You should be able to picture your character in such depth that you can name every single article of clothing on them. However, sometimes, the “name” of that particular piece of clothing doesn’t come to mind immediately, especially when you start learning about different materials, styles, patterns and folds. The words get lengthy. It goes beyond “shirt,” “shorts,” and “pants.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When you’re able to use fashion as a descriptive tool in your writing, it will greatly improve. Your readers should be able to perfectly picture the fashion that your character has agreed to wear. Your character’s fashion will also influence how your readers see your character’s personality. If you don’t want to write chapters full of literary “personality hints,” fashion is an easy short-cut towards explaining and justifying your character’s personality and behavior.
| Female Clothing | Unisex Clothing | Male Clothing |
| basque a short extension below the waist to the bodice of a woman’s jacket | pullover a garment, a sweater, that is pulled on over the head | dungarees a suit of workman’s overalls made of this material consisting of trousers with a bib attached |
| blouse a woman’s shirtlike garment made of cotton, nylon, or other | balaclava a knitted head covering that shows only the face or part of the face | hauberk a long coat of mail, often sleeveless |
| chuddah, chuddar, chudder, or chador a large shawl or veil worn by Muslim or Hindu women that covers them from head to foot | batwing/dolman sleeve sleeve that fits closely at the wrist but widens to be very full under the arm | sporran a large pouch, usually of fur, worn hanging from a belt in front of the kilt in men’s Scottish Highland dress |
| frock a girl’s or woman’s dress | frog a decorative closure for a garment that is made from cord or braid | surcoat a tunic, often embroidered with heraldic arms, worn by a knight over his armor during the Middle Ages |
| negligee or negligée a light dressing gown, lace-trimmed | havelock cap, usually with a visor, that has a piece of fabric that extends from the back edge of the cap to the base of the neck | fedora a felt hat with moderately wide brim and a soft crown that has a soft front to back crease |
| paletot a fitted coat often worn over a crinoline or bustle | pagoda sleeve a sleeve that is shaped much like an Asian building called a pagoda | homburg a stiffer felt hat than a fedora with a narrower and slightly rolled brim and a more rigid front to back crease |
| smock a loose blouse-like garment, reaching to below the waist, worn over slacks | blucher a type of oxford (shoe that closes) in which the tongue and vamp (the front part of the shoe) are cut in one | |
| empire waist location of the waistline just under the bustline | ||
| mule shoe or slipper, usually made with high heel, that has a vamp (fitted front) but nothing at the back |