp.” Valerie bent half at the waist, arms stretched in front of her with hands coming together to form a toppled-over steeple. Rosemarie gathered up the dress and helped her wriggle into it. Valerie straightened up, smoothed the frock neatly into place, and performed a clumsy pirouette followed by an impish curtsy. “So, how do I look?” “It’s very unusual.” Rosemarie rubbed her chin. “It brings to mind that strange painting of the sorceress who turned men into pigs. The one hanging in the gallery we visited last Spring. The very spit of the wicked Circe, you are!” The sleeves and blouse were vaguely of a gypsy cut, all done in syrupy browns and shades of violet flecked with white that seemed to undulate of their own volition. The skirt consisted of ruffled tiers of burnt orange satin that ended in a ragged hem just above the ankle, as if the seamstress had suddenly been called away before completing her task. A spidery black lace bodice consummated the ensemble. Valerie spun round. “Fasten me up. Not too tight, though — I’ll need to breathe tonight. I may have to turn a certain gentleman into a swine.” Rosemarie laughed, and began cinching up the bodice. “Why have you come tonight? Isn’t it dangerous for you?”
Lately, I've seen this assumption repeated numerous times on this site. It is an assumption many novice writers make, but it is absolutely not true. One can write descriptions from a character's perspective just as easily in 3rd person limited as in 1st person. Ditto for thoughts and emotional reactions.
If it's a guy's POV I have a hard time seeing him making a big deal about the dress(unless he's a fashion designer or trying to judge how much it costs). What's underneath the dress would probably be more important.
Hi. Welcome to the forum. It helped me to grow my vocabulary when I began describing clothing: Parts of clothes Pinterest fashion vocabulary Google images for names of clothing parts. You can also do similar searches for clothing parts from various eras. I find if I can name the parts or the type of gown/blouse/skirt/etc, then I can come up with a decent description.
Keep your POV character and your audience in mind, though - would your character know those terms? Does your audience?
You're right--it's just as easy in 1st person as in 3rd person limited. I was referring to, however, staying in character. Personally, I find that when I write in 1st person I tend to feel more as if I were actually in the character's mind/body, and thus feel as though I need to show their voice and (if this is the right word) narrative. While writing in 3rd person (though it's different whether you're in limited or omniscient), I find that I tend to describe more than when writing in 1st person POV. Though it may simply depend on the writer's style or the story's style. I have one WIP where I am writing in 3rd person limited, and I tend to keep it quite like 1st person except for the voice/use of "I" or "[name]", but in another I'm experimenting with the POVs. I will, of course, eventually make it uniform (whether it's 1st or 3rd person) but right now I find that I am descriptive when in 1st and more "to the point" in 3rd. Just some thoughts.
If it fits the story narrator, then yeah, the right terminology would be important in the story. Audiences vary but if one reads novels like The Devil Wears Pravda, it turns out there is a sub-genre of fashion fiction. Goodreads: Popular Fashion Fiction Books These books are also good resources for describing fashion in one's own fiction.
This makes sense. Someone recounting their own story would not be inclined to describe his/her own surroundings, particularly in an action or other tense sequence. It ties in with the concept of an unreliable narrator, one of the uses of 1st person.
Yep. It's like the looking in a mirror trope, you have to find other ways to describe the character and setting when it's first person POV. There is a scene in my book, however, where the first person protagonist is not only looking in a real mirror for the first time, she's wearing clothes she feels incredibly uncomfortable in. But I supplement the trope with the reaction others who see her have.
To be honest (and yes I'm ready for the flak) If you're having to ask how to describe an item of clothing, for which you have a picture already prepared, then I suggest you need to do a lot more reading and some practice writing before tackling bigger projects. Having to describe things will be the very least of your worries, and if you can't do even that you'll find yourself asking for help every second sentence you write.
So true. Just because you know it's called a Peter Pan collar, doesn't mean your audience needs to know that, or will even care. Now something like leg-o'-mutton sleeve, that's very different. That term conveys a whole lot of info just by itself about the time and setting and the characters. I can immediately see a woman in a dark blue filled dress, high collar, hair up on top of her head, and of course, leg-o'-mutton sleeves.
You've actually hit the nail on the head. Describe the dress by letting us know what the POV character thinks of it. Or what makes him notice it? Or like it, or dislike it. Don't just give out a Sears catalogue list of description. Lists. Don't. Stick. Emotional/cerebral reactions do. I can't describe your dress for you, @julia 2912 , because I have no idea what your POV character thinks of it. Is this somebody who will be wearing it? Photographing it? Making it from a pattern? Wishing they had it for themselves? Does it remind them of somebody they once knew? Does the wearer's bare shoulder make an unsightly bulge (because the wearer is too hefty) or does the dress hang awkwardly because the wearer is too thin? Does it look like midnight velvet and diamonds from a distance, but up close it's just polyester and fake rhinestones? Is this being worn as a costume, or for real? All these kinds of considerations will enter in to how you describe a dress in your story. Resist the urge to give us a list of details, and pick out the one or two that are the most important. If the dress is going to be around for most of a scene, you can stick in another couple of details later on. But maybe concentrate on first impressions, and filter these through your POV character.
This has turned into an excellent thread. People have posted any number of important aspects to consider when describing clothing one's characters are wearing. For the record in case it wasn't clear, expanding one's vocabulary is a single aspect of describing fashion. It's like expanding colors on a palette. You don't just start slapping obscure colors on the page because they are on your palette. But you have a wider range of options if they are there.
