Today’s topic from the Marketing for Romance Writers blog hop: Dressing up–chore or pleasure?

For me, this is one of those instances where I forgot/neglect to do something that brings me great joy. I love to get all dressed up and sashay around town, showing off my fine feathers. I love dressy occasions–concerts, parties, fancy restaurants and such–where I can enjoy the fashion parade. I love to feel the swish of my skirts, to catch a glimpse of my reflection and know that, for a plump, middle-aged lady, I’m looking pretty fine.

So–what do I usually wear? Jeans or yoga pants and a T-shirt. Since I work at home, I seldom bother to express my personality through clothing. However, I do enjoy dressing up my characters. Critique partners have pointed out how much ink I devote to describing wardrobe. One of my favorite scenes in Through the Red Door involved the protagonist choosing an outfit for her first date since her husband’s death. She dithered and fussed, searching for the perfect outfit to signal allure, but not too much, casual confidence, elegance… It’s hard to communicate your mood through clothing when you’re seething with mixed feelings.

Runaway Love Story features Maxie, a 90-year-old artist who dies her baby-fine hair neon red and bedazzles her cane. I had so much fun writing her wacky, artistic outfits. Her creativity and humor shine through in her fashion choices. Come to think of it, all my female characters cultivate their own unique style, and dress to express themselves.

This topic is a reminder of how satisfying it is to make my exterior match my interior. I know I’m an interesting, artistic woman with eclectic interests. I really should put more effort into letting my inner sparkle shine on the outside. Though I hate the mall and all it stands for, I do enjoy browsing through vintage and consignment shops. Resolved: pay more attention to my fashion-savvy characters. I’d want them to be proud of me.

What about you? Do you enjoy dressing up? Join the conversation here: