how do i write an essay about clothing

Essays About Fashion: Top 5 Examples and 9 Prompts

If you are writing essays about fashion, check out our guide of helpful examples and exciting writing prompts to get started.

Fashion is individuals’ way of expressing their personalities. They do this through clothes and accessories that display their tastes and preferences. There are different fashion styles and trends, and anyone can choose anything they want to follow. Additionally, fashion has various benefits, such as boosting self-confidence, lightening moods, and developing creativity. Our fashion choices also help us send messages and present our beliefs. Thus, fashion can also be political .

Below are five essay examples and nine writing prompts to help you create an eye-catching essay about fashion:

5 Top Essay Examples

1. why fashion is important by george k., 2. fashion: an important part of life by ankita yadav, 3. fashion as communication by eunice summers, 4. fashion 2022 by edudwar, 5. the effect of fashion on teenagers in school by anonymous on newyorkessays.com, 1. fashion trends and women, 2. fashion evolution, 3. fashion and starting a business, 4. effects of fashion on society, 5. the best fashion styles for men, 6. fashion trends in different countries , 7. careers in the fashion industry, 8. cultural fashion vs. modern fashion, 9. the best and worst of fashion trends.

“The clothes we wear has become more than merely a way to cover our nakedness; instead it has also become one of the primary ways in which people express themselves.”

George K explains that fashion separates individuals from the rest. A person can introduce himself to others for who and what he is through style choices. Further, the author expounds on how fashion is a very competitive industry that depends on one’s search for identity. The author also points out that every person is unique and thus needs a distinct style to fit them. However, because of constant peer pressure and criticism, an individual’s fashion picks can’t be entirely their own. Ultimately, George K reminds the reader that it’s not just the clothes but how individuals wear and feel in them.

“…if we can do something then it is choosing the right stuff like entertainment, adventure, fashion, etc. All these things can make us happy and are also an important part of life. Fashion always attracts and it is available for all,”

Yadav considers how fashion originated from people’s traditions and cultures and became what it is today through individuals adopting each style and making it their own. In the following sections of the essay, she defines fashion and lists its importance, including how it developed new employment options and how styles speak for the wearer. 

In her conclusion, she encourages everyone to choose their styles and not to mind their age. Fashion helps everyone live life to the fullest.

“Fashion is an industry based on creating a need where there is none and nowadays, due to the current recession, I can understand that fashion may not be people’s biggest concern. But we cannot qualify it as ‘trivial’ since we are surrounded by it; each new generation of customers is highly exposed to commercial influences.”

Summers gives her opinion about the book “Fashion as Communication” by Malcolm Barnard . She identifies points in the work and shares her thoughts on them. The first point being those working in the fashion industry aren’t smart. As a Fashion Marketing student, Summers vehemently disagrees with this statement and recounts her experiences to counter it. She continues to analyze Barnard’s other arguments and agrees with some of them. Summers ends her essay by highlighting that fashion is too essential in modern culture and economic organization for it to be considered “trivial.”

“…the youth cares more about what they wear and how they look which could affect their status in their peer group and meddle with their mental health. Following trends and doing what everyone is doing like a sheep is never a good idea. Fashion is there to reflect your personal style, not copying what other people think is trendy.”

User Edudwar reminds people that fashion is not simply following what’s currently trendy. Fashion is there to give people the chance to show off their individualism and personalities and not present a fake version of themselves to be accepted by society. Additionally, he mentions that youth nowadays are more sensitive to what people think of them, so some will always do everything to follow trends, even if they’re not presentable or appropriate.

“Youths of the present times have indulged themselves in so much fashion that they do not receive sufficient time for other work… The time spent on studies is being used in watching TV programmes, reading fashion articles, or even finding the recent trendy outfits on the Internet.”

The essay discusses the real effects of fashion on today’s youth. The author focuses on kids zeroing in on finding the latest style instead of caring for their studies that directly affect their future. The essay also delves into how youths of yesterday had ambitions and goals in life compared to today’s youths, who prefer to have fun rather than study hard.

See our best essay writing tips to help you write an attractive, attention-grabbing essay.

9 Writing Prompts For Essays About Fashion

To assist you with your essay, we’ve compiled nine exciting writing prompts you can use:

Some women follow fashion trends religiously. They are also more conscious of their physical appearance. Some even go to the extreme and do plastic surgeries to look better in clothes. In your essay, discuss what you think these trends do to women’s perception of their worth and beauty. Add which trends you believe are unhealthy and why there’s more societal pressure for women to be fashionable.

Each era had its styles that directly resulted from that time’s circumstances. Make a timeline of how fashion evolved and the factors that influenced them. At the end of your essay, pick what you think is the best fashion era and explain why.

For this prompt, include the relevant things a future fashion clothing boutique owner should bear in mind. For instance, they should always be on top of the fashion trends and know how to balance demand and costs. Then, find a boutique owner and interview them about their experience to make your essay more fun to read.

Tackle what makes people choose the clothes they wear daily. Some prefer their fashion to display their personalities while others merely follow what they think is popular. To make your essay more interesting, you can do a simple experiment: Go out in public on two occasions: while wearing your fashion picks and donning the latest fashionable clothes. Then, add your findings and how people reacted to you.

Fashion for men is different from women. Although most brands dedicate their line to women, men also deserve to know what makes them look fashionable; this essay lists styles that are excellent for men depending on the setting and event. 

What could be considered fashionable in one country can be seen as disrespectful in another. For this prompt, compile fashion trends many do but are unacceptable in other places. Reasons why may include religion or tradition. Use research data and cite reliable sourcing for a compelling piece.

In this essay, identify the career opportunities available in the fashion industry, including the steps to get there. Next, list the different job roles within fashion, and describe the responsibilities for each. Then, add tips on succeeding in that job and standing out from the rest. For an intriguing essay, conduct interviews with professionals within the industry and include this in your piece.

Our ancestors’ culture greatly influenced today’s fashion. Meanwhile, modern styles are those that the current generation uses. Write an essay about cultural and contemporary fashion’s differences, similarities, advantages, and disadvantages. 

Fashion trends come and go. However, not all popular fashion is pleasing to the eyes. For this essay, compile a list of what is, in your opinion, the best and worst fashion trends. Then, describe why you have formed these opinions and describe the details of each outfit.

Are you looking for your next essay subject? Check out our list of the best writing topics for students .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody

If you’re trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, you’re probably like me:

You’ve only pretended to know what organza is. When you’re shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you don’t know how to describe it. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just “jeans.” I get it. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. It’s not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description.

But I’ve also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. It’s all in the craft.It’s good that you’re here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because it’s a powerful tool. What your character wears reveals where they come from, how they rank in society, how they want to be perceived, and even how they feel about themselves.

These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character .

The good news is that attire is not only important, it’s also kind of fun when you start digging into it. You find that it’s about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. It’s about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do.

Let’s talk about how to use clothing description as a storytelling tool, how to dress your character for their personality and setting, and how to make clothes interesting to anyone. Because it actually is possible.

Why Clothing Description Matters

One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why you’re describing it in the first place.

What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation?

The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. You suddenly know which details to include, which to leave out, and whether to call it a “blood-red cloak” or a “goji berry wrap.

”Let’s take a look at how clothing description indicates your character’s identity, goals, and culture.

Clothes That Fit Your Character

Those of us who don’t get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers.

I don’t mean camisoles and cardigans. I mean what your character wears provides a clue to how they see themselves, how they want to be seen, and even how others see them.

Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view . Maybe your character heads out on the town wearing a “daring leopard print jumpsuit,” only to have their best friend immediately ask where they got the “kitty costume.”

When you use clothing to define who your character is, remember that it can also clarify how they feel about themselves and how they fit into the world around them.

Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description.

Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a person’s position in the hierarchy. This includes things like a pilot’s uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket.

But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. One of the first things I learned when I moved to L.A. is that writers do not dress “professionally” for big meetings in Hollywood. As a friend told me, “Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Otherwise they won’t take you seriously as an artist.”

What are the rules of your character’s world? What’s the respected “uniform,” and does your character wear it?

It’s fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept.

One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top.

‍ Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices.

Play with the question of presentation and power! It’s a good time.

A band t-shirt. A velvet scrunchie. A pair of starched Wranglers. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline.

I’d be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions.

It really doesn’t take much. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character .

This one is simple, right? Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs.

That works. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth.

Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. Meanwhile, the character who works two jobs while going to school full-time might scour the Goodwill rack for a designer tag to help them fit in at the same party.

If I’m wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening:

I’m in a great mood or I’m feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable.

What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella.

Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. So have fun with that.

Clothes That Fit Your Character’s Goals

As I write this, I am wearing jeans that are too big, a gray t-shirt I inherited from a former roommate, and a pilled hoodie from a lighting vendor that works with my friend’s husband’s company.

Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable.

But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and you’d probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Am I trying to blow the interview? Impress someone with my indifference? Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters?

Or is comfort just that important to me?

Clothing tells your reader a lot about your character’s goals and motivations within a given scenario.

Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day?

Sturdy Clothes

This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex.

If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Maybe a bit of both. They’re probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory.

Attractive Clothes

Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Then this is their category.

Maybe they’re hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever “desirable” means in this situation.

Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. Non-visual senses are big, too. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap.

Comfortable Clothes

Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt.

Whether it’s a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and they’ll feel your character’s priorities deep in their own souls.

Stealthy Clothes

This is a fun one. Does your character need to hide? Sneak around? Blend in?

Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. But the definition of “sneaky” depends on your character’s situation.

Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio?

Protective Clothes

Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Odds are, you’ve got a character who dresses to stay alive. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers.

Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Whether it’s a beekeeping suit, climbing helmet, knee pads, or sun-protective fabric, what your character wears provides a clue about what’s at stake in the coming scene.

Clothes That Fit Your Character’s World

The first time I joined my family for our biannual Minnesota fishing trip after moving to L.A. from the Midwest, I found myself constantly losing my aunt and mother.

Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it.

But that’s the case wherever you go. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds.

Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. The surrounding culture dictates what they can’t wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. (Huh.)

All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral “Life is Good” t-shirt.

Here’s how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs…

…or the world they’re desperately resisting.

Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. If your protagonist is donning a tri-cornered hat, loosening a corset, or strutting through town in a new toga, your reader has a good sense of time period.

Or at least they know what century they’re in.

Now, if you write historical fiction, it’s important to research the clothing of your chosen era. More on that in a bit.

Clothing reflects the resources available in a specific time and place. When describing clothing in writing, consider:

• The time period of your story. (Has denim been invented yet?)
• The geographical location of your story. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods?)
• Your character and community’s financial resources. (Where do they buy their clothes? How long do they need their clothes to last?)

You can also use this aspect of clothing description to paint a vivid picture of the world you imagined. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud?

Where does your story take place?

The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your character’s wardrobe. The geographical setting might suggest that your characters are expected to abide by strict rules for modesty or are celebrated for being wild and free.

And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, I’m going to assume they’re not in San Antonio, Texas.

Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? What matters more to them: fashion or function? Do they strive to be humble before their god or do they want to spend this one and only life as their bold, ostentatious selves?

What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? Do all your characters embrace it? Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit?

How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Dragging Down the Story

Hopefully, you now have more wardrobe ideas for your characters than just “red shirt, blue pants.” But what about the process of actually sharing these details in your novel ?

Let’s talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically . Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. We’re trying to avoid, “Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.”

Here’s how it’s done.

Focus on Building the Scene and Character

First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. You’re not infodumping. You’re working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant.

It’s okay if Todd’s checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go.

Also bear in mind that not all clothing descriptions have to be presented as “She put on x” or “He was wearing y.” You can draw your reader’s attention to an item of clothing by having your character draw on their jeans or fiddle with their collar.

Characters can also comment on or react to one another’s clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship.

Don’t Show Everything

Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. If you tell your readers about Nanette’s light pink cardigan and string of pearls, you don’t have to say much about the shoes and skirt and silk blouse. They’ll see it automatically.

Select the most striking details and move on.

Use the Senses

One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) is because we get stuck on what things look like. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that.

Tell us how the wool of your protagonist’s sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. Mention the familiar swooshing of the neighbor’s tracksuit as he runs by the house every morning or how the aunt’s jacket always smells like cold air and pine needles.

Fabric, Fit, Quality, Color

If you’re good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. But for writers like me who get stuck in the “white socks, green dress” rut, here’s a quick reminder:

Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment.

Baggy jeans. A scarlet pantsuit. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains.

These images all go a lot further than “white socks, green dress,” and most of them don’t require a lot of extra words.

Make It Significant

Consider whether your character’s attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict .

Maybe they’re wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone they’ve lost. Or they’ll be living off soda crackers and peanut butter for the next week because they drained their checking account for a suit to impress at their job interview.

What would “high stakes clothing” look like in your story?

Let the Clothing Tell a Story

Really, the topic of this article is not how to describe clothing in writing as much as it is how to tell a story with clothes. Because like all other character details, it’s not enough to paint a picture. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc . Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their “normal”? How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change?

Be specific and accurate. In other words, research.

