Whenever I feel down in the dumps, I go out of my way to dress extra fancy. Maybe put on a dress, wear a scarf, try some new makeup. By doing this, I’ve noticed that people comment positively, which boosts my self-esteem, thus putting me in a better mood. You never realize just how much people notice about you until you change something!
Think about it. When you go in for a job interview, you want to project a certain image. So, you wear your best clothes. Maybe a bold tie. Choose power colors. Pressed suit. As a teacher, if I know I’m going to have a conference with a difficult parent, I pull out a red top. An ‘I’m in charge’ kind of color. It’s a psychological edge. My favorite one is yellow, also a power color.
In writing, one of the first things you learn is the rule about showing, not telling. A subtle way to do this is be descriptive about your characters’ clothing choices. People infer things about you by what you are wearing, and writers do that, too.
In my book, Free as a Bird, my main character, Destiny, always wears an oversized green hoodie that is desperately in need of a wash. She didn’t choose that hoodie on purpose – she found it in the lost and found box at school. But I did choose it on purpose. It conveys several things to the reader. Here is a child who’s mother neglects her, for one. For another, she is hiding from the world, trying to be invisible. Choosing dark colors, oversized clothes, hoods – these are all signs that children are neglected and abused
In Carla’s Adventure in Mexico, Carla’s best friend shows up at her house wearing a bright pink cowboy hat. I wanted her to come across as bold, fun, and adventurous. I think I accomplished that without having to use any of those words.
When characters appear on the page, it is kind of like a job interview with the reader. They are auditioning for a part and need to show their personality. Using color, style, and accessories can go a long way to convincing the reader that this person is who they say they are.
A lot of writers focus on actions and dialog, which are important, but describing the way a character presents themselves through their apparel can be just as powerful.
If you were a character in a book, what would your clothing say about you?
What a great but simple concept…..to set the stage for one’s own standard instead of expecting the rest of the world to do it for for me! Reminds me that I can control alot more than what I think I can!