Writing Group Feedback Makes Me Wanna Research

“I can’t visualize what she’s wearing.”

I was working on a short story and submitted it to a writing group some years ago. Sure, it needed work, but it surprised me when one writing group member gave me the feedback that she didn’t understand my female main character’s clothes.

This was a contemporary story set in an office, and in my mind I could see my character’s pantsuit and black Escada pumps with vivid clarity—after all, I saw examples every day in the world around me. But my writing buddy was right: the clothes weren’t on the page.

And they’re important because they have a lot of meaning. They denote social standing, profession, wealth (or lack thereof), and personality. Clothes can even contribute to the plot.

All this to say, I needed to do some research to get the clothes right for the characters in my story. So, my writing buddy’s feedback (ouch!) was an excellent learning experience.

An illustration from a fashion magazine of the period.

Today, as I edit the manuscript of my gothic novel set in 1850s New York State, I see how important it is to describe the clothes, which is why I’ve done research on many details. (Included in this post are a few images I’ve used for reference.)

An example of a man's waistcoat and tie from the period.

For the women, I’ve noted the steel-boned corsets, the number of crinolines, the elaborately structured gowns. For the men, I’ve detailed the fitted coats and waistcoats, stiff collars and satin ties.

Another fashion magazine plate.

Fine. But I can’t let the research run away with the story. The dress must be accurate for the period, AND convey the characters AND add to the action somehow. I want you to ‘see’ my characters. Not read a story about clothes.

Whew! There’s a lot to think about when you dress your characters!

While it made me wince years ago, today I’m grateful for the feedback I got. It motivated me to take the important step of doing clothing research when creating characters and really think things through. How about you? Do you research your characters’ dress? Let me know in the comments.