If you write historical fiction, you’re probably way ahead of me. You’re already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. Not to pile on, but don’t forget to make sure you know which materials were—and weren’t—available in the world of your novel.

And if you don’t write historical fiction? You’re still not off the hook. Make sure you know what’s hot and what’s not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Are they overalls or coveralls? Sweaters or jumpers?

Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world.

Dabble with Depth

If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, it’s that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. Not really.

Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. It makes for a more entertaining read. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because it’s so important that the reader’s imagination gets it right.

It’s because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” Try applying this philosophy to clothing descriptions in your writing and see what happens.

What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where they’re going?

These are deep questions. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabble’s Character Notes feature. You can keep track of your character’s signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write.

Not a Dabble user? No problem! You can try all Dabble’s premium features for free for fourteen days. Just click this link and don’t even think about touching your wallet. You don’t need it to sign up.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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Essay on Fashion for Students and Children

500+ words essay on fashion.

Fashion refers to anything that becomes a rage among the masses. Fashion is a popular aesthetic expression. Most Noteworthy, it is something that is in vogue. Fashion appears in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, hairstyles, lifestyle, and body proportions. Furthermore, Fashion is an industry-supported expression. In the contemporary world, people take fashion very seriously. Fashion is something that has permeated every aspect of human culture.

History of Fashion

The origin of Fashion is from the year 1826. Probably everyone believes Charles Frederick to be the first fashion designer of the world. He also established the first Fashion house in Paris. Consequently, he began the tradition of Fashion houses. Furthermore, he gave advice to customers on what clothing would suit them. He was prominent form 1826 to 1895.

During this period, many design houses hired artists. Furthermore, the job of these artists was to develop innovative designs for garments. The clients would examine many different patterns. Then they would pick the one they like. Consequently, a tradition began of presenting patterns to customers and then stitching them.

At the beginning of the 20th century, new developments in Fashion took place. These developments certainly began in Paris first. Then they spread in other parts of the world. Consequently, new designs first came into existence in France. From Paris, they went to other parts of the world. Hence, Paris became the Fashion capital of the world. Also, Fashion in this era was ‘haute couture’. This Fashion design was exclusively for individuals.

In the mid-20th century, a change took place. Now Fashion garments underwent mass production. There was a significant increase in the rate of production of Fashion garments. As a result, more and more people became involved with Fashion garments. By the end of the 20th century, a sense of Fashion awareness was very strong. Now people began to choose clothes based on their own style preference. Hence, people began to create their own trends instead of relying on existing trends.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Fashion Trend

Political influences certainly play a major role in influencing Fashion. Many politicians become fashion symbols. Notable examples are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. Also, political revolutions make a huge impact on the Fashion trend. For example, in 1960’s America, liberal clothing styles became popular among the younger generation. This was due to the Liberal revolution.

Another significant factor which influences Fashion trend is technology. There certainly has been a rapid growth of technology in the Fashion industry. For example, wearable technology has become a popular Fashion trend. Furthermore, 3D printing technology and the internet have also made an impact on Fashion.

Social influences are probably the strongest influences on the Fashion trend. Many music stars strongly influence Fashion choice. For example, wearing hoodies became famous due to rap musicians. Furthermore, movie and television actors create a big impact on Fashion. Many youngsters love to emulate the Fashion sense of their favourite celebrity.

To sum it up, Fashion certainly has become a part and parcel of human life. It certainly is a force that is here to stay. Most noteworthy, Fashion has immersed every place on Earth.

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5 “Fashion” Tips for Writers

by Monica M. Clark | 24 comments

Let me make something clear up front: the point of this blog post is not to give you tips on how to dress. The point is to help you think about how you discuss clothing in your writing.

Recently I discovered this amazing podcast called Writing Excuses . Specifically, I listened to an episode called “ Fashion for Writers ,” featuring fashion guru Rebecca McKinney, and I could not not share what I learned. This is partly because it was useful and partly because I could see a lot of people dismissing the topic as irrelevant to their work (which they definitely should not!). A great clothes description can make your characters spring vividly to life.

Take a look at what I learned, and tell me what you think.

You Can Learn A Lot By A Person’s Clothing

A person’s clothing can tell the reader a lot about a character in a few short sentences. You can learn something about her age, social economic situation, personality, and more.

McKinney points out that if a woman walks into a room wearing a fuchsia dress, for example, you can be pretty sure that person is not a wallflower. You can alert your audience that she likes attention, is confident, and host of others things with two short words: “fuchsia dress.”

Take advantage of this opportunity.

Consider the Economy of Your Character’s Clothing

Without giving some thought to your character’s clothing, you may end up putting a struggling Ph.D. student in an expensive Brooks Brothers shirt. Unless you can explain the paradox (e.g., he used to work at an investment bank), it just doesn’t make sense.

Another question to ask is, do your clothes and fabric work with the region in which your work takes place? Or, do they work for the time period? The podcast hosts pointed out that, while fabrics such as cotton may be relatively cheap in the United States, they're considered a luxury in other parts of the world. Similarly, if certain material was scarce in a specific time period, the average Joe probably wouldn’t have access to it (even if it’s ubiquitous today).

Think about how much your character's clothing costs and whether it is consistent with his background, location, time period, and everything else we know about him.

Use the Correct Words to Describe Clothing

We can get away with being imprecise about clothes in our real lives, but that doesn’t work when we’re writing.

As McKinney points out on the show, it’s incorrect for a person to play with the “weave” of a sweater because sweaters are knit (who knew?). The fashion guru also seemed to shudder at a writer’s use of the word “tool” when he meant “twill.”

Using the wrong words can hurt your credibility. Conversely, knowing the right word can strengthen the image you’re trying to draw with your words.

Not sure how to write a good clothes description? One resource the hosts recommended for figuring out exactly what things are called is the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing .

Different Characters Should Describe Clothing in Different Ways

If your character is in an industry where it is expected that they be thoughtful about clothing, then that character should notice a person’s clothing. A person working as a stylist may notice how a jacket fit, for example. A partner at a law firm might notice how much a jacket cost.

Alternatively, you may have written a character who tends not to notice anyone’s clothing, ever. To me, that actually presents the greatest opportunity because when he does notice a new necklace or a recent shoe shine, it signals to the reader that that it is significant.

Resources Exist to Help You Describe Clothing

To brush up on your fashion/clothing knowledge, the hosts recommend the following:

• Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing
• Historic Costume for the Stage by Lucy Barton
• The International Costumers’ Guild
• Fashion Sketchbook   by Bina Abling

Clothing can be an incredibly useful tool for characterization. Even if your story doesn't star a fashion designer protagonist, paying attention to relevant details of the clothes in your world will enrich your readers' experience.

Do you have any fashion tips for writers? Let us know in the comments .

Look at the people around you or browse the web for an image of someone. Then take fifteen minutes to describe a person’s clothing. What do they tell you about that person?

When you're done, share your practice in the comments , and don't forget to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

Monica M. Clark

Monica is a lawyer trying to knock out her first novel. She lives in D.C. but is still a New Yorker. You can follow her on her blog or on Twitter (@monicamclark).

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Sweaters can also be crocheted, but that’s uncommon in store-bought sweaters unless they’re lacy. Lace is often crochet, but lace can also be sewn, knit, or tatted (and there are visible differences among them, if you know what you’re looking at). When the edging differs from the fabric, often that edging is crochet and the fabric is knit. Thus why they unravel differently.

But aside from that, clothing is a great opportunity for illustrating differences, too, or even the observer’s personality. Like, is the skinny-jean-wearing grandma something they just notice matter-of-factly, find neat, or not notice at all (and the reader learns because someone else makes a snide comment)?

The fit and age of the clothing also reveal things about a character. Do they wear things too small, well tailored, well fit, or way too big? Each one can dance with other details to reveal things about a character.

Agreed! Thanks!

I was reading J.K. Rowling’s – I mean, Robert Galbraith’s – In Defense of Evil this morning. If you are looking for a good description of clothing as an example, I think that she does a wonderful job in sections where Strike is noticing things about the people he is investigating. And, as mentioned in the article here, they are very revealing about the character’s personality and circumstances.

JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith is great at those quick early descriptions. I actually went back to the Strike novels when I was working on my novel and trying to figure out how to describe characters without slowing down the plot too much. Also, I think the book is “Career of Evil”- I just checked because when I saw a title I didn’t recognize I got super excited she came out with a new Strike novel lol.

Haha, yes you’re correct! I have NO idea where “In Defense of Evil” came from. I’m definitely reading “Career of Evil!”

I always thought that Bret Easton Ellis did a great job of incorporating fashion description in American Psycho. That was far from being my favourite novel, and reading it did cost me a lunch or two, but the contrast between the sumptuous fashion descriptions and the gory violence was a large part of what kept me reading.

That would be a good advice.

Great ideas and resources. I was very fussy about clothing in my recent novel. I even went shopping 🙂 My male protagonist (a very sexy but unassuming young guy) wears Guess combat boots and gorgeous, flowing silk/rayon blend shirts that drop off his shoulders just so (always open a few buttons ;). Shirts and skinny-ish jeans from Nordstrom. Underwear is almost always ultramarine silk bought in packs of three at Macy’s lol (not kidding :). Female protag wears white linen blouses from LL Bean and Levi jeans. She’s 10 years older, but they both wear Chuck Taylors for casual.

With “tool” vs. “twill,” is it possible that “tuile” or “toile” was meant? I don’t know the difference but I’ve heard of it 🙂

In my current project, I’m hardly mentioning clothing (war, poverty) except for her pink coat from days gone by. She clings to it for hope, so I don’t want to take the focus off of it except for brief descriptions here or there.

Glad to read this, and I’ll keep your suggestions in mind.

Love this Leah. I don’t tend to mention the stores where things are bought but it’s a great idea

Thanks! I don’t mention the stores either, not in the novel. And I don’t even get into describing the clothes all that much though they’re important, especially for her as she makes changes from being a corporate employee to artist. The stores are just where I went shopping to get them dressed (and so I could see them/understand them better! 🙂

My male lead is a corporate manager and equally comfy in both a suit or hiking gear, while my female lead is a work from home artist/ designer, so I understand 🙂

We should have them meet! Any chance they’re in the Philadelphia area? haha 🙂

Right this minute (I’m about 2 weeks out from finishing the first draft of their 2nd book) they are in London, but usually they aren’t far from Philly 🙂

Hmm. My female lead will study in Provence in the sequel, and the guy could wander off to London … oh the possibilities… 😀 Feel free to get in touch if you have even a tiny bit of interest! My blog/contact is in my profile.

I’ll definitely have a think about it 🙂

I love the idea of so much meaning in a specific item. “Pink Coat”….great.

I enjoy reading how authors integrate clothing of their characters, not all in one go, as a descriptive paragraph, but cleverly woven into their actions or dialogue. I’m reading a book, (a birthday gift), Raven Black, by Ann Cleeves, and I turn back to re-read the way she shows the clothes her characters wear. Thank you for your article and suggesting books on clothing for characters, which I will access.

Fascinating article! I was always told to judge a man by looking at his shoes….

From my vantage point I couldn’t tell how old the young women was; 15, 25? She wore a large white silk flower in her wavy, dark hair, the only item that didn’t appear tattered. Her threadbare torn jeans needed washing and the oversized sweatshirt made her look small, lost within her own clothing. She constantly slipped her heel in and out of her lace-less tennis shoes, rotating between chewing on her nails and sitting on her hands. My anxiety level shot up just watching the poor thing. I’d never seen anyone who needed rescuing so bad. The question was rescuing from what.

I love this!

In my first book my main female character is shy and not confident in herself because she is a little bigger and curvier. For her first date with a new guy, she puts on a cute wrap dress she bought that is flattering, low-cut and bright red. She feels uncomfortable in a dress that makes her ‘attempt to be sexy,’ like it’s too obviously wanton. At the last moment, she takes it off and borrows a modest navy cotton dress from her 60-year-old friend! It’s the type of dress a middle aged, frumpy librarian would wear. She sees herself in that way, and doesn’t feel she deserves sexy-looking clothing.

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When we’re born, who chooses our paths in life? Well, sometimes we do but other times those paths are chosen for us. The wise and strong know there is a fundamental difference, but are nonetheless totally focused on the task rather than who made the call.

Please join bestseller writers group http://facebook.com/bestsellergirl

It’s a great article.

I am fashion designer and i love your blogs so keep it up to writing and again thank you for sharing the article

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• Fashion Essay

Introduction

Fashion is a non-verbal way of communication that conveys a lot about the person’s personality, background and style. Earlier it was exclusively the world of the affluent, celebrities and royalty. However, fashion is now within the reach of the common man, especially the youth. Besides, dress fashion is an evolution of ideas, which begins as a fad, but in course of time gets accepted in society as a style, which could be in attire, behaviour or lifestyle. Fashion is mostly associated with glamour. It makes people feel confident and bold. People can express themselves openly. Today fashion is not limited to western countries; now, every country has come out with their fashion sense, not only the clothing but the accent of that country, the living style.

