Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash
“Clothes maketh the man.” is often quoted in books and film. A bit pretentious, but also very true. They give a person confidence, or allows them to hide. Fabric can provide protection or make life dangerous.
What does it bring to the table for your character? For this writing exercise, we will be exploring what your character wears.
WRITING EXERCISE: Define what your character wears in different circumstances. Describe three different outfits – a work day outfit, nighttime attire, and a special occasion for example.
Here are some questions to think about why developing your character’s wardrobe:
- What is the fanciest and/or most expensive thing your character has ever worn?
- What are their favorite colors for clothes and do they actually look good in those colors?
- What do they wear around the house?
- Do they wash their own clothes? Do they shop for their own clothes?
- Would they repair their clothes or buy new? Have they ever borrowed or bought used clothes?
- Do they were clothing to match society? Are they cutting edge or behind?
- How much does their clothes costs, and how often do they upgrade them?
- Do they wear anything for protection?
- What do their shoes look like, and do they own more than one pair?
- Accessories are life: Watches, hair ribbons, earrings, lapel pins, rings, gun handles, hats, etc. How much accessories does your character choose?
- How does your character’s wardrobe look beside their friends and associates?
- How well can your character fight in the outfit?
SELF-CARE EXERCISE: Dress up. No particular reason, just put on a nice outfit, comb out the hair. Just be fancy.
Comment below about how either exercise helped you.