How to LOOK like a writer? v. Fashion and style thread

James81 · Jan 29, 2009

Ok, so it seems like various artists and such have a certain style to them. You have the rockstars and their look, doing their thing. You have actors/actresses and their looks and style. And you have painters (the true blue, resident artists) and they all have a style about them.

So what styles/fashions/clothes/hair make up your typical writer?

Am I, as a writer, doomed to front the writer's image by wearing turtle necks and sweaters? Weigh in on what you imagine the writer/author looks and dresses like.

Greenify13 · Jan 29, 2009

Damn, I hope you are wrong, but at the same time I do see the trends you mention. However, there is the difference of what the authors genres are. And I peronsally don't think there is such a thing as a "typical writer". (No offence meant, just my opinion.)

underthecity · Jan 29, 2009

Lots of corduroy. Brown corduroy an author makes.

James81 · Jan 29, 2009

underthecity said:
Lots of corduroy. Brown corduroy an author makes.

Damn. I knew it.

Pagey's_Girl · Jan 29, 2009

Can I be an author who dresses like a rock star? Or is that gauche?

JLCwrites · Jan 29, 2009

Ok... here is my best fashion guess for the following genres. (Disclaimer... if you are offended, contact QuickWit via PM.)

Poet - Black shirt, black pants, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of absinthe in another.
SciFi/ Graphic novels - A T-shirt displaying l33t speak, jeans and Converse sneakers. (Expect Star Wars quotes to flood your ears.)
Fantasy - Matching clothes are optional. Long hair and stone amulets hanging from their necks are a must for women... maybe men too!
Western - take a wild guess
Script writers - (Im sorry... script writers scare me.. I usually avert my eyes and hope they don't pick on me.)
Literary - (See Poet)
Horror - Usually naked and covered in fur. (See Haggis)
Children - Imagine your kindergarten teacher.... yep... that's right.
Romance - flowing skirts and blousy tops... Guys will be missing their 'man card'.
Erotica - Clothes?
Non Fiction - Blue shirt and khakis with a sports jacket.
Teen - Tries to look different... just like everyone else.
Humor - (see Script writers)

Bubastes · Jan 29, 2009

Oh dear, I dress like a literary/poet type, minus the cigarette (but with the absinthe).

Atani · Jan 29, 2009

Maybe that's my problem... I don't dress like a proper fantasy writer. So that's why I'm not capturing the attention of agents/publishers!

Better go get some f*****g amulets then

James81 · Jan 29, 2009

Yeah, it sucks not having amulets.

Greenify13 · Jan 29, 2009

Oh great, so I have to wear all black, I have the cigarette part down...and I need to get an amulet?
Fun Times

JamieFord · Jan 29, 2009

Here's Charles Bukowski making an anti-fashion statement. The barfly-poet look, it's the new black.

Pagey's_Girl · Jan 29, 2009

TurkeyLurkey said:
Ok... here is my best fashion guess for the following genres. (Disclaimer... if you are offended, contact QuickWit via PM.)

Poet - Black shirt, black pants, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of absinthe in another.
SciFi/ Graphic novels - A T-shirt displaying l33t speak, jeans and Converse sneakers. (Expect Star Wars quotes to flood your ears.)
Fantasy - Matching clothes are optional. Long hair and stone amulets hanging from their necks are a must for women... maybe men too!
Western - take a wild guess
Script writers - (Im sorry... script writers scare me.. I usually avert my eyes and hope they don't pick on me.)
Literary - (See Poet)
Horror - Usually naked and covered in fur. (See Haggis)
Children - Imagine your kindergarten teacher.... yep... that's right.
Romance - flowing skirts and blousy tops... Guys will be missing their 'man card'.
Erotica - Clothes?
Non Fiction - Blue shirt and khakis with a sports jacket.
Teen - Tries to look different... just like everyone else.
Humor - (see Script writers)

Uh-oh. I write horror, so...

You know, naked isn't exactly practical in this part of the country. Although if I stop plucking my eyebrows and shaving my legs, I might could get the "covered in fur" part down...

caromora · Jan 29, 2009

I don't know. I think the typical writer fashion/best way to look like a writer is--sweatpants, t-shirt with coffee stain (don't drink and type, people, don't drink and type), hair that hasn't seen a brush in days, and eyes bleary from staring at a computer screen/notebook for too long.

ETA:

TurkeyLurkey said:
Ok... here is my best fashion guess for the following genres. (Disclaimer... if you are offended, contact QuickWit via PM.)

Poet - Black shirt, black pants, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of absinthe in another.
SciFi/ Graphic novels - A T-shirt displaying l33t speak, jeans and Converse sneakers. (Expect Star Wars quotes to flood your ears.)
Fantasy - Matching clothes are optional. Long hair and stone amulets hanging from their necks are a must for women... maybe men too!
Western - take a wild guess
Script writers - (Im sorry... script writers scare me.. I usually avert my eyes and hope they don't pick on me.)
Literary - (See Poet)
Horror - Usually naked and covered in fur. (See Haggis)
Children - Imagine your kindergarten teacher.... yep... that's right.
Romance - flowing skirts and blousy tops... Guys will be missing their 'man card'.
Erotica - Clothes?
Non Fiction - Blue shirt and khakis with a sports jacket.
Teen - Tries to look different... just like everyone else.
Humor - (see Script writers)

What if you write a combination of those? A fantasy poet? A children's horror writer (the image of that will keep me from sleeping tonight)?

JLCwrites · Jan 29, 2009

caromora said:
I don't know. I think the typical writer fashion/best way to look like a writer is--sweatpants, t-shirt with coffee stain (don't drink and type, people, don't drink and type), hair that hasn't seen a brush in days, and eyes bleary from staring at a computer screen/notebook for too long.

That is perfect! (Except the don't drink and type part.)

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 29, 2009

James81 said:
Ok, so it seems like various artists and such have a certain style to them. You have the rockstars and their look, doing their thing. You have actors/actresses and their looks and style. And you have painters (the true blue, resident artists) and they all have a style about them.

I guess I've never noticed that these people have a look and style. To be honest, I couldn't tell you if someone is a rockstar, actor, or painter simply by how they are dressed.

As far as writers, I like to wear a Herringbone tweed jacket with patches on the elbows, jeans, a t-shirt, smoke a pipe, and wear old school black Converse All-Star basketball shoes.

James81 · Jan 29, 2009

caromora said:
I don't know. I think the typical writer fashion/best way to look like a writer is--sweatpants, t-shirt with coffee stain (don't drink and type, people, don't drink and type), hair that hasn't seen a brush in days, and eyes bleary from staring at a computer screen/notebook for too long.

ETA:

What if you write a combination of those? A fantasy poet? A children's horror writer (the image of that will keep me from sleeping tonight)?

Paint a black shirt and pants on your naked body and go teach kidnergarten.

Hey at least you're garaunteed one phone call.

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 29, 2009

Wait, we're supposed to wear clothes when we write?

NeuroFizz · Jan 29, 2009

Nike logo t-shirt
bright white,
print boxered
recliner legs up,
backdrop back
on upright,
laptop to namesake

words fly
close to the sun
even late
at night,
unwaxed and
unwaned

StevenJ · Jan 29, 2009

I usually wear a velvet cape and a cap with an overhanging peacock feather attached to it.

Me, off-duty.

James81 · Jan 29, 2009

NeuroFizz said:
Nike logo t-shirt
bright white,
print boxered
recliner legs up,
backdrop back
on upright,
laptop to namesake

words fly
close to the sun
even late
at night,
unwaxed and
unwaned

writerterri · Jan 29, 2009

I think Neurofizz nailed it.

Jeans and a T-shirt and perhaps a cap. Or was that directors?

Beach Bunny · Jan 29, 2009

Cigarettes. An interesting phenoma. Many creative people (actors, writers, artists, etc.) smoke. More than the rest of the population. I have no idea why that is. I don't think it is a fashion statement though. :Shrug:

Screenwriters wear the same thing that everyone else in Hollywood wears. Black. Black pants, black shirt, black ball cap, black shoes, etc. For creative people they certainly are boring when it comes to getting dressed. Wear a bit of color and you stand out like a neon sign on the Sunset Strip.

StevenJ · Jan 29, 2009

Beach Bunny said:
Screenwriters wear the same thing that everyone else in Hollywood wears. Black. Black pants, black shirt, black ball cap, black shoes, etc. For creative people they certainly are boring when it comes to getting dressed. Wear a bit of color and you stand out like a neon sign on the Sunset Strip.

I agree. Writers should act and dress like 'stars'. I'm tired of the public view of us as glorified stamp collectors or trainspotters! *swishes cape, whirls cigarette around his head several times*

William Haskins · Jan 29, 2009

How to LOOK like a writer?

by writing.

Maryn · Jan 29, 2009

Haskins, don't be a spoilsport--or this naked erotica writer (brr!) will pay you a visit. Now that's horror.

Maryn, better off dressed

How to LOOK like a writer? v. Fashion and style thread

Great Scott Member

Fair Maiden of War.

Finestkind

Great Scott Member

Still plays with dolls

bananaed

Great Scott Member

Fair Maiden of War.

giving resonant directions

Still plays with dolls

Still alive. Kind of.

Court Jester

Great Scott Member

Mata Hari

The grad students did it

Bored Fanatic

Great Scott Member

It's a dorky day!

The Provocative One

Bored Fanatic

poet

Baaa!