Vedantu experts have crafted an essay on fashion that covers its significance and how it reflects in your personality. This essay has promoted the thought perfectly that fashion is also about carrying yourself in society without having an attractive or trendy attire.  It is about being comfortable with yourself and not being a doppelganger of another person.

Why is Fashion Important?

Fashion is important because it reflects the culture of a country. It makes our life colourful and changes our life with time. In a way it also adds variety to life, providing an opportunity in trying out something new. Fashion is not only limited to clothing or makeup but in a much broader sense includes accessories like shoes, perfume, hairstyle, mannerism, etiquette and attitude towards life. Fashion is not restricted to self-expression only but also a means of self-empowerment and confidence. It encompasses the total spectrum of human activity, which relates to a specific period. It is an outlook of life.

Fashion is how you carry yourself in society without wearing anything trendy. It is how you attempt to make yourself look flawless even without any make-up. It helps you in revealing your true identity.

Evolution of Fashion

The world of fashion is always evolving.  It is amazing to see how the different events in history have influenced and changed the way people dressed and looked throughout time. Thus long dresses, veiled headgear that was trends of the Victorian era, have been replaced with micro and mini dresses and the jeans culture associated with the modern era. 

From the 1920s to the 1990s fashion just not changed in clothing but also in accessories, footwear and hairstyles. The trends of wearing hats, carrying purses, shoes and men wearing long ties and bows have been continuously changing with periods, occasions and culture.

Hairstyles also have been changing throughout time. Short boyish haircuts were popular during the 1920s to 1940s. Wigs were more popular in the 1960s and thereafter hairstyles kept changing from short to bob cut then to mid-back cut and now maintaining long hair.

Fashion Industry

As fashion evolved, the industry was formulated to manage the process for the consumers. The fashion world has given shape to a new industry, the ‘Fashion Industry’.

The fashion industry was created to design, manufacture and market clothes, footwear and accessories. Before creating the apparel industry, people made clothes for themselves. The mass production of clothing began in the mid-nineties when some creators began to make garments that did not require any fitting session with the tailors. The fashion industry in its true sense was established in the twentieth century when the neighbourhood tailors decided to become the manufacturing business.

Fashion impacting the Youth

The positive side of fashion is it enhances your life. It not only allows you to dress fashionably but also allows being independent in thinking and maintaining self-esteem. At the same time, fashion is negatively impacting the youth. It has taken up the life of the youth so much that the youngsters are highly obsessed with creating style statements at an age where they need to focus on their studies and other important aspects of life. The fashion trend has become a cult with today’s generation. They blindly try to imitate the models and celebrities without understanding the true essence of fashion.

Advantages of Vedantu Essay on Fashion

Vedantu gives you ideas about the necessary things to include in an essay on fashion. The experts available on the Vedantu have included moral based thoughts in this particular essay that help students connect with the meaning of the phrases. 

Vedantu has uploaded essays on subjects relevant to the students or trending in the world platform, which have more chances of occurring in the examination.

Content of Fashion Essay

Vedantu has provided you with a piece of detailed information on the essential points to include in the essay on fashion. After a thorough study, experts have added the following points.

While writing about fashion, you have to put some extra effort to explain evolution in both positive and negative ways.

The fashion world has given a new face to the clothing market. It has turned into a fashion industry.

Impact of fashion on teenagers

Teenagers are more cautious about their attire; they are aware of only one prevalent face of fashion.

What is the importance of fashion?

The need is therefore to strike a balance between being fashionable and wearing what suits you. The young generation needs to understand that fashion in the true sense is the attitude that you carry and just not fashionable clothes and accessories.

FAQs on Fashion Essay

1. What is the core of fashion?

Fashion is not only about wearing trendy clothes or footwear. The core of fashion lies inside the person. Fashionable core comes active when you wear something with confidence to show your choices to the world. And that is the only thing to make fashion a trend from time to time. Vedantu experts, after a detailed study, have explained this stuff, and that’s what makes an essay on fashion a complete package to deliver to the audience.

2. How is fashion impacting today’s generation?

Fashion affects today’s generation with its useless and dented influence that fashion is limited to costly clothes and gadgets. Teenagers are easy targets for those who consider themselves influential personalities under the name of fashion. Many of the time, the child gets intrigued by looking at the lifestyle of another person. They fall into the eye-pleasing trap and try to copy the same. It leads them to lose their own identity and wear fake costly attire to please their hunger for recognition among their friends.

3. How does Vedantu help in essay writing?

Vedantu offers you essays on different topics that have a chance of coming in the exams or already had in the exams. Experts of Vedantu have explained the requirement of the essay and suggested the points to include in a good essay. Also, with Vedantu, you learn various facts about various topics that can help you retain the process of making an excellent essay. Go to vedantu.com to explore more topics, and start writing essays of your own to express your understanding of the topics.

4. Does fashion help in your growth?

Yes, fashion does help you grow if you understand the right meaning of it. Following any person and famishing for recognition is not a fashion that can help you grow. It helps you when you understand fashion is more about being right with your choices regarding the dressing, accent, or culture of your community or country. Fashion is nothing more than a term for the things that makes you comfortable and enhance your confidence in being you.

5. Are fashion and trends different?

Yes, fashion and trends are different. The trend follows the fashion; fashion never leaves the frame, it gets highlighted from time to time, and at some particular time, it becomes a trend that everybody follows. Trends have a short life, but fashion stays for life. It gets older with time, like the dhoti kurta culture of India has become old, but it gets rejuvenated with the new look, and it becomes a trend for a while. Fashion is more real than trends.

6. What is Fashion?

Fashion is self-expression in the form of clothing, accessories, footwear, hairstyle, perfume, etiquettes and attitude.

7. Who is known as the Father of Fashion?

Charles Frederick Worth is known as the father of fashion.

8. How is Fashion impacting Today’s Generation?

Fashion has become a cult in this modern era. Youngsters especially blindly want to imitate celebrities and models. They are forgetting the true essence of fashion. They think that fashion is confined to only clothing, footwear and accessories.

9. Why is Fashion Important?

Fashion is important because it is the reflection of our society and culture.

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How to write an essay about the fashion industry

Fashion is all around us. It has been part of our culture for centuries, and it continues to evolve as time passes by. Whether you’re in school learning about history or business management, chances are that the fashion industry will be a topic you’ll want to become familiar with. But researching the subject can be overwhelming; from trends, influencers, fabrics, and colors – there’s so much information out there! Don’t worry though – we’ve got your back. In this blog post, we’ll help you learn how to plan and write an essay about the fashion industry that will have everyone talking! We’ll discuss important topics such as developing your research strategy and crafting eye-catching introductions – plus plenty more insights into writing a compelling paper on this ever-evolving global platform for creativity! So get ready to take notes – it’s time to dive deep into the world of fashion studies!

Introduce the topic of the fashion industry and its importance

The fashion industry is a multifaceted and ever-evolving landscape that provides college essay writing service with enough material to generate interesting content. It is a complex network of producers, consumers, retailers, marketers, designers, manufacturers, and stylists all connected in a global system. The industry is constantly changing—from trends to materials used—there are always new stories to tell and innovations to explore. As college students grow increasingly familiar with the latest fashion news, they are able to write compelling essays that reflect their understanding of the complexities and nuances of the fashion industry. Whether discussing fast fashion or sustainable practices within the manufacturing process, college essay writers can provide exciting educational opportunities that introduce readers to this dynamic sector of marketing and design.

Discuss different aspects of the fashion industry, such as design, production, marketing, and retail

As an essay writer from pay for assignment passionate about the fashion industry, I have explored many aspects of this unique field. From design and production to marketing and retail, I have enjoyed learning about the various roles the industry encompasses. For example, designing clothes takes an eye for style and an understanding of what is popular in the market. Production requires attention to detail since fabric must be cut properly and garments must be stitched together expertly. Marketing plays a large role as well; many companies rely on creative campaigns to reach more people and convince them to buy their products. Lastly, retail businesses work hard to ensure customers receive a satisfactory level of service throughout their entire shopping experience. All these tasks are essential within the fashion industry and contribute to its unwavering success!

Analyze how the fashion industry has changed over time

The fashion industry has evolved rapidly over time. It seems that each day brings a new trend, item of clothing, or style to the market. Consumers have become used to constant change and seem eager to adopt it. However, while this ever-evolving culture of fashion can be both exciting and attractive, assignment writing help is essential in understanding the history behind it. Examining how clothing style has shifted over time helps provide insight into not only why certain trends come and go but also into what elements of society are influencing these changes. Fashion designers and retailers must keep this in mind when creating new collections by taking into account past styles that have been well-loved as well as current societal values. By doing this, they can create looks that will prove timeless among those that are simply fashionable for a season or two.

Offer your opinion on the future of the fashion industry

The future of the fashion industry is uncertain, however, custom essay writing can offer valuable insight into how people assume it will evolve. As technology advances and environmental awareness spreads, custom essays reveal that many individuals expect designers to create clothing lines that prioritize ethical production, sustainable materials, and innovative designs. The custom essay might also project that the fashion industry could simplify its operations with tech-driven solutions or take on a more collaborative approach to the sales process. Technology trends such as augmented reality may make custom-fit clothing easier to produce or try on from home, changing both online delivery processes and customer experience expectations. These are just a few of the potential paths for the future of the fashion industry – custom essays about this topic can expand upon these ideas and explore endless new possibilities.

Summarize your main points and provide a conclusion

In conclusion, fashion is an intriguing and complex topic that has implications both inside and outside the realms of style and aesthetics. It is a way to showcase individual personality while still adhering to social norms, as well as a reflection of world culture. Fashion also plays an important role in our economy by providing jobs, generating wealth, and increasing international trade. Furthermore, it is a powerful tool for making political statements and standing up for the causes we believe in. As individuals build their personal identities through clothing choices, we should remain conscious of the fact that fashion influences people’s lives in ways beyond what we can see on the surface.

Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion . She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.

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• Essay On Fashion

Essay on Fashion

500+ words essay on fashion.

Fashion is one of the most talked-about industries in today’s world. Fashion can be defined as anything that becomes admirable among the masses. It is a popular aesthetic expression. Fashion is related to clothing, hairstyle, makeup, accessories, footwear and lifestyle. People want to distinguish their personalities from others with their style quotient. Like every new year, fashion also comes and goes. The latest fashion will be more fashionable and colourful than last year.

New trends in fashion influence people of all ages. There is a tremendous amount of competition between the industry and consumers. Different cultures and nationalities have different styles of fashion. Due to this reason, it is always fascinating to travel to various parts of the world to observe how people dress in those countries. Now, clothes have become one of the main reasons to express themselves instead of merely covering their body.

Different people need different styles and designs for their uniqueness and personality before wearing that specific fashion design. This essay will talk more about fashion history, importance and trends.

History of Fashion

Fashion is all about the history of people. For thousands of years, people have loved fashionable clothing. Clothes, from the early days of Egypt, have become our expression. We can see fashion worn in various civilisations throughout history, documents, drawings, and other archaeological findings. Eastern neighbours influenced clothes of different styles worn by the Greeks. Both males and females used to wear thick woollen long dresses.

During ancient times, Egyptians used to wear light cotton clothing, and Egyptian women wore long, ready-made clothes. Later on, the Romans dominated the most significant example of fashion and style.

When people started migrating to Europe, accordingly, the style changed. To keep themselves warm, women used to wear warm clothes and men plain and armour clothes.

Since there were not enough raw materials to produce new clothes for people who migrated to America in that era, dresses were ordered and sent to the oceans by ships to cope with the demand. Suits with leggings were men’s attire, and women wore long clothes and hats on their heads. Over time, the form of the dresses transferred from voluminous dresses into soft, frequent, high-waisted skirts.

Women’s skirts were shorter and thinner at the beginning of the century. Trousers of men slowly went from ankle to knee-length. During the World Wars, women’s style transformed into shorter skirts below the knee.

The ‘80s brought significant trends related to fashion and hairstyles for both genders. The transitional fashion period is from the sixties and seventies. During this time, women wearing trousers became acceptable.

From the 20th century to the 21st century, fashion change continued, and still today, it is evolving.

Fashion Trend

When we talk about influencing fashion, political influencers play a vital role. There are a lot of instances where politicians become fashion symbols, like Princess Diana and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Political revolutions also left a significant impact on fashion trends.

Technology is another significant factor that influences fashion. The fashion industry saw rapid growth in technology such as 3D printing technology, wearable technology, etc. The Internet also affects fashion trends.

People are influenced by their favourite stars, influencers, etc. The strongest influencers in the field of fashion are social media influencers. Young stars try to emulate the fashion styles of their loved celebrities. For example, hoodies came into fashion due to rap musicians. Television and movie stars also influence fashion trends.

It’s entirely up to you to be fashionable; it shouldn’t be forceful, and it is your own decision what you want to follow. Our fashion sense also reflects our culture. It makes our life colourful and adds variety to life, providing an opportunity to try out something new. Though this time of the 21st century in India, most people are influenced by the style of fashion, they have not forgotten our traditions and culture, which are the priority and symbol of our country.

From our BYJU’S website, students can also access CBSE Essays related to different topics. It will help students to get good marks in their exams.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fashion Essay

What is fast fashion.

