Clothing descriptions are HARD!

[Djmac1031]

So I'm writing another chapter for my Jenna series, and my male lead made the mistake of accompanying two young ladies clothes shopping.

While Google has been my friend for outfit ideas, trying to describe them accurately and paint the right mental picture is damn tough.

I've been helped by item descriptions in online shops, but I don't wanna sound like a catalog either lol.

It's a fun challenge, though. Usually I don't spend much time describing clothing, but obviously it's become important to the plot of this particular chapter anyway.

Any other good tips for writing descriptions of clothing, dresses, lingerie etc?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

So I'm writing another chapter for my Jenna series, and my male lead made the mistake of accompanying two young ladies clothes shopping.

While Google has been my friend for outfit ideas, trying to describe them accurately and paint the right mental picture is damn tough.

I've been helped by item descriptions in online shops, but I don't wanna sound like a catalog either lol.

It's a fun challenge, though. Usually I don't spend much time describing clothing, but obviously it's become important to the plot of this particular chapter anyway.

Any other good tips for writing descriptions of clothing, dresses, lingerie etc?

keep it brief. sketch an outline and the reader will fill in the blanks.

 

[Djmac1031]

keep it brief. sketch an outline and the reader will fill in the blanks.

Yeah that makes sense. I've tried not to go overboard with the descriptions. And I'm sure I'll clean it up better in the editing process.

 

[ElectricBlue]

keep it brief. sketch an outline and the reader will fill in the blanks.

I do the opposite, describing clothes like the bodies they cover, with long, exquisite descriptions of the cloth, the cut, the colour, the flow of the dress, the drop of the skirt to the floor. I have one story where each section is about an exquisite dress and the woman who modelled it; and one of my favourite supporting characters is the dressmaker.

https://literotica.com/s/songs-of-seduction-silk-and-skin

 

[KeithD]

Clothing fashions can be very fleeting. Brand naming and highly individualistic trends can both date and trivialize a story--and can reduce the number of readers able to follow why the clothes are being depicted at all (other than "off" for erotica). So, yes, it's a difficult writing area.

 

[NotWise]

There are online writer's resources for describing clothing. You might google it.

From your description, I don't know why you need to describe the clothing in much detail. The value in describing clothing is mostly for character development, and even then you can avoid details.

In the story I'm writing, the female protagonist's clothing is very much part of her character, but almost all I said by way of description was:

her flat-heeled shoes barely peeked from under the hem of her flowered dress

The most important part of the description was not of her clothing, but of the impression it made on the male protagonist:

she looked like a refugee from some religious cult

Impressions are more important than details.

 

[Djmac1031]

There are online writer's resources for describing clothing. You might google it.

From your description, I don't know why you need to describe the clothing in much detail. The value in describing clothing is mostly for character development, and even then you can avoid details.

In the story I'm writing, the female protagonist's clothing is very much part of her character, but almost all I said by way of description was:



The most important part of the description was not of her clothing, but of the impression it made on the male protagonist:



Impressions are more important than details.

That makes sense as well.

Only reason I'm going into more detail is because they're actually trying on and modeling dresses and later, lingerie for him.

So I wanted a bit more detail because they're part of the slowly building sexual tension.

I've basically finished writing that scene now, and I'll be editing it later. I think I found a decent balance between painting a mental picture and writing a dissertation on wardrobes lol.

 

[TadOverdon]

I've been helped by item descriptions in online shops, but I don't wanna sound like a catalog either lol.

I know what you mean, but even catalog descriptions are helpful to me. I couldn't find a better way to describe a jacket I saw a woman wear than "a cropped yellow leather jacket." Anything I added to it was too fussy (lemon yellow? Canary?) and anything I took out made the image vague.

Learn a little about shoes, general styles at least, and when a woman would be likely to wear a particular kind. These things reflect self-image as well as utility, which can be useful.

 

[NotWise]

That makes sense as well.

Only reason I'm going into more detail is because they're actually trying on and modeling dresses and later, lingerie for him.

So I wanted a bit more detail because they're part of the slowly building sexual tension.

I've basically finished writing that scene now, and I'll be editing it later. I think I found a decent balance between painting a mental picture and writing a dissertation on wardrobes lol.

I thought that might be what you're doing, and if you're about done with it then there isn't much point to continuing. I'll add this.

In that setting, the most important thing probably isn't exactly what they're wearing, what it's named, or how it looks. The most important thing is how he reacts to it, which is pretty easily done in dialog.

"Trailer trash. Trailer trash is hot, right?"

