Well, do you care what your characters wear or is it just extra baggage? I often wonder. Okay, in something like The Devil Wears Prada (I really liked that move. Clothes to die for. Made me want to burn my wardrobe.) the clothes thing is really important as that’s the setting. But what about other stories? Do you care if your heroine is in jeans or a skirt? Red blouse or white? Your hero in jeans or khakis? T-shirt or polo? If it’s formal and there’s a tux involved I get that. If the dress is important to the situation you have to know but what if it’s just a plain old day in the story?
When is info too much info? I just finished an historical and the clothes description bored me to tears. I don’t care what color the gloves and what they were made of but that’s what they do in historicals so you get a feel for the time and people. Except the description took me out of the story more than added to it and I found myself skipping frilly petticoats and perfumed hair stuff.
So, how much do you want to know? How much time should I devote to the clothes thing? Do you care what they wear?
And as a side note and since we’re on the topic of clothes… Has anyone bought anything really spiffy for spring? I’ve got my eye on another purse…I’m purse nuts!
What do you think??
Hugs, Dianne
Hmm.. I think there is a fine line between too much and not enough. Does it help to know jeans or not? I guess not unless her in jeans was out of place.
I like some descriptions because I am a very visual person as I read I create pictures from the words.
I understand overkill would through one out of the story.
I love the purse. Another purs-aholic. 🙂 I picked up one when we went down the Great Ocean Road even though I didn’t need yet another one.
I don’t really care to have a description of the clothes every time the character changes them or when it’s a new day. Yeah, sometimes, it adds to the story, but not too often! Usually a general description at teh beginning as it does help me get a feel for the character (i.e. laid back, uptight, etc.).
I do enjoy reading descriptions of what the characters are wearing, but I don’t necessarily need to read about every single outfit change–just enough to establish what kind of personality the characters have.
Dianne, that curse is super cute. I also like to buy purses. 🙂
Okay, I meant to say that PURSE is super cute. Late night.
I don’t think the attire has to be described in fine detail but I like to know that my hero is dressed in worn jeans that show off his fine butt, or if the heroine is wearing a sexy dress to get the hero all hot and bothered. I don’t need to know what kind of fabric or who made it or any of that stuff – I can use my imagination for the rest.
Oh, so glad you all like the purse. We need this purse! 🙂
Thanks for the input on the character clothes issue. I always wonder what the reader wants to know. I figure to leave it simple unless it needs to be mentioned.
Anyone else out there find a cute purse??
I like to know what the hero and heroine is wearing to get the feel of the characters or to get a picture of them in my mind. I don’t need info on what they are wearing everytime they change, unless it is for a very special occasion and then only if it works into the story.
Dianne I love your purse. It is really cute.
I am really really tired of being told the brand name of every item of clothing. I don’t know designer shoes, I don’t care about designer shoes, I don’t know the exact name of every type or heel. If it is really important what kind of shoe she is wearing please describe it in words people who only own three pairs of shoes can understand! [/rant]
Oh, Ann, do we ever need a purse?? It’s a treat! If my dh had his way I’d carry my stuff in a paper bag. Guys really don’t get the purse thing. 🙂
I agree that some description of the clothes worn is good, kind of keeps the story grounded and gives the reader a connect to the characters.
Emily, I agree with the designer thing. Who cares. Just tell me the color or something I can relate to.
I love purses. You know we never get to hear about what kind of purse the characters are carrying that would tell us a lot about her. I agree with the clothes description being to much sometimes. It can also date a book by the era that it was written in. I recently re-read a book and was surprised about the style of clothes that the author was talking about.