Fast fashion is trending now, and it refers to the rapid designing of outfits using inexpensive clothing.

What subjects are taught in Fashion Technology?

Fashion ornamentation, Fashion management and merchandising and Computer-aided designing are the main subjects taught in the course Fashion Technology.

When was the origin of fashion?

Fashion started when human beings started wearing clothes. But modern-day fashion is said to have its origins back in the year 1826.

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Essay: Why Fashion is Important

The Fashionisto

Published October 18, 2017

Updated May 4, 2024

Fashion is one of the most critical industries in our world today. Style has become one of the primary ways in which people express their personality and distinguish themselves from those around them. With every New Year which comes and goes, new fashions arrive on the scene, and they all endeavor to be more colorful and fashionable than those which saw last year. There’s inspiration everywhere, from online retailers like Roden Gray to printed magazines. The desire to express one was present throughout human history.

People of all ages are addicted to new trends in fashion. There is a tremendous amount of competition within the industry and also among consumers. The style is also different among different cultures and nationalities, which is why it’s so exciting when one travels to various parts of the planet to observe firsthand how people dress in those countries. Our clothes have become more than merely a way to cover our nakedness. Instead, it has also become one of the primary ways in which people express themselves.

Garments which may fit one person may not necessarily be equally suitable for someone else. And even if those clothes are fantastic designer efforts, it does not mean everyone would be equally comfortable wearing them. Different people will need different styles and designs, which will be an expression of their uniqueness and personality before they will not be comfortable wearing that specific fashion design. Human beings are complicated creatures; everyone has different desires, dreams, and objectives that they deem essential to success in their life. Fashion trends are a critical aspect of that success.

There is a lot of discrimination among human beings and also a lot of criticism. People will do everything possible to avoid such criticism. Peer pressure continues to affect people throughout their lives, and it is a powerful motivator when it comes to crucial fashion decisions. It is also true that fashion design has reached a very sophisticated level, and therefore some of the most popular models can be very costly.

It has the result that such fashion may only be accessible to affluent people. It can make it very difficult for people of average income to compete in fashion designs. Fortunately, there has been a lot of progress by fashion designers to cater to middle-income consumers. It is why there are a lot of fashion designs available, which can make it possible for less fortunate people to own still fashion designs that will be of very high quality and attractive.

There are fashion items for every season and every occasion, making it possible for people to express themselves differently depending on the specific season or time of the year. Looking at all the consumer needs that have emerged in modern times, it becomes easy to see why fashion design has become such a specialized industry.

Another aspect that deserves contemplation is the fact that there is a measure of similarity in those fashion trends which aim at the low-income person. It is going a long way in avoiding discrimination or unnecessary competition because there is a lot of similarity in the designs which aim at this consumer market. Therefore, less affluent people can avoid unwarranted discrimination and criticism because, they are dressed very similarly in many ways to their friends, colleagues, or family members.

Care should be taken to avoid fashion designs of poor quality, especially in cases where failed fashion experiments are nevertheless mass-produced and then dumped on the low-income consumer. On the other hand, some poor people cannot afford anything better, leaving her with no choice but to purchase low-quality products.

Nevertheless, an eye for detail can be a blessing because this can help a person who may only have access to low-quality fashion items to mix and match those things very efficiently so that the overall result is nonetheless beautiful. There is some truth to the statement that it’s not what you wear but how you wear it, which is the most critical issue.

Unfortunately, many people never seem to learn how to combine different fashion items correctly and adequately. Knowing which colors go together is a rare gift that some people never master. Therefore, even affluent people with access to very costly fashion items often fail to do those things justice because of a lack of understanding regarding color matching.

Many people seem to think tight clothing is more attractive than a loose-fitting dress, and then they make fools of themselves by wearing unnecessarily close-fitting clothes. It is why it is essential to have at least a basic understanding of choosing your fashion items and mixing and matching those things for the best results. Access to the most expensive fashion trends on the market is undoubtedly a benefit. Still, it’s even more important to have a basic sense of how to maximize how the wearer will display those clothes and other articles.

Clothes are also known to impact people’s moods substantially; likewise, some colors are more effective than others in putting people in a better place as far as their mindset and emotions are concerned. Every person should do at least an introductory modeling course to understand how to make the best of their free clothes and accessories. Like we said earlier, it is not so much what you are wearing but rather how you are wearing it, which will ultimately provide proof of your competence as far as fashion and personal appearance is concerned.

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How to Describe a Dress in Writing (100+ Examples and Tips)

Describing a dress is one of those things that sounds simple until you go to do it in a story.

Here is how to describe a dress in writing:

Describe a dress in writing by focusing on silhouette, fabric texture, color, embellishments, symbolism, and emotional impact. Also, talk about the setting, bringing the garment to life with vivid, sensory details. Choose the type of dress to match the mood and occasion.

Explore how to vividly portray dresses in writing, using sensory details and creativity to bring fabrics and styles to life for your readers.

Understanding the Basics of Dress Description

Table of Contents

Describing a dress in writing is an art form that blends observation, vocabulary, and creativity.

To master this skill, it’s essential to understand the basics of dress description, which can significantly enhance the reader’s experience and bring your writing to life.

Observation is Key : Begin by closely observing the dress. Notice its silhouette, length, fabric, and color. Is it a long, flowing evening gown or a short, playful sundress? Each detail contributes to creating a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

Vocabulary Matters : Having a robust vocabulary is crucial. Words like ‘chiffon’, ‘A-line’, ’embroidered’, or ‘pleated’ precisely describe different aspects of a dress. These specific terms provide clarity and avoid vagueness, making your description more engaging and informative.

Fabric and Texture : The fabric of a dress can tell a story. Is it soft silk, luxurious velvet, or crisp cotton? Describing the texture adds a sensory dimension to your writing, allowing readers to ‘feel’ the dress as they read.

Color and Patterns : Colors and patterns play a vital role in dress description. They can evoke emotions and set a mood. Is the dress a vibrant red or a soothing pastel? Are there any striking patterns, like floral or geometric, that catch the eye?

The Dress in Action : How does the dress move? Describing the movement of a dress can bring dynamism to your writing. A dress might ‘swirl’, ‘flutter’, or ‘hug’ the body, each verb offering a different visual and emotional effect.

Describing for Context : The setting in which the dress is worn can influence how you describe it. A dress at a ball might be described differently from one worn at a beach. Consider the surroundings and the occasion, as they can provide additional layers to your description.

Emotion and Symbolism : Dresses can symbolize different things in different contexts. A wedding dress, for instance, represents joy and new beginnings. Incorporating these emotional and symbolic elements can add depth to your writing.

Practice with Purpose : Like any other skill, practice is vital. Experiment with describing dresses you see in magazines, movies, or around you. Challenge yourself to capture their essence in words, refining your skill with each attempt.

Types of Dresses

The fashion world offers an astonishing variety of dresses, each with its own unique style and character. Understanding these types can add richness and accuracy to your descriptions, whether you’re writing a novel, a fashion article, or a product description.

• The Classic A-Line Dress : A quintessential piece in women’s wardrobe, the A-line dress is designed to be snug at the hips and then gently flares out towards the hem, resembling the shape of the letter “A”. Ideal for a casual day out or a semi-formal event, its universally flattering shape makes it a favorite among all body types.
• The Elegant Maxi Dress : Maxi dresses are known for their floor-length style. They range from comfortable, casual designs perfect for a beach day, to more sophisticated versions suited for evening events. The versatility of maxi dresses lies in their ability to be both relaxed and elegant.
• The Chic Cocktail Dress : A cocktail dress is typically a knee-length party dress. From the classic little black dress to more daring designs, these dresses are perfect for a formal gathering or a night out. They often feature interesting details like sequins, lace, or unique necklines.
• The Sophisticated Sheath Dress : Sheath dresses offer a straight cut and are usually nipped at the waist, without a visible seam. They are perfect for formal business events or dinners, offering a sleek and elegant silhouette.
• The Playful Sundress : Sundresses are light, breezy, and perfect for warm weather. Characterized by their loose fit, they are often made from light fabrics like cotton and feature bright colors or floral patterns.
• The Regal Ball Gown : Ball gowns are the most formal dress type, often reserved for black-tie events. They feature a fitted bodice and a full skirt, sometimes made of luxurious fabrics like silk, taffeta, or velvet.
• The Bold Mini Dress : Mini dresses, with their hemlines well above the knees, are a choice for those looking to make a fashion statement. They range from simple designs to elaborate pieces adorned with embellishments.
• The Versatile Wrap Dress : Wrap dresses are known for their front closure by wrapping one side of the dress across the other and

How to Describe a Wedding Dress in Writing

Describing a wedding dress in writing requires a blend of detail, emotion, and symbolism to capture its significance and beauty.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Start with the Silhouette : Describe the overall shape of the dress. Is it a classic A-line, a regal ball gown, or a sleek sheath? For example, “The dress cascaded down in a classic A-line silhouette, its skirt flowing like a gentle wave.”
• Detail the Fabric and Texture : Wedding dresses come in various fabrics, each adding its character. Describe whether it’s silky satin, intricate lace, or delicate tulle. For instance, “The gown was crafted from the finest lace, its patterns weaving a story of elegance and grace.”
• Color and Embellishments : Most wedding dresses are white, but there are many shades and details. Mention if it’s a pure white, ivory, or has a hint of color. Note any embellishments like pearls, crystals, or embroidery. “Pearls adorned the bodice, shimmering softly against the ivory fabric.”
• Incorporate Symbolism : Wedding dresses are rich in symbolism. Reflect on what the dress might represent, such as purity, joy, or the start of a new journey. “The dress, pristine and elegant, symbolized a new beginning in her life.”
• Convey the Emotional Impact : Describe how the dress makes the bride or the onlookers feel. Is there a sense of awe, a surge of happiness, or a touch of nostalgia? “As she walked down the aisle, the dress radiated a joy that touched every heart in the room.”
• Consider the Setting : The setting can influence how the dress is perceived. Describe how the dress fits into the venue or the overall theme of the wedding. “Against the backdrop of the sunlit garden, the dress glowed with an ethereal light.”
• Movement and Flow : Focus on how the dress moves with the wearer. Is it flowing and ethereal, or does it hold its shape? You might say, “As she twirled, the skirt of her dress danced in the air, each movement accentuating the fluid grace of the fabric.”
• Historical or Cultural References : If the dress has elements inspired by historical or cultural fashions, include these details. For example, “The dress, with its Victorian-style high collar and intricate bustle, whispered tales of a bygone era.”
• Sensory Descriptions : Engage the senses beyond sight. Describe the sound of the fabric, the feel of it against the skin, or even the scent. “The soft rustle of silk whispered with each step, and the smooth fabric caressed her skin like a gentle breeze.”
• Comparison to Nature or Art : Draw parallels between the dress and elements of nature or pieces of art. This can create a vivid, poetic image. “The dress, blooming with hand-stitched flowers, resembled a walking garden, each petal a masterpiece of textile art.”
• Personal Connection or History : Mention if the dress has a personal story, like being passed down through generations or specially made by a loved one. “This dress, lovingly hand-sewn by her grandmother, was not just fabric and thread but a tapestry of her family’s love and history.”

The Role of Sensory Details in Dress Descriptions

Sensory language engages the five senses, helping the reader visualize and almost feel the dress through words.

Visual Details : Start by painting a picture of the dress. Describe its color, shape, and pattern. Use vivid imagery to show how light reflects off the fabric or how the color changes in different lights. For example, “The dress shimmered in the moonlight, its sapphire blue hue turning to a deep sea-green.”

Tactile Sensations : Conveying how a dress feels to the touch can be powerful. Words like ‘smooth’, ‘textured’, ‘airy’, or ‘heavy’ give an idea of the fabric’s feel. For instance, “The silk dress felt like a cool whisper against her skin, light and delicate.”

Movement and Sound : Describing the sound and movement of a dress adds a dynamic quality. Phrases like ‘rustling of the taffeta skirt’ or ‘the soft swish of chiffon’ create a sense of motion and sound, making the description more lifelike.

Emotional Resonance : Often, dresses evoke emotions. Reflecting on how a dress makes the wearer or observer feel can add depth. For example, “Wearing the vintage lace dress, she felt a nostalgic connection to a bygone era of elegance and grace.”

Smell and Memory : Although less common, incorporating smell can evoke memories and associations. A phrase like, “The scent of lavender lingered on her cotton dress, reminiscent of sunny days in the countryside,” can transport the reader.

Balancing Detail and Brevity in Dress Descriptions

Effective dress descriptions strike a balance between detail and brevity.

While details are essential for painting a vivid picture, being too verbose can overwhelm the reader. Here are some techniques to achieve this balance:

• Focus on Key Features : Identify the most striking features of the dress and describe those. Is it the cut, the color, the pattern, or the fabric that stands out? For example, “The red velvet dress, with its deep hue and soft texture, commanded attention.”
• Use Active Verbs : Active verbs bring energy and clarity to your descriptions. Instead of saying ‘The dress was adorned with sequins’, try ‘Sequins glittered across the dress’.
• Employ Similes and Metaphors : These can convey a lot with a little. For instance, ‘The dress flowed like a river of silk’ vividly describes the fabric and movement without excessive detail.
• Be Specific : Specificity can be more impactful than lengthy descriptions. Saying ‘The cerulean blue dress’ is more evocative than ‘The very bright blue dress’.
• Edit Ruthlessly : After writing your description, review it and remove any redundant or unnecessary words. This sharpens the focus on the important details.