"Bozo would look like that on a hot day."

"Is that the 'Essex girl' look?"

etc, etc.

 

[lovecraft68]

I try to keep it simple because the more detailed I try to describe a woman's attire, the more I sound like a guy trying to describe women's attire.

I admit to consulting the wife on this, what do you call this, what type of shoes should she be wearing, what's a brand name etc....

I think brand names can be useful if you're setting a story at a certain time. For instance I grew up in the 80's (turned 18 in 86) so when I did a story from that era I called out the painted on Jordache and Calvin Klein jeans that everyone wore back then which gives a nice feel of nostalgia to others who remember that period.

 

[TadOverdon]

Yep. Brands.

I may have gone a little overboard once with Manolo Blahniks.

 

[MadeleineSinha]

Yep. Brands.

I may have gone a little overboard once with Manolo Blahniks.

I did that elsewhere with louboutins
It’s a form of wish fulfillment

 

[Djmac1031]

I thought that might be what you're doing, and if you're about done with it then there isn't much point to continuing. I'll add this.

In that setting, the most important thing probably isn't exactly what they're wearing, what it's named, or how it looks. The most important thing is how he reacts to it, which is pretty easily done in dialog.

c.

I still have to edit, and of course tips are helpful for future stories as well.

So I appreciate the feedback.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think this is as hard as it may seem, and I'm not a fashion maven.

In half an hour of online research, you can probably gather all the information you need.

First, you don't need to refer to brand names. I agree with others that brands come and go. Brand references can date your stories within a matter of a few years. Most great writers don't delve deeply into brand names. Do Tolstoy and Dickens and Joyce and Woolf focus on brand names? No.

Second, you don't need to describe what people are wearing in great detail. Instead, describe what they wear in a general sense, and refer to a few specifics here and there to convey what you want the reader to know. Less is more. A few references are all you need to get the right idea across.

Third, I think clothing description is an area where you can tell, not show. In other words, describe the impression they give from the clothes they wear, rather than going into great detail about exactly what the clothes look like. Convey the emotional and visual impact. Describe clothing from the perspective of another character in the story who is looking at the person who is dressed a particular way. If you think about it, that's how we often react to clothing in the real world -- we're not thinking about fabric and cuts and lengths and brand names, etc., we're thinking about the impression that's given.

 

[Djmac1031]

I don't think this is as hard as it may seem, and I'm not a fashion maven.

In half an hour of online research, you can probably gather all the information you need.

First, you don't need to refer to brand names. I agree with others that brands come and go. Brand references can date your stories within a matter of a few years. Most great writers don't delve deeply into brand names. Do Tolstoy and Dickens and Joyce and Woolf focus on brand names? No.

Second, you don't need to describe what people are wearing in great detail. Instead, describe what they wear in a general sense, and refer to a few specifics here and there to convey what you want the reader to know. Less is more. A few references are all you need to get the right idea across.

Third, I think clothing description is an area where you can tell, not show. In other words, describe the impression they give from the clothes they wear, rather than going into great detail about exactly what the clothes look like. Convey the emotional and visual impact. Describe clothing from the perspective of another character in the story who is looking at the person who is dressed a particular way. If you think about it, that's how we often react to clothing in the real world -- we're not thinking about fabric and cuts and lengths and brand names, etc., we're thinking about the impression that's given.

Yeah, trust me, I didn't bother with brand names lol. While I'd like to think some women read my stories, I'm sure the vast majority are guys as clueless about name brand women's clothes as I am.

I'm going to go back and edit later with all these tips in mind.

If any of my descriptions are longer than a sentence or two I'll definitely try and make it more short and sweet.

And probably need to punch up his reactions as well.

Great stuff, thanks

 

[Djmac1031]

Screw it. Just for fun, here's an example of a dress description I wrote:

"I chuckled and turned to admire her outfit. She wore a navy blue lace skater dress, with panels of sheer lace accenting the waist and hem. The high halter neck didn't reveal any cleavage, but the swooping, lace trimmed sides showed plenty of side boob. The skirt was a bit more loose and flowing than Jenna's, but about the same length. "

Give me your Goldilocks feedback: too much? Too little? Or just right?

(For entertainment purposes only. Your opinions may vary lol)

 

[NotWise]

Screw it. Just for fun, here's an example of a dress description I wrote:

"I chuckled and turned to admire her outfit. She wore a navy blue lace skater dress, with panels of sheer lace accenting the waist and hem. The high halter neck didn't reveal any cleavage, but the swooping, lace trimmed sides showed plenty of side boob. The skirt was a bit more loose and flowing than Jenna's, but about the same length. "

Give me your Goldilocks feedback: too much? Too little? Or just right?

