How Would You Describe These Dresses?

Horserider · Dec 11, 2008

My MC needs to choose a dress to wear. I love all three of these dresses, but I'm having a little difficulty describing them. I don't know a lot about dresses.

http://www.simplydresses.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?filename=/PD//FL/FL11.11.08/P4309.jpg

http://www.simplydresses.com/popups...me=/PD//FL/FL12.28.07/P1203Aub_Front-copy.jpg

This one is my favorite and is the dress the character ends up wearing:
http://www.simplydresses.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?filename=/PD//Joli/JP.10.17.08/9020.jpg

vixey · Dec 11, 2008

Judging from your pics, I'd call it a strapless evening gown.

Horserider · Dec 11, 2008

LOL strangely enough I did figure that one out. I was hoping to be a little more descriptive. You know so readers can picture it in their minds.

Stunted · Dec 11, 2008

To be honest, I think it's annoying when people describe dresses. But the first one could be "Canary yellow satin crusted with beads." Or "Yellow with a spine of beads up the front and more beads spilling along the...top edge?" I don't know.

Shady Lane · Dec 11, 2008

It all depends on what voice you're using to describe them. Who the narrator is. How the narrator speaks. how much the narrator cares about these dresses. if s/he likes them. Those are answers you know.

vixey · Dec 11, 2008

I agree with Stunted. Convey what's significant about the dresses to your reader. I assume you reader knows your character is at a formal function. These dresses are what one expects to see at that type of function. Does your character have a small chest and must constantly pull up the stop because it has no straps? Or does she have combat boots on underneath the dress...that would be worth mentioning, IMHO.

Deni · Dec 11, 2008

I like the second gown the best, and I'd call it "a plum number with a sweat-heart neckline, and folds at the bottom like a pile of whip-cream sprinkled with rhinestones."

I use food analogies a lot.

C.bronco · Dec 11, 2008

Strapless, fitted through the waist and hips, and flares at the bottom.

LaurieD · Dec 11, 2008

Horserider said:
My MC needs to choose a dress to wear. I love all three of these dresses, but I'm having a little difficulty describing them. I don't know a lot about dresses.

http://www.simplydresses.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?filename=/PD//FL/FL11.11.08/P4309.jpg

http://www.simplydresses.com/popups...me=/PD//FL/FL12.28.07/P1203Aub_Front-copy.jpg

This one is my favorite and is the dress the character ends up wearing:
http://www.simplydresses.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?filename=/PD//Joli/JP.10.17.08/9020.jpg

1. The butter yellow strapless gown had a sweetheart bodice encrusted with glitter and rhinestones. However, the way it was gathered along the sides, into the front, made her feel like she had to stoop forward to keep from popping out of the top.

2. The plum dress was also a strapless gown, with ruffles along the top of the bodice and a big bow under her left breast. The skirt of the dress was scattered with tiny rhinestones and was runched from the floor to mid thigh.

3. Glistening raspberry with rhinestones scattered across the bodice and hips, with a waist gathered to her right hip and a layered looking crossover skirt.

My completely inexpert opinion.

Danni · Dec 11, 2008

LaurieD said:
1. The butter yellow strapless gown had a sweetheart bodice encrusted with glitter and rhinestones. However, the way it was gathered along the sides, into the front, made her feel like she had to stoop forward to keep from popping out of the top.

2. The plum dress was also a strapless gown, with ruffles along the top of the bodice and a big bow under her left breast. The skirt of the dress was scattered with tiny rhinestones and was runched from the floor to mid thigh.

3. Glistening raspberry with rhinestones scattered across the bodice and hips, with a waist gathered to her right hip and a layered looking crossover skirt.

My completely inexpert opinion.

Dude, make this lady the dress expert!!!!

Tika · Dec 11, 2008

Here are some descriptive words/phrases that you might like.

Elegant, shimmering, formal, strapless, floor length gown made her feel like a princess at a ball,
gathered to hug every curve iof her hips and tiny waist (if you go with the yellow)
and of course use the other's comments about the rhinestones.

I LOVE the yellow and plum dresses better than the cranberry!!

Tika

Danthia · Dec 12, 2008

Perhaps consider what about these dresses your protag likes, and the reasons she chooses them. That way, the details become more than just throw away description, they matter because they are a means to an end for your girl. Like she chooses the strapless gown because she wants to catch the eye of a boy she likes and exposed flesh makes boys drool or something. However your girl would talk and think.

How Would You Describe These Dresses?

Horserider

Ever onward

vixey

C'est la vie!

Horserider

Ever onward

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

vixey

C'est la vie!

Deni

C.bronco

I have plans...

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

Danni

Shoehorn.

Tika

Old kid, be gentle!

Danthia