Incorporating Context and Emotion in Dress Descriptions

The context in which a dress is worn and the emotions it evokes are crucial elements of effective dress description.

They add layers of meaning and depth to your writing.

• Setting and Occasion : The context of where and when a dress is worn can shape its description. A gown at a grand ball might be described differently than one worn at a casual garden party. For instance, “Under the chandeliers, her gown glittered with a sophistication that echoed the grandeur of the ballroom.”
• Emotional Impact : Consider the emotions the dress is intended to evoke. Is it meant to inspire awe, convey simplicity, or evoke nostalgia? For example, “The vintage lace dress, with its delicate patterns, whispered tales of old-world charm and elegance.”
• Character and Dress : How a dress complements or contrasts with a character can add to the narrative. Describing a bold character in a vibrant, flamboyant dress or a reserved character in a simple, understated outfit can enhance characterization.
• Symbolism : Dresses can serve as symbols in your story. A white wedding dress might symbolize purity and new beginnings, while a black dress at a funeral might represent mourning and respect.
• Sensory Interaction with the Environment : How a dress interacts with its surroundings can be a powerful descriptive tool. For example, “As she walked through the autumn leaves, her earth-toned dress seemed to harmonize with the season’s palette.”

How to Describe a Beautiful Dress?

Describing a beautiful dress in writing involves painting a vivid picture that captures not only the physical appearance of the dress but also the emotions and impressions it evokes.

Start by focusing on the silhouette of the dress, identifying whether it’s flowy, structured, or form-fitting.

Next, delve into the details of the fabric – is it silky, textured, or adorned with patterns?

Color plays a crucial role too; describe the hues and any gradients or patterns present.

Don’t forget to mention the embellishments – be it lace, beads, or sequins. The way the dress moves and interacts with light adds a dynamic element to your description.

Finally, convey the emotional response the dress elicits – does it inspire awe, convey elegance, or radiate joy?

• Focus on silhouette and structure.
• Detail the fabric and textures.
• Describe the color and patterns.
• Highlight embellishments and details.
• Capture the movement and interplay with light.
• Convey the emotional impact and aura of the dress.

How to Describe a Wedding Dress?

Describing a wedding dress in writing is about encapsulating the essence of both the garment and the occasion.

Begin by portraying the overall style of the dress – is it traditional, modern, or perhaps vintage-inspired?

This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the dress’s features.

Explore the specifics of the fabric, noting its quality, texture, and flow. Wedding dresses often feature intricate details, so describe these meticulously – from lace patterns to beadwork, every element matters.

The color of the dress, often shades of white, ivory, or even pastels, contributes significantly to its character.

Discuss how the dress complements the bride’s figure and personality, as well as the setting of the wedding.

The emotional resonance of the dress is paramount; it’s not just an outfit but a symbol of love, commitment, and dreams.

Describe how the dress makes the bride feel – perhaps empowered, radiant, or deeply connected to tradition.

50 Best Words to Describe a Dress

These words should be evocative and descriptive, helping the reader to visualize the dress vividly.

Here are some of the best words to describe a dress:

• Sophisticated
• Contemporary
• Handcrafted
• Breathtaking
• Minimalistic
• Captivating

50 Best Phrases to Describe a Dress

These phrases should paint a picture and evoke emotions, creating a more engaging and immersive experience for the reader.

• A symphony of silk and satin.
• Floating effortlessly like a summer breeze.
• A canvas of intricate lace and delicate beads.
• Draped in the elegance of timeless grace.
• A cascade of shimmering sequins.
• Whispers of tulle twirling in the moonlight.
• Sculpted with the artistry of a master tailor.
• Glowing softly in the twilight of the evening.
• A tapestry woven from dreams and fabric.
• Embracing every curve with whispered elegance.
• Dancing to the rhythm of subtle sophistication.
• A reflection of celestial beauty.
• Tailored to tell a tale of style.
• A gown that sings an ode to femininity.
• Adorned with the sparkle of a thousand stars.
• A poetic blend of color and texture.
• Flowing like a melody in the breeze.
• As captivating as a secret garden.
• A portrait of poise painted in fabric.
• Whispering tales of old-world charm.
• A vision of sophistication wrapped in luxury.
• Echoing the dance of autumn leaves.
• A masterpiece of couture craftsmanship.
• Bathed in the glow of soft elegance.
• Weaving a spell of enchanting allure.
• As serene as a moonlit night.
• A celebration of classic beauty and modern flair.
• A symphony of style and grace.
• Exuding an aura of mysterious allure.
• Like a dream spun from threads of fantasy.
• Radiating the warmth of a thousand sunsets.
• A beacon of elegance in a sea of style.
• An exquisite fusion of tradition and trend.
• A garment that speaks volumes of chic sophistication.
• As refreshing as the first breath of spring.
• A garment stitched with the threads of perfection.
• Fluttering like a delicate butterfly’s wings.
• A seamless blend of charm and charisma.
• A dress that captures the essence of the night sky.
• Echoing the splendor of a renaissance painting.
• As timeless as a cherished memory.
• A tapestry of style woven with elegance.
• A dress that mirrors the serenity of nature.
• A gown that flutters with the whispers of romance.
• A melody of textures and hues.
• A garment that resonates with majestic grace.
• A dress that embodies the spirit of the season.
• A creation that bridges dreams and reality.
• An expression of artistic fashion and finesse.
• A dress that turns every head with its captivating charm.

3 Full Examples of Describing Dresses in Different Genres

The genre of writing influences how a dress is described, whether it’s in a romantic novel, a historical piece, or a fantasy story.

Here are three examples showcasing this variance:

• Romance Novel : She stepped into the moonlit garden, her chiffon dress fluttering like a gentle breeze. The soft blush pink of the fabric complemented the roses that surrounded her, and the delicate lace at the hem danced around her ankles. In that moment, she was the embodiment of love’s tender bloom.
• Historical Fiction : The ballroom was a whirl of color and motion, but her gown stood out – a rich emerald green that spoke of deep forests and hidden glades. The heavy brocade was embroidered with gold thread, each stitch a testament to the opulence of the era. It was a dress fit for a queen, commanding attention and respect.
• Fantasy Adventure : In the realm of shadows, her dress was more armor than attire. Made of midnight blue velvet, it was adorned with silver runes that shimmered in the faint light. The dress was not only beautiful but also a source of power, each rune holding a spell for protection and strength.

Before you go, check out this video that will help you learn how to describe a dress in writing:

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Dress in Writing

Who said you can’t tailor words? Let’s measure, cut, and sew a description that fits your dress like a glove.

We have a lot more articles on describing people, places, and things in stories.

Check out a few below…

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Essay on Clothes

Students are often asked to write an essay on Clothes in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Clothes

What are clothes.

Clothes are pieces of fabric we wear on our bodies. They protect us from the sun, cold, and rain. People wear different clothes for sleeping, playing sports, and going to parties. They come in many colors, shapes, and sizes to fit everyone.

The History of Clothes

Long ago, humans made clothes from animal skins and plants. Over time, they learned to make cloth from cotton, wool, and silk. Now, machines help us make lots of clothes quickly. This lets people have many outfits to choose from.

Why Clothes Matter

Clothes are important for keeping us safe and warm. They also show our style and can tell people where we’re from. Uniforms help us know who is a doctor, police officer, or student. Clothes are a big part of our lives every day.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Clothes
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250 Words Essay on Clothes

Clothes are pieces of fabric that we wear to cover our bodies. People from different places wear different kinds of clothes. The weather, where they live, and their culture can influence their choice. For example, in hot places, people often wear light and airy clothes, while in cold places, they wear thick and warm ones.

The Importance of Clothes

Clothes are important for many reasons. They protect us from the sun, cold, rain, and wind. They can also keep us safe from scratches and bites when we are outside. Besides protection, clothes help us to look nice and can tell others about our style or the groups we belong to.

Types of Clothes

There are many types of clothes. Shirts, pants, and dresses are some of the most common. We also have special clothes for certain jobs, like uniforms for police officers or doctors. For sports and activities, we wear gear that fits the action, like swimsuits for swimming or tracksuits for running.

Clothes and Occasions

We choose different clothes for different events. For a party, we might wear something fancy, while for playing in the park, we would wear something comfortable. On cultural festivals, people often dress in traditional outfits that show their heritage and celebrate their customs.

Clothes are a basic part of our lives. They keep us safe, show who we are, and can be fun to choose and wear. Whether it’s a school uniform or a costume for a play, clothes have a special role in our daily activities and special occasions.

500 Words Essay on Clothes

Clothes are pieces of fabric that we wear on our bodies. They are made from many different materials like cotton, wool, and silk. People wear clothes for many reasons. They help protect us from the hot sun, cold weather, rain, and wind. Clothes also cover our bodies to give us privacy. Over time, the clothes we wear have become a big part of our culture and history.

There are many kinds of clothes. Some are made for hot places and some for cold. For example, in hot places, people might wear shorts and t-shirts. These are light and help keep us cool. In cold places, people wear jackets, hats, and gloves to stay warm. Clothes are not just for weather. We also have special clothes for events like weddings, parties, and school uniforms. Each type of clothing has a purpose.

Colors and Designs

Clothes come in all colors and designs. Some are very bright and others are plain. The design of clothes can tell you where they are from. In some countries, clothes have special patterns that mean something important to the people there. For example, in Scotland, the pattern called tartan is used in kilts and each pattern can show a different family group.

Making Clothes

Long ago, people made clothes by hand. They would weave fabric from plants or animal hair. Today, most clothes are made in big factories with machines. These machines can make lots of clothes very fast. Some people still make clothes by hand for special traditions or as a hobby.

Clothes and Fashion

Fashion is when people decide that certain styles of clothes are popular. These styles can change very fast. What is fashionable one year might not be the next. Some people like to follow the latest fashion and wear new styles. Other people don’t care about fashion and just wear what they like or what is comfortable.

Clothes and the Environment

Making clothes can be hard on the environment. Factories can pollute the air and water. Also, when people throw away clothes that they don’t want anymore, it can create a lot of waste. Now, some people are trying to make clothes in better ways that don’t hurt the planet. They use materials that are safer for the environment and recycle old clothes to make new ones.

Caring for Clothes

Taking care of our clothes is important. It means they will last longer and we won’t have to buy new ones so often. We can look after our clothes by washing and drying them the right way. Reading the labels on our clothes can tell us how to do this. Fixing clothes when they get a little tear or a button comes off can also help them last longer.

Clothes are a big part of our lives. They keep us safe from the weather, show who we are, and can be a fun way to express ourselves. We should think about how they are made and how we can take care of them so they last a long time. By doing this, we can help the environment and save money too. Clothes are not just things we wear. They tell a story about who we are and the world we live in.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Internet For Students
• Essay on Internet For Entertainment
• Essay on Internet Boon Or Bane For Students

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Describe the type of clothes that you usually like to wear.

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Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: -Give contact detail for when you are away -Give instructions about how to care for your pet -Describe other household duties Write at least 150 words

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation. why might this be a case. what could be the disadvantages of being self-employed, in spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry. why is this the case what can be done about this problem, these days, more and more people tend to procrastinate in tasks. what is the cause what is the solution, you should spend about 20 minutes on this task. a friend you met last year has invited you to visit him/her in his/her country. you have never been there before and need some information before you leave. write a letter to your friend. in your letter: request advise about a gift for his/her family ask about activities and clothing in his/her country find out about the food you do not need to write any address. you should write at least 150 words..

Fashion and Reasons to Love It Essay

Obviously, nobody will deny that these days fashion became an inseparable part of every person’s life. In addition, the media constantly support our desire to look glamorous, popularizing a fashionable way of life. Moreover, looking good, we feel much better and confident. Isn’t it a reason to love fashion? Furthermore, what are the most important accessories that every woman loses her ground when seeing them? They are bags, hats, and certainly jewelry.

These accessories play an important role in making women beautiful. They help us create our own style and express our individuality. It is probably one of the most important reasons to love fashion. One more reason to love fashion lies in the fact that people love beautiful things, especially women. Nice things bring us aesthetical pleasure. Thus, there are hundreds of reasons to love fashion; however, let me present three major reasons why I love fashionable bags, shoes, and jewelry.

A bag can say a lot about its owner. We can easily find out what style a woman prefers, what her treats of character are, and how many things she takes with herself. Why I love fashionable bags? Well, first of all, I cannot live without a bag. I should take many important things with myself, and where should I put them? Of course, in my marvelous bag. The second reason for me to love bags is that my bag is a very important part of my image.

Actually, it seems to me that the image is incomplete without a bag. For example, when you go to some party, you always pay special attention to your bag go well with your shoes. Finally, my bag is my personality. Having a good bag, I can demonstrate my taste and sense of fashion. A perfectly designed bag shows that I am a part of the fashion industry, and I go with the times.

