Of matters sartorial

4/5/2014

No need to get dressed, no need to leave your bed

We’ve had some interesting chat about appearance on this blog recently: how much, as readers, do we want to know what characters look like and, as writers, whether it’s okay to allow our characters to check their appearance in the mirror.

This week, I’m continuing the theme from a different angle over on the Black Fox Literary Magazine blog. Do pop across and share your views on whether the clothes we wear to tap at our keyboards can impact on the fiction we produce.

Staying with matters sartorial, who can say they’ve never felt anxious about choosing the outfit for an important event? As I explore in my short story, A Dress for the Address, even prize-winning physicists aren’t immune.

8 Comments

Norah Colvin link

5/5/2014 05:49:53 am

Hi Anne, I always learn something new when I read your posts. I think I have a reasonable vocabulary but I also realise how limited it may have become as a result of my many years as a year one teacher. I needed to investigate the meaning of the word 'sartorial'! When I discovered the meaning it reminded me of a picture book (you know everything does) called "Animals should definitely not wear clothing" by Judi Barrett. I read your post on Black Fox and left a comment there; but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed your story "A Dress for the Address". Dressing for an occasion is such a difficulty and I identified with so much of Sue's thought processes (not the part about accepting an award though). Maybe I shouldn't admit that publicly! By the time I was getting to the end I thought it was going to another "Emperor's New Clothes' situation but indeed Vanessa did come through in the end. Shows clearly that we all have different talents which are all important in their own way. Thanks for sharing.

Annecdotist

5/5/2014 10:04:34 am

TY, Norah, for reading and commenting. Glad I could teach you a new word! As we should be saying on Charli's blog, there's an element of serendipity in what we learn.
Thanks for your feedback on this story, but did you think Sue wasn't excited about getting the award?
Love how you think in picture books!

Charli Mills link

5/5/2014 03:40:50 pm

There are three legs to literature--writing, reading and discoursing. I enjoy all three, although sometimes we neglect discourse. As Norah points out, we get to broaden both vocabularies and minds. At first I read your title, omitting the "r" thinking this was satire! Ah, now I've learned that with the "r" sartorial relates to dress.

Annecdotist

6/5/2014 05:36:59 am

LOL, Charli, no, the satire is over on Lisa's blog right now http://sharingthestoryblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/sharing-a-laugh-world-laughter-day/

Safia link

8/5/2014 12:30:07 am

LOL - when I was younger, my friends and I used to love playing around with euphemisms (yeah, we were the geeks) and one of our favourites was, 'He/she is not famed for sartorial elegance'. When referring to my mum's cooking, 'The kitchen is not her favourite room' etc, etc... I've done some of my best writing in pjs, but can't get away with sitting in bed like you, Anne (love that pic). I couldn't stand a laptop on top of a duvet, but maybe that's more to do with the climate here in the UAE than anything else!

Annecdotist

8/5/2014 03:23:38 am

Hurrah for geeks!
Glad you like the photo – I don't look like I'm getting much work done and must confess it was posed (hence the unsubtle grin) as I much prefer working at my desk as I have a lot of problems with posture.
No, you wouldn't want the extra heat of a laptop on your lap where you are. Incidentally, when I stayed with a family in Cairo many moons ago they tended to change into pyjamas in the early evening on getting home from work. Is that the tradition where you are? I suppose it's like me changing into a comfy fleece and sweatpants (oh the joy of an elasticated waistband)

Safia link

11/5/2014 10:27:51 am

:-) I hope you appreciated 'when in Rome' and joined them. I think that habit is pretty common in Egypt because they are kings of pyjama making - all that lovely cotton! Having said that, your comment highlights the fact that in Arabic culture, there is quite a gap between what is acceptable attire for the public domain and how people relax at home (that's also true in non-Arab countries in Asia and Africa too). Here in the UAE, women tend to wear a colourful, loose 'thobe' at home - no elastic or fastenings anywhere, just throw it over your head and it's very cool. My mum bought several, finding them very comfortable, and wore them at home in Ireland. But she got sick of friends who called in the afternoon asking, 'are you still in your nightie?' so I think she put them away. I must say, when you live in a hot climate, there is an urge to get changed as soon as you reach home and anything pyjama-like is the most comfortable.

Annecdotist

12/5/2014 04:27:13 am

Your thobe sounds rather like a galabeyah – except that in Egypt people also wore them outdoors. I still have mine – which has its part to play in my novel Sugar and Snails – although must confess I've never worn it for writing

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