(For entertainment purposes only. Your opinions may vary lol)

Probably about right if the exact look is what you want to describe.

I was confused, but your description was good enough to make me realize that by "skater" you probably meant "ice skater." Or am I wrong? Skate boarders are called skaters, and they probably wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit.

What's missing is what your male character thinks about it. His reaction could be in a wide range: "I want to ball her in that skirt," "How much is it going to cost me if I rip that off her," "She looked like an ice skater. They're hot, right?" or "My sister skated. She looks like my sister." (that last one being not bad in I/T and bad elsewhere).

 

[Djmac1031]

I

Learn a little about shoes, general styles at least, and when a woman would be likely to wear a particular kind. These things reflect self-image as well as utility, which can be useful.

The ladies did hit the shoe store, BUT I breezed over that by having the guy take a walk to get some air while they tried on the shoes lol.

Whatever shoes they picked MIGHT come up later, but for now, full descriptions weren't necessary.

But thats a good tip. Thank you.

 

[Djmac1031]

Probably about right if the exact look is what you want to describe.

I was confused, but your description was good enough to make me realize that by "skater" you probably meant "ice skater." Or am I wrong? Skate boarders are called skaters, and they probably wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit.

What's missing is what your male character thinks about it. His reaction could be in a wide range: "I want to ball her in that skirt," "How much is it going to cost me if I rip that off her," "She looked like an ice skater. They're hot, right?" or "My sister skated. She looks like my sister." (that last one being not bad in I/T and bad elsewhere).

"Skater" was part of the description of the dress online. I've debated removing it, and probably will because yeah, I can see how it could be confusing.

As for his reaction, it's in the next paragraph.

I'm still writing and editing the whole thing so nothing is set in stone at this point.

Just working through the process and soaking up valuable tips and advice here

 

[NotWise]

"Skater" was part of the description of the dress online. I've debated removing it, and probably will because yeah, I can see how it could be confusing.

As for his reaction, it's in the next paragraph.

I'm still writing and editing the whole thing so nothing is set in stone at this point.

Just working through the process and soaking up valuable tips and advice here

I wouldn't remove it. I'd just make it "ice skater."

In school, I was taught to write short stories. That's how most writers made their money. As a result of that education, I like to get things said in no more words than necessary.

 

[Djmac1031]

I wouldn't remove it. I'd just make it "ice skater."

In school, I was taught to write short stories. That's how most writers made their money. As a result of that education, I like to get things said in no more words than necessary.

Problem is, she's not an ice skater. Although looking at the dress online now with that thought in mind, I suppose it does look like something an ice skater might wear, except it's far more elegant.

I think adding the word "ice" would make readers think my character is an ice skater or dressed like one at the Olympics or something. And I'm going for SEXY, not SPORTY.

 

[vanmyers86]

I spent a couple of years as a fashion writer. What I did to get up to speed in a hurry was read a few issues of Vogue, plus the fashion reporting in the New York Times, Washington Post and a couple of British papers.

It shouldn't take you long to get the hang of it, and it's actually kind of fun to study. I knew next to nothing when I went into it and really enjoyed learning about fashion history and what our clothes say about us.

 

[XerXesXu]

Screw it. Just for fun, here's an example of a dress description I wrote:

" The skirt was a bit more loose and flowing than Jenna's, but about the same length. "

Give me your Goldilocks feedback: too much? Too little? Or just right?

(For entertainment purposes only. Your opinions may vary lol)

Has the reader been told how loose and flowing Jenna's skirt is, and its length?

 

[Djmac1031]

Has the reader been told how loose and flowing Jenna's skirt is, and its length?

Yeah. Previous paragraph.

 

[Djmac1031]

Skateboarder (and sometimes roller blades are included, but not often) not ice skater, is typically the style when a "skater" dress is mentioned. It's a grunge-pop girl style.


Anime clothing drawing how-to's can help a lot with clothing descriptions.


For what it's worth, the dress, in my head, has a fitted bodice and A-line type of skirt and is shorter than average, which is a typical skater style.

Pretty spot on. I was going to use the "bodice" description (also in online listing) but figured it was a bit too much like trying to through a "fancy" word in there I'd normally never use.

I did assume the "skater" description of the listing implied a certain style that, as a guy I wouldn't immediately identify, but a woman would.