An elegant fashion hat is a piece of masterpiece. Have you ever noticed what great attention Hollywood celebrities pay to their hats? The hat is an accessory that adds elegance, chic, and glamour. Apart from the practical usage (protection from cold weather, rain, sun, and wind), I often use different types of hats to complete the image. For example, I can wear a cap with sneakers. The second reason why I love hats is that it adds a touch of elegance to every one of my images. It is a part of clothing that can make my style unique and enigmatic. In addition, it is an indicator of social status. So, you can play any part you want: a lady, a cute girl, a glamorous thing. Finally, my hat can demonstrate my creativity. I can always add some detail that will make me look different from others.

It goes without saying that every girl likes jewelry. I like adding jewelry to my clothes because it enhances the entire look of my clothing. Imagine a black dress with a tiny pearl necklace and without it. The first variant is certainly better. The second reason why I love jewelry is that it is a perfect means to attract attention. A nice manicure looks even better when you have a ring on your finger. Finally, the spiritual value of some ring or bracelet can be a good reason to wear it. For example, I believe that earrings that my grandmother gave me bring me luck. This is why I never take them off. Once, I even avoided a terrible road accident. I believe that my earrings saved me.

Thus, fashion is a part of our life. We love fashion, and we admire it. Different articles are important pieces that complete a fashionable image. People prefer different accessories. As for me, I like bags, hats, and jewelry. I believe that these accessories help me creating my own style, complete my image, and make me feel more confident. I am very serious about which bag, hat or ring I am going to wear every day.

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• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, December 29). Fashion and Reasons to Love It. https://ivypanda.com/essays/fashion-and-reasons-to-love-it/

"Fashion and Reasons to Love It." IvyPanda , 29 Dec. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/fashion-and-reasons-to-love-it/.

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Jonniesue B.

Write an informational essay about the relationship between clothing styles and developments in clothing creation. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts,

1 expert answer.

Elizabeth M. answered • 11/10/20

MA Level Ivy League Elementary Educator, AMI Montessori Certified

Over the past century, different clothing styles and techniques of designing clothes have emerged and have helped shape the way society views clothing. In the past, there were not many options as to which clothes to wear because of the lack of efficiency when developing them. Up until the Civil War era, many people were stuck having to wear clothes that didn't fit because custom made clothes were only accessible to the wealthy. Tailoring and ready-made clothing has changed the way society perceives clothing and has shined light upon new opportunities for people to express themselves at an affordable price. These new ways of developing and sizing clothing are drastically changing for the better and are the beginning of something much bigger.

           Ready-made clothing has played a big role in the mass-production of affordable clothing. Although some might see ready-made clothing as a sign of loss of individuality, many see it as modern and fashionable. The National Institute of Standards of Technology "Ready-Made Clothing" article states, "A tailor might take two dozen measurements when making a man's suit." Many people have found that although custom clothing is no longer as common as it used to be, it is still much more accurate and fits better, that is if you are willing to pay the higher price for it. Modern culture has been dominated by ready-made clothing because of trending styles and the desire to wear popular name-brand clothing. This new way of developing clothing is more efficient than any other method ever seen before and has definitely had an enormous impact on society.

               New clothing styles are constantly emerging and with social media playing such a big role in modern-day society, trends spread like wildfire. In this day and age, the only way the clothing industry can survive is by mass-producing products that are popular in modern culture. There is little to no room for any other method of clothing design in today's society because of the way modern culture is set up. Price range no longer plays a big factor in the way clothing is manufactured because of people's desire for name-brand clothing and styles that are popular. Because of this method, it is only a matter of time before custom made clothing is off the radar for good.

           In essence, tailoring and ready-made clothing has changed the way society perceives clothing and has shined light upon new opportunities for people to express themselves at an affordable price. Although custom made clothing may make people seem more of an individual, ready-made clothing is more practical and is overall more efficient. With these new ways of developing clothing, custom made clothing is no longer practical and will soon be gone.

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My book is not my baby — but the two do have a lot in common

For me, publishing a book isn't the same as giving birth. it's more like sending my child to preschool, by noa silver.

I remember in my first year of motherhood the way I felt my world grow smaller and more intimate , the pace of my life grow slower and more focused. When my husband would come home from coaching and consulting meetings, networking events, and the workshops he facilitated, he would find me ensconced in the tiny world of our home, wrapped up in the milky sweetness of the baby. The private, domestic realm became my primary realm during those early months of motherhood, when I would walk around and around our small apartment with my baby wrapped to my chest, murmuring “shh, shh,” over and over again, like a mantra, or a prayer. Her heart beating against my heart, recreating womb-like conditions on the outside.

In the same sun-drenched week in August, that baby, my elder daughter, started preschool and I signed a publishing contract for my debut novel, "California Dreaming ." Two years after that, my younger daughter has started at that same preschool, and "California Dreaming" is mere days from being released.

Like those early months of motherhood, writing is an intensely private, solitary act. For me, to write necessitates going inward, it requires shutting out the outside world and external stimuli for the sake of being able to listen fully. My writing process takes inspiration from Anne Lamott’s practice of the one-inch picture frame. All through my daughters’ early years, I would carve out pockets of time — while they napped, or after bedtime, or when they were at the playground — to write. My pace of writing my novel was complementary to the pace of motherhood, the pace of attending to a baby and then a toddler. Each day I wrote just 250 words, filling my one-inch frame.

I am not the first to notice the connection between writing and parenting , but while many have compared publishing a book to giving birth, for me there is an even more apt comparison. Both child and book lived in and then with me for many years after their births. For me, publishing a book feels most parallel to sending my child to preschool for the first time, for it is in both these acts that that which once lived solely inside the private, domestic realm, and within only a few primary relationships, now enters the public sphere.

The distinction between the public and private realms, the separation between domestic and political spheres, has long been deeply intertwined with the preservation of a capitalistic society. Mothering so often happens outside of the public sphere, outside of the public gaze, and much has been written about the hidden, unpaid labor of caretaking. In our society, there is a hiddenness inherent in the domestic realm and a hiddenness to the lives and experiences of women.

Like those early months of motherhood, writing is an intensely private, solitary act.

Perhaps the novel form itself could be considered a kind of public square, a forum in which human relationships, motivations, self-discovery, and journeying gets played out again and again through different lenses, and under different gazes. Historically, even in the context of the novel, significant female life experiences — childbirth and abortion, breastfeeding and postpartum depression —  have not been explored nearly as deeply as those life experiences of typical male self-development.

In my writing, I am drawn to exploring the inner lives of women, especially during moments of significant life transitions. In "California Dreaming," the main character is Elena, who, over the course of the novel, grows from a young, idealistic early 20-something, into a 30-year-old woman who reckons with the decisions she has made, the values she holds and the stories she has inherited. It is a bildungsroman, a story form that traces the general and spiritual coming-of-age process, and it is told in the first-person point of view, granting Elena herself the narrative voice to describe her journey. There is an intimacy in using the first-person, a way of drawing near to the narrator that allows for greater play and insight into the narrator’s own development, her way of viewing the world, her inner life.

In an interview with Terry Gross in 1985, the writer Grace Paley reflected, “When you write, you illuminate what’s hidden, and that’s a political act.” For many years, my primary world has been the private, domestic, intimate world of mothering little children and writing and rewriting and editing a novel. A hidden world. And now, gradually, there are bridges between the private and public realms, and that which has been hidden is becoming illuminated, revealed.

In the months after giving birth, I felt the deep truth of the fact that I was not fully separate from my children. And yet, as they have grown, we have each gone through periods of differentiation, of reasserting the boundaries of self. My children no longer exist primarily in a carrier or in my arms; they are no longer solely dyadic extensions of me. They go to school, they have thoughts and experiences and dreams and feelings and wishes that I am not witness to, and that they navigate with peers and teachers and the many other people who populate their life. They have relationships that are their own.

So, too, with my novel. For many years I worked in private tandem with the novel, with my own creative process. In the months since I signed my book deal, however, I have begun to experience the way my creative process—a process of unfolding, refining, listening, and responding—is being transmuted into an object, into something that will go out into the world, into the public sphere, and there take on a life of its own. We are differentiating, my book and I, and soon it will be in relationship with others, with readers who will encounter it as themselves, and form judgments, connections, and opinions about it that are distinct from my own.

Motherhood’s value has often been located in the fact that the children we are mothering will eventually become citizens of the larger society. Similarly, a book on its publishing journey—as I have newfound understanding and appreciation for—ultimately becomes a commodity. The publishing industry measures a book’s success in sales, and even my chance at publishing another book in the future may rest on the sales numbers of my first. In these months of preparing for my book’s launch, of asking bookstores and libraries to stock my book, and friends and family to pre-order, I have been struck by my own doubts of its inherent worth. To ask people to buy it , to spend money on it, has necessarily sent me diving into questions of its value : Will this book change your life? Must it be read? Will you like it? I don’t know.

For many years, my primary world has been the private, domestic, intimate world of mothering little children and writing and rewriting and editing a novel. A hidden world.

Here’s what I do know: it had to be written. It called to me again and again during the writing process itself, that private, intimate birthing and caring for of this idea, these characters, this story, this particular viewpoint on the whole messy endeavor that we call life, and I couldn’t not write it.

In many ways, this is the same way I feel toward mothering my children. I don’t know who they will become, or what they will or will not contribute to society. I mother them in this moment, now, because they are here, in front of me, whole and perfect and messy and complete human beings just as they are. I attend to them because I must, because I am called to with my whole self.

It can seem at times that worth and value exist exclusively in the public sphere, in the shared collective, in the process of being witnessed and incorporated into the greater whole. But when this greater whole is one whose meaning rests in capital, then worth and value become markers for how much something contributes to capital: the book that sells well, or the child who grows up to be a “productive” member of society—a worker, a voter, a consumer.

It is not that I am against a shared, collective space, not that I wish for more individualized and individualistic paths toward meaning — far from it. However, in the context of a public sphere that primarily operates in terms of product, output and money, the private realm can sometimes seem a place of refuge, a place where creative process and attentive mothering can actually coexist in harmony, for the sake of attention itself, for the sake of love—and not future production or consumption.

Yet, I wonder whether that coexistence can only occur out of the public gaze, in a hidden domain, or if it would be possible for it to thrive in the public sphere. What kind of relationships could we have, the witnessers and the witnessed, in which we could write and mother from a place of intimate curiosity, where we could do so in a way that feels held by others, by community, where it is neither solely a solitary, lonely endeavor, nor one whose worth is measured in a balance sheet?

Perhaps it is only in a novel where we can fully explore that possibility.

personal stories from writers

• What if I can't "savor every single moment" of their childhood?
• The "groupie," the ghostwriter and me
• My disapproving doctor father hated my work — but we had more in common than I thought

Noa Silver was born in Jerusalem and raised between Scotland and Maine. Her debut novel " California Dreaming " is due out in May.

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Teen Who Killed 2 With Porsche Got Bail In 15 Hours. Ordered To Write Essay

The minor's lawyer said bail had been granted on some conditions -- he has to work with traffic police for 15 days, write an essay on accident, undergo treatment for his drinking habit and take counselling sessions.

Two 24-year-old engineers, including a woman, were killed in the accident in Pune

The 17-year-old boy at the wheel of the speeding Porsche that hit a bike in Pune Saturday night, killing a man and a woman, was out on bail 15 hours after he was arrested. His lawyer Prashant Patil said a court granted bail to the minor on conditions -- he has to work with traffic police in Yerwada for 15 days, write an essay on accidents, undergo treatment for his drinking habit and take counselling sessions. The accused is the son of a prominent Pune realtor.

Twenty-four-year-olds Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both engineers from Madhya Pradesh working in Pune, were returning on a bike after attending a get-together with friends. The Porsche, which eyewitnesses have said was driving at over 200 km per hour and had no number plates, hit the bike. Ashwini was thrown about 20 feet in the air and landed hard, said an eyewitness. Aneesh was thrown at a parked car and suffered serious injuries. Both died on the spot.

"The accident took place around 2.15 am. The car was in full speed. The driver was fleeing after the car hit the bike, but the airbags deployed. He could not see the road and parked the car. And locals caught them. Besides the driver, there were two occupants in the car. One of them escaped. The crowd beat up the other two," said an eyewitness, an auto-rickshaw operator waiting for a ride.

The eyewitness said police reached the spot in 15 minutes.

The minor, it is learnt, was returning with his friends from a pub where they were partying to celebrate clearing their Class 12 exams. He is four months short of turning 18, the minimum age to get a driver's licence in India. 

Following a complaint by a friend of one of the victims, an FIR was registered under sections relating to death by negligence and rash driving. The teenager's father and the pub that served him alcohol are also likely to be charged, police have said.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said police had urged the court to treat the accused as an adult because this is a "heinous crime" and sought his custody. Police will approach the sessions court against the bail order, he said. "The father of the juvenile accused who handed over this car without a number plate to him to drive and allowed him to go to a pub has also been proceeded against. The establishment that served alcohol has also been proceeded against," he said. 

