What are your impressions of this female character? Black V-neck shaped long-sleeved top. Long Ankle-length black gypsy/maxi skirt with brown belt and white stripes. Black nylon tights Black street shoes. In terms of her personality i'm was originally thinking maybe modest and a little bit shy and easily embarrassed or something to that effect.
Doesn't want to stand out, but isn't willing to adopt the "all black 'cause I'm edgy" look, hence the brown and white. Maybe a bit of an introvert. Alternative: Black's their favorite color.
Honestly? Superficial since she has no noteworthy characteristics beyond her appearance. Unless it's a picture book, all characters appear black and white on the printed page.
Gives off secret ninja, activist vibe. But like, the graffiti activist not protester. Definitely knows how to defend herself given the manoeuvrable clothing and has been in a situation which requires such but didn't have it. Also, probably goth aesthetic, could be a gymnast in her spare time. Could definitely do a back flip. Probably chill, under spoken. Maybe a tad insecure. Seems like an active chick though.
Zilch. My eyes glaze over when authors start to give me laundry lists of clothes or physical features. Personality is what I care about.
I'm unclear on where the stripes are (the belt or the skirt?), but I don't feel that clothes this generic really give you any clue about personality.
She needs a road cone. Maybe put some of those spikes that some people put in their ballcap holes, on it. But most deff needs a road cone. A fashion retro/forward librarian fetish, ready for autumn? I don't know. All I am getting is Goth-Conservative with bits of 'happy' undertones. For me it is nice to know in a brief way of what a character looks like, but I tend to stick around for their personality. While their personal style can play into their personality a little, it really is not all that important. So focus more on who she is and what she does, and worry less about the 'props and costumes' unless they are in some way important to the plot.
I'm wearing the same thing. But, really, there are much better ways to build a character. Most of the time it doesn't matter what a character is wearing and it's not worth mentioning. Other times it can be important, but I think that's rare. And in your case, you could simply say she wore all black, and it would leave the same impression. Still, what does it say about the character? Not much. It's a little bit like asking readers to judge a book by its cover when you think an outfit will get across who this person is. Think about how often you judge someone based on what they are wearing. Do you feel like you know what kind of person they are by what they are wearing? If you do judge people on what they wear, I imagine you wouldn't really get to know them at all. Same with a character.
Sorry this could be anyone -- the annoying person in line at Starbucks arguing over her phone even though she's supposed to be ordering. A non-binary spouting bad poetry in a basement full of socialist lesbians. A dancer on her way to an audition. The new schoolteacher who doesn't mind if you call her a witch because she really is one. You've given us clothes with no slanting, posture, context, conflict. A skirt doesn't make someone a whore -- signals and context reflect that -- personality verifies it.
I am going to add my voice to the choir and say that I'm not really getting anything. Clothes can be swapped easily and can help her deceive others. Personality description is fairly generic too. If you want to express the character, you need to show things that won't shift so easily. How does she wear her clothes? Is she pristine or look like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards? What of her posture? Upright? Slumped? Does she fidget? If so, how? Things like that would be way more expressive.
Okay in terms of her personality, i'm kind of undecided between her being a) a schoolteacher or b) as a school receptionist who is actually a witch. Her attitude is kind of somewhere between child-like and mischievious yet still very feminine.
Then that's what you should get across first. If you just say that she wore black, flowy clothes, perhaps compare them to witches' robes, that'll do. Putting a lot of detail into clothes and little into personality will give the impression that you care more about what a character is wearing than who they are. (Mind you, I'm biased against clothing descriptions in general - Google "My Immortal"). I'm not saying that that's true, but if that's the impression you give, people will assume that that's the case.
I have similar pieces in my wardrobe, but they would tell you nothing about my personality as I also like to wear bright colors and patterns as well. I have everything from casual flats to 4 1/2 inch jeweled heels. I would rarely make an assumption about someone's personality based on what they're wearing, especially if it's the first time I meet them.
Those clothes aren't reading as feminine to me. I agree that there's too much detail and the detail is overriding the overall impression you're trying to communicate.
Okay so here's a revised definition of this character Emma, 34, Long Dark-brown hair Blue eyes Works as a school receptionist Also a witch (unbeknowst to anyone) Wears black, gothic-like, flowing clothes (skirts mainly) Personality is a kind of a cross between a childlike curiosity and mischeviousness.
That gives me a slightly clearer idea of her appearance, but not her personality. Why not write a scene with her in it, and put it in the Review Room? That might give some idea of the personality.