The case is now being investigated by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level officer and a "watertight case is being made out", he said. The police commissioner said it is clear that the boy was driving under the influence of alcohol. Several eyewitnesses have said the teenager and his friends were heavily drunk.

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The incident has sparked massive outrage, with many blaming lax laws for deaths due to rash driving and minors on the wheels.

Anurag Kulshrestha, president of an NGO that works for road safety, told NDTV, "There is no fear of law. In Pune, when authorities tried to enforce the helmet rule, all political parties came out to protest. We are living in an indisciplined society."

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How to Live Forever

By David Owen

A friend of mine knew a wealthy man who had decided to live forever. That made him hard to be around, my friend told me, in an e-mail, because he was “always dropping to the floor to do ab crunches or running out for bottles of water or falling asleep or outgassing Chinese herbs.” Immortality is attractive to rich people because simple arithmetic shows that if they live a normal lifespan they won’t have time to spend enough of their money. Peter Thiel , the billionaire venture capitalist, has expressed interest in receiving blood transfusions from young donors, an intervention that apparently adds weeks to the lives of laboratory mice. Jeff Bezos’s chiselled physique suggests a similar concern. The longevity evangelist Bryan Johnson, who sold a company he’d started to PayPal for eight hundred million dollars, wears a device that monitors the quality of his nighttime erections.

Life extension is a trade-off, though. You have to weigh the time you stand to gain against the time you lose while trying to gain it. When Jackie Onassis learned that she was dying, of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she is said to have regretted having done so many pushups. There’s also the discouraging fact that extra years, if any, come at the end of life, when even many rich people have begun to think about winding down. A wealthy bridge partner of mine, now deceased, told me as she approached ninety that she was already feeling a bit bored.

Einstein wrote that “the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” He presumably didn’t mean that, after death, he expected to travel back and forth through his life, as though riffling the pages of a book. Or maybe he did. At any rate, his statement hints at a better strategy, one that I myself have practiced for decades. The simplest, most foolproof way to extend life is to do so backward, by adding years in reverse.

During the summer of 1975, following my sophomore year in college, I got a job as a secretary at a book-publishing company in New York. My main task was typing letters from editors to authors. I used a typewriter, because there were no personal computers yet, and to create duplicates I used copy sets, which were sandwiches of carbon paper and thin regular paper. Carbon paper—for those too young to have any idea what I’m talking about—is paper or plastic film that is coated on one side with semi-gelatinous ink; when you press something against the un-inked side, the inked side leaves a mark. Carbon paper barely exists nowadays, except at some rental-car counters and in the etymology of the “cc” (which stands for “carbon copy”) in e-mails. At my publishing job, I placed a copy set behind a sheet of letterhead and rolled the two together into my machine. When I’d finished typing, I had an original plus one or two flimsy but legible facsimiles, for filing.

That same summer, inspired by my job, I began using carbon paper to make duplicates of my own letters. I was writing a lot of poetry at the time, and I believed that the copies would be useful to my biographers, whom I assumed I’d have someday. I gave up on poetry and literary immortality a year or two later, but I continued making carbons, and I saved letters that people wrote to me. Because of the pack-rat instincts of various members of my family, I also have the letters I wrote home from summer camp; the letters my father wrote home from the Second World War; the letters my wife, whose name is Ann Hodgman, wrote to my parents before and after we got married; the letters Ann’s mother wrote to her father when they were dating; and thousands of other letters, documents, e-mails, and texts. In recent years, I have digitized most of that stuff, so that I can search it.

When I was in high school, I tried several times to keep a diary—again, thinking of my biographers—but I was never able to stick with it for more than a week or two. This is a common problem. A dozen years ago, I found a diary that my daughter, Laura, had started when she was ten. It had a pink cover, more than a hundred ruled pages, and a lock on the front, which she hadn’t locked. The entry on the first page was about her piano lessons. It said:

EXTRA MINUTES PRACTICED Wednesday—1 min. Saturday—8 min.

All the other pages were blank.

Soon after I had begun making copies of my letters, I realized that if I saved them in chronological order I’d have the equivalent of a diary. I eventually bought an electric hole punch and filled many three-ring binders. In the late eighties, I started another kind of quasi-diary by making a written record on my computer of funny or interesting things my children had said or done. I got that idea when Laura was three and her brother, John, was in utero, but I was able to extend the entries back to the day of Laura’s birth by inserting material from letters I’d saved. I called it my “kid diary,” and I kept it going, with several lapses, for about ten years. The completed text contains almost ninety thousand words and is, by far, my favorite thing I’ve ever written. It’s the one thing I would save if I could save only one.

Of course, most of the real work on my kid diary was done not by me but by my kids. Laura, at four: “Dave, is cheese vegetables, or what is it?” (She began calling me Dave when she was three, and John eventually did the same.) John, at almost six: “God didn’t make people, Dave. Monkeys did.” Laura’s favorite feature in the children’s magazine Highlights was the advice column, and she used to make up readers’ questions and the editors’ replies. When she was four and a half, I overheard her, in the playroom, pretending to read aloud from a recent issue:

When I go to school I have a hole in my pants near my penis. My friends call me “penis-puh.” What should I do? Tom. I understand how you feel, Tom. Ignore your friends and find a nice quiet place where you can concentrate. Raise your hand if your friends have a problem with your penis.

Me, when John was two and a half:

My mother was reading John one of his dinosaur books and leaving out occasional paragraphs, so that she could get him to bed quicker, but he caught her. “You did not say ‘fleet-footed,’ ” he said.

Me again, when John was in kindergarten:

Yesterday, John sat at the kitchen table writing ransom notes, with spelling provided by Ann. One of his notes read “INQUISITIVE PERSON. 1,000,000 DOLLARS.” To write his notes, he put on snow boots, knee pads, and non-matching mittens.

Laura, when she was four:

Why am I not a grownup? I’ve been here for so many years.

And so on, for three hundred and fifty typed pages. I’m now keeping track, on a smaller scale, of funny or interesting things that my grandchildren have said or done. Alice, the eldest, when she was three: “Mom, I’m just going to relax and ring this bell.”

The final stages of Alzheimer’s disease have been described as living death: if you can’t remember your life, can you truly be said to be alive? I worry about that, of course, but I also worry about perfectly ordinary memory loss, which shortens a life more subtly, by allowing great swaths of it to leak away. My memory works pretty well, but writing things down has made it work better, and many of my favorite moments from the past forty years exist only because I kept a record. My kid diary has lengthened my life just as surely as rolling back my biological age would have, and it has done so without ab crunches, pushups, or erection monitoring. It has also lengthened the lives of Ann, Laura, and John, as well as reminding Ann and me that our children’s childhoods didn’t go by in a blur, as parents often feel when they look back. A friend told me recently, “If G.P.S. had existed from the time I got my driver’s license, I would have lived an entire second lifetime with the time I’d have saved not getting lost.” That’s the same idea, more or less.

Preserve too much, though, and you’d recreate the dilemma that Jorge Luis Borges explores in his story “Funes the Memorious,” from 1942. The title character is a young man who, after being thrown from a horse, discovers that he now remembers literally everything. “Two or three times he had reconstructed a whole day; he never hesitated, but each reconstruction had required a whole day,” the narrator explains. Funes “knew by heart the forms of the southern clouds at dawn on the 30th of April, 1882, and could compare them in his memory with the mottled streaks on a book in Spanish binding he had only seen once.” He’s so entranced by his new ability that he doesn’t realize it has impaired him. “To think is to forget differences, generalize, make abstractions,” the narrator reflects. “In the teeming world of Funes, there were only details, almost immediate in their presence.”

Funes is a fictional character, but there are real people with a similar ability. One of them is Jill Price, who can remember her life, from childhood on, in extraordinary detail. In her autobiography, “ The Woman Who Can’t Forget ,” she writes, “My memories are like scenes from home movies of every day of my life, constantly playing in my head, flashing forward and backward through the years relentlessly, taking me to any given moment, entirely of their own volition.” Price was the first person to receive a diagnosis of hyperthymestic syndrome, later renamed highly superior autobiographical memory, or HSAM . Both terms were coined by James McGaugh and his colleagues at the University of California, Irvine, where, starting in 2000, Price was studied extensively. Researchers would mention a news event, and without hesitating she would give them the date and the day of the week it occurred, or they would give her a date and she would give them an event. “And she was flawless,” McGaugh told me recently. He asked her if she knew what had happened to Bing Crosby . She said that he died on a golf course in Spain on Friday, October 14, 1977, when she was eleven. She remembered because his death had been mentioned on a news program she’d heard on the car radio that day, as her mother was driving her to soccer practice.

Price has been, at times, an obsessive journal-keeper, and some people have wondered whether she had simply memorized the entries. But she abandoned her journal on several occasions, once for years, then changed her mind and filled in the hundreds of missing days retrospectively, entirely out of her head. She makes the journals to tame the flood of her recollections, which she views as a torment. “If I didn’t write things down, I would get a swimming feeling in my head and would become emotionally overwhelmed,” she explains in her book.

McGaugh and his team eventually identified about a hundred people with HSAM . One is the actress and author Marilu Henner, who starred on the television show “Taxi” and was fired by Donald Trump on “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Henner, unlike Price, revels in her ability. “It’s something that makes me feel really good, and I can’t imagine not having it,” she told me. “My siblings will say, ‘Come on, Mar, do a week from our childhood.’ ” Henner’s book “ Total Memory Makeover ,” which was published in 2012, is an effort by her to help the rest of us develop what she refers to as our “brain muscle”—a desirable goal, since she agrees with me that memory can be a powerful time-expander and longevity-increaser. “By really exploring your past, or remembering it in some way, you get a piece of your life back,” she said. “Your life becomes longer and richer, and kind of stretches in the middle.”

Henner describes a good autobiographical memory as “a line of defense against meaninglessness.” For those of us who, unlike her, can’t do it all in our heads, old letters, diaries, and photographs are indispensable aide-mémoire. On Presidents’ Day in 1988, Laura came home from nursery school and said, “Abraham Lincoln was shot!” I said, “I know, honey,” and she said, “But I’m keeping him alive in my thoughts. Emmy is keeping him alive in her thoughts, too.” She and Emmy, a classmate, were three years old at the time, so they probably wouldn’t remember today that they had taken on that chore if I hadn’t written it down.

My mother will turn ninety-five in June. She was my family’s principal historian until I took over the position. She made two photo albums for me as I was growing up. The first covered my birth through sixth grade, and the second covered junior high through college. She invented analog image-enhancing techniques that anticipated, by decades, digital tools that are now standard: using nail-scissors and glue to replace my brother’s frowning face with a smiling one in our Christmas card from 1966, when he was four; using an X-Acto knife to give me a haircut and to slice an uninteresting background from a family photo a decade later; eliminating red-eye with a black Flair pen. I studied both my photo albums so often over the years that they began to fall apart. I have now preserved them by extracting the original pages and placing them in individual sleeves in large archival portfolios.

For many people, documenting family life in this way is no more appealing than doing pushups or ab crunches. But I don’t think of it that way, and neither did my mother. “I have been pasting my scrapbooks,” she wrote to Ann and me in 1980. “I get more fascinated with them every day. I don’t know when I’ve had a project I’ve enjoyed so much.” For her, documenting the history of our family was an immersive hobby, like making quilts (my sister), photographing birds (my brother), or gardening and playing ice hockey (Ann). By the time I graduated from college, my mother was mainly researching genealogies, writing reminiscences, and organizing ancestral photographs, documents, and ephemera. I’ve relied on her work several times when researching things that I’ve written, most recently an essay about her own family.

Nowadays, producing and saving images is so easy that few people bother with paper prints, photo albums, or even cameras. They hold up their phone and click away, hoping to end up with something decent, which they then post on Facebook or Instagram or whatever. But a digital camera roll containing thousands of unsorted, unedited, contextless images is not an intelligible narrative of a life. Turning the pages of a physical book is a different experience from swiping a finger across a screen, and, if you don’t store your memories on paper, you allow your past to be held hostage by a potentially obsolete digital format or by Google’s unpredictable commitment to the cloud.

I’ve made dozens of physical photo albums, first by gluing paper prints and other mementos into the kinds of blank scrapbooks my mother used, and, then, since 2006, by uploading images to companies that produce paper photo books. (My favorite is Mixbook .) In addition to making annual family scrapbooks, I’ve documented vacations, visits by grandchildren, moments from the life of a friend who had just died, two years that Ann and her parents spent living in Germany when she was a baby and her father was a U.S. Army doctor, the history of the place we visit every summer on Martha’s Vineyard, the wedding of our guinea pig and one of our dogs, and trips that my father’s parents took between the nineteen-forties and the nineteen-sixties. The project that I’m the proudest of is a hybrid: two eleven-by-fourteen volumes containing the complete text of my kid diary, illustrated with several hundred corresponding snapshots.

At some point during COVID , I realized that I could create a truly comprehensive chronicle of my life if I consolidated all the best parts of my hoard of digitized text into a single document. The result is a million and a half words long, and it grows by roughly five hundred words a day. My goal is to come as close as I can to a day-by-day record—but not one like Jill Price’s, which consists mostly of brief mentions of things like the weather, the names of TV shows she watched, and what errands she ran. I’m trying to do what Elmore Leonard said he tried to do with his novels: leave out the parts that readers skip. I’m the only reader so far, and I may be the only reader ever, but I don’t want even my own interest to flag. I haven’t added photographs yet, but someday I will.

One of my richest sources of material in recent years has been a small e-mail group that my wife and I are part of. It began around 1996 (no one remembers exactly when), and currently includes ten participants. We’re all within ten years in age: the youngest were in their thirties when we started; the oldest are in their seventies now. All but one or two of us are self-employed. Most are writers. In the early months, I often worried that the others would lose interest and disappear, but the group has never been in serious danger of disbanding, and the lineup has barely changed. No member has died yet, although one spouse died last year. Two children and eight grandchildren have been born. Several children have married. All the parents who were alive when we started have now died, except for Ann’s mother and my mother. Despite our long history, the ten of us have never all been in the same room at the same time, except online. The first full in-person gathering, if there ever is one, will probably be a funeral.

Ten people who’ve spent almost three decades getting to know one another turns out to be the ideal configuration for a social network; it’s the scale at which Facebook and X would feel like life-enhancing communities of human beings, rather than ego-driven, soul-destroying, democracy-undermining time-sucks. Our e-mail exchanges are the kinds of conversations that people who have worked together for years sometimes have over lunch or cocktails—and our exchanges are mostly coherent, even grammatical. I used to brood that civilization had suffered a huge loss when people switched from sending paper letters to sending e-mails, but I now think the real loss occurred when people switched from sending e-mails to sending texts, which young people in particular tend to fire off in bursts of unpunctuated sentence fragments. E-mails are actually superior to paper letters in many ways, because they easily accommodate thoughtful, extended multi-user back-and-forth, in real time.

In the early years of our group, it somehow almost never occurred to me to save anything. Eventually, though, I began preserving notable e-mails, which I later combined into PDFs. I now copy funny or interesting passages as they arrive, and paste them into my burgeoning chronicle—including that line I quoted at the beginning of this essay about outgassing Chinese herbs, and the later one about G.P.S. and getting lost. Also this, from Ann:

I helped at the Epiphany pageant at another church yesterday. The girl who played Mary carried a doll. After the pageant, she said, “Jesus looks hella real.” . . . I recently gave blood at the school she goes to. Two students, a girl and a boy, were staffing the snack table. An older boy who had just donated came and sat down. The girl told him, “We saw your blood.”

And this, from me:

I woke up at 3:00 this morning and lay awake for a long time. I would have thought I never fell back asleep except that I know Henry [our poodle] can’t talk. He told me that he thought some ants that were crawling inside a rotten tree trunk looked as though they were carrying parachutes. I didn’t think it was odd that he was talking—just odd that he would describe ant eggs that way.

I’ve also saved many serious, poignant, and distressing discussions—of life, work, children, pets, politics, religion, marriage, divorce, cancer, everything. Many of those discussions unfolded over days, and almost all of them are too personal to share with strangers. My solipsistic record has thus evolved into more than the story of my own life, and is now also a steadily growing group autobiography. Every so often, I’ll quote something back to the others and, even if it’s just a couple of years old, it usually turns out that everyone has forgotten it.

Someday, I’ll turn my archives over to my children and grandchildren. I hope they’ll be interested in at least some of it, because it’s important for young people to be reminded that old people had pre-decrepit existences. But I would continue collecting, organizing, and preserving even if I knew that no one but me would ever look. Thinking about my life and the history of my family is interesting to me—just as it was for my mother—and I agree with Marilu Henner, who writes, “We all owe it to ourselves as living beings to take full advantage of our own experiences.” My preservation projects have given me a nearly Einsteinian view of time and mortality. I picture myself in a nursing home—not soon, I hope!—surrounded by photo books and letters and e-mail excerpts and portable hard drives, busily adding images to text, reading and rereading everything, creating compilations of compilations, contentedly living forever, backward and forward, until the end. ♦

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Softening the sharp edges in mathematics.

For everyone whose relationship with mathematics is distant or broken, Jo Boaler , a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), has ideas for repairing it. She particularly wants young people to feel comfortable with numbers from the start — to approach the subject with playfulness and curiosity, not anxiety or dread.

“Most people have only ever experienced what I call narrow mathematics — a set of procedures they need to follow, at speed,” Boaler says. “Mathematics should be flexible, conceptual, a place where we play with ideas and make connections. If we open it up and invite more creativity, more diverse thinking, we can completely transform the experience.”

“Mathematics should be flexible, conceptual, a place where we play with ideas and make connections," says Professor Jo Boaler. (Photo: Robert Houser Photography)

Boaler, the Nomellini and Olivier Professor of Education at the GSE, is the co-founder and faculty director of Youcubed , a Stanford research center that provides resources for math learning that has reached more than 230 million students in over 140 countries. In 2013 Boaler, a former high school math teacher, produced “How to Learn Math,” the first massive open online course (MOOC) on mathematics education. She leads workshops and leadership summits for teachers and administrators, and her online courses have been taken by over a million users. 

In her new book, Math-ish: Finding Creativity, Diversity, and Meaning in Mathematics , Boaler argues for a broad, inclusive approach to math education, offering strategies and activities for learners at any age. We spoke with her about why creativity is an important part of mathematics, the impact of representing numbers visually and physically, and how what she calls “ishing” a math problem can help students make better sense of the answer. 

What do you mean by “math-ish” thinking?

It’s a way of thinking about numbers in the real world, which are usually imprecise estimates. If someone asks how old you are, how warm it is outside, how long it takes to drive to the airport – these are generally answered with what I call “ish” numbers, and that’s very different from the way we use and learn numbers in school.

In the book I share an example of a multiple-choice question from a nationwide exam where students are asked to estimate the sum of two fractions: 12/13 + 7/8. They’re given four choices for the closest answer: 1, 2, 19, or 21. Each of the fractions in the question is very close to 1, so the answer would be 2 — but the most common answer 13-year-olds gave was 19. The second most common was 21. 

I’m not surprised, because when students learn fractions, they often don’t learn to think conceptually or to consider the relationship between the numerator or denominator. They learn rules about creating common denominators and adding or subtracting the numerators, without making sense of the fraction as a whole. But stepping back and judging whether a calculation is reasonable might be the most valuable mathematical skill a person can develop.

But don’t you also risk sending the message that mathematical precision isn’t important? 

I’m not saying precision isn’t important. What I’m suggesting is that we ask students to estimate before they calculate, so when they come up with a precise answer, they’ll have a real sense for whether it makes sense. This also helps students learn how to move between big-picture and focused thinking, which are two different but equally important modes of reasoning.

Some people ask me, “Isn’t ‘ishing’ just estimating?” It is, but when we ask students to estimate, they often groan, thinking it’s yet another mathematical method. But when we ask them to “ish” a number, they're more willing to offer their thinking.

Ishing helps students develop a sense for numbers and shapes. It can help soften the sharp edges in mathematics, making it easier for kids to jump in and engage. It can buffer students against the dangers of perfectionism, which we know can be a damaging mind-set. I think we all need a little more ish in our lives. 

You also argue that mathematics should be taught in more visual ways. What do you mean by that? 

For most people, mathematics is an almost entirely symbolic, numerical experience. Any visuals are usually sterile images in a textbook, showing bisecting angles, or circles divided into slices. But the way we function in life is by developing models of things in our minds. Take a stapler: Knowing what it looks like, what it feels and sounds like, how to interact with it, how it changes things — all of that contributes to our understanding of how it works. 

There’s an activity we do with middle-school students where we show them an image of a 4 x 4 x 4 cm cube made up of smaller 1 cm cubes, like a Rubik’s Cube. The larger cube is dipped into a can of blue paint, and we ask the students, if they could take apart the little cubes, how many sides would be painted blue? Sometimes we give the students sugar cubes and have them physically build a larger 4 x 4 x 4 cube. This is an activity that leads into algebraic thinking. 

Some years back we were interviewing students a year after they’d done that activity in our summer camp and asked what had stayed with them. One student said, ‘I’m in geometry class now, and I still remember that  sugar cube, what it looked like and felt like.’ His class had been asked to estimate the volume of their shoes, and he said he’d imagined his shoes filled with 1 cm sugar cubes in order to solve that question. He had built a mental model of a cube.

When we learn about cubes, most of us don’t get to see and manipulate them. When we learn about square roots, we don’t take squares and look at their diagonals. We just manipulate numbers.

I wonder if people consider the physical representations more appropriate for younger kids.

That’s the thing — elementary school teachers are amazing at giving kids those experiences, but it dies out in middle school, and by high school it’s all symbolic. There’s a myth that there’s a hierarchy of sophistication where you start out with visual and physical representations and then build up to the symbolic. But so much of high-level mathematical work now is visual. Here in Silicon Valley, if you look at Tesla engineers, they're drawing, they're sketching, they're building models, and nobody says that's elementary mathematics.

Click to enlarge: A depiction of various ways to calculate 38 x 5, numerically and visually. (Image: Courtesy of Jo Boaler)

There’s an example in the book where you’ve asked students how they would calculate 38 x 5 in their heads, and they come up with several different ways of arriving at the same answer. The creativity is fascinating, but wouldn’t it be easier to teach students one standard method?

That narrow, rigid version of mathematics where there’s only one right approach is what most students experience, and it’s a big part of why people have such math trauma. It keeps them from realizing the full range and power of mathematics. When you only have students blindly memorizing math facts, they’re not developing number sense. They don’t learn how to use numbers flexibly in different situations. It also makes students who think differently believe there’s something wrong with them. 

When we open mathematics to acknowledge the different ways a concept or problem can be viewed, we also open the subject to many more students. Mathematical diversity, to me, is a concept that includes both the value of diversity in people and the diverse ways we can see and learn mathematics. When we bring those forms of diversity together, it’s powerful. If we want to value different ways of thinking and problem-solving in the world, we need to embrace mathematical diversity.

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Guest Essay

I Don’t Write Like Alice Munro, but I Want to Live Like Her

By Sheila Heti

Ms. Heti is the author of the novels “Pure Colour,” “How Should a Person Be?” and, most recently, “Alphabetical Diaries.”

It is common to say “I was heartbroken to hear” that so-and-so died, but I really do feel heartbroken having learned about Alice Munro, who died on Monday.

As a writer, she modeled, in her life and art, that one must work with emotional sincerity and precision and concentration and depth — not on every kind of writing but on only one kind, the kind closest to one’s heart.

She has long been a North Star for many writers and was someone I have always felt guided by. We are very different writers, but I have kept her in mind, daily and for decades, as an example to follow (but failed to follow to the extent that she demonstrated it): that a fiction writer isn’t someone for hire.

A fiction writer isn’t someone who can write anything — movies, articles, obits! She isn’t a person in service to the magazines, to the newspapers, to the publishers or even to her audience. She doesn’t have to speak on the political issues of the day or on matters of importance to the culture right now but ought first and most to attend seriously to her task, which is her only task, writing the particular thing she was most suited to write.

Ms. Munro only ever wrote short stories — not novels, though she must have been pressured to. She died in a small town not too far from where she was born, choosing to remain close to the sort of people she grew up with, whom she remained ever curious about. Depth is wherever one stands, she showed us, convincingly.

Fiction writers are people, supposedly, who have things to say; they must, because they are so good with words. So people are always asking them: Can you say something about this or about this? But the art of hearing the voice of a fictional person or sensing a fictional world or working for years on some unfathomable creation is, in fact, the opposite of saying something with the opinionated and knowledgeable part of one’s mind. It is rather the humble craft of putting your opinions and ego aside and letting something be said through you.

Ms. Munro held to this division and never let the vanity that can come with being good with words persuade her to put her words just everywhere, in every possible way. Here was the best example in the world — in Canada, my own land — of someone who seemed to abide by classical artistic values in her choices as a person and in her choices on the page. I felt quietly reassured knowing that a hundred kilometers down the road was Alice Munro.

She was also an example of how a writer should be in public: modest, unpretentious, funny, generous and kind. I learned the lesson of generosity from her early. When I was 20 and was just starting to publish short stories, I sent her a fan letter. I don’t remember what my letter said. After a few months, I received a handwritten thank-you note from her in the mail. The fact that she replied at all and did so with such care taught me a lot about grace and consideration and has remained as a warmth within me since that day.

She will always remain for me, and for many others, a model of that grave yet joyous dedication to art — a dedication that inevitably informs the most important choices the artist makes about how to support that life. Probably Ms. Munro would laugh at this; no one knows the compromises another makes, especially when that person is as private as she was and transforms her trials into fiction. Yet whatever the truth of her daily existence, she still shines as a symbol of artistic purity and care.

I am grateful for all she gave to the world and for all the sacrifices she must have made to give it. I’m sorry to be here defying her example, but she was just too loved, and these words just came. Thank you, Alice Munro.

Sheila Heti is the author of the novels “Pure Colour,” “How Should a Person Be?” and, most recently, “Alphabetical Diaries.”

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