As far as I
can remember my mother repeatedly told her daughters they should never leave
the house without looking their best best. For Mom, looking your best meant
fashionable clothes and shoes, stylish hair-do, and of course make-up and
jewelry.
After being
hospitalized so many times I lost count, Mom moved to an assisted living
facility. She used a wheelchair to move around, had to raise her legs most of
the day, often inserted an oxygen tube in her nose to breathe better…and
swallowed so many pills my stomach hurt for her.
Looking your Best. My mother practiced what she preached.
Although in her late eighties with a failing health, she was always perfectly
well dressed in pantsuits and twin sweaters, and would never forget to wear her
earrings, bracelets, necklace or rings. Although she was a teacher, my mother’s
hobby had been fashion designing and sewing her clothes and her daughter’s
clothes.
Before moving
to assisted living, she gave us her precious jewelry, and bought fashion
jewelry to replace the real ones. My mother professed that being nicely
dressed, combed and jeweled helped her forget she was a very sick person.
There was a
beauty salon in her assisted living residence. So Mom had her hair set and her
nails done once a week. Salesmen from a couple of stores came twice a month to
expose and sell clothes in her facility. My mother was their best client. The
other residents complimented her and tried to follow her example. The assisted
living staff admired her positive attitude.
Mom would
beam when one of the male residents in a wheelchair paid her a compliment and
added with a smile, “I wish I was ten years younger to take you out.” Who cared
if she was close to ninety herself?
If I neglected
to wear makeup when I went to visit her, Mom asked me if I was sick. “You’re so
pale.” When I confessed I forgot because I was too busy, I regularly received a
lecture. Basically, it went as followed: You don’t have the right to neglect yourself
when you’re healthy. You should realize that an agreeable face and a nice smile
go a long way to cheer people who are confined to their living quarters; a
presentable person projects a good impression and commends respect.
Mom is gone
now, but her words still resonate in my ears.
Needless to
say, I’m always aware of what people wear around me. Including my characters. While
authors describe their hero and heroine’s eyes, hair, figure, I make a point to
mention their clothing as well to better characterize them and situate them in a
scene.
In
AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS, my heroine, Dr. Jillian Burton is a physician on a
mission to Belarus. You will find her dressed in dark suits that match her important
profession. When she’s attracted to Dr. Fyodor Vassilov, she will let Tatiana,
her sassy driver, talk her into buying more stylish, colorful outfits and of
course a Russian mink chapka (hat) to
warm her during the freezing Belarusian winter.
In BABIES IN
THE BARGAIN, my first medical, Holly, the pretty resident lives in scrubs but
wears a tight long black dress, slit up to her thigh, when the hero invites her
to the opera. The dress is a killer and the hero can’t resist.
In NEIGHBORS
AND MORE, the heroine Alexa is a divorcee, living in a condo on the beach. She
changes clothes four or five times a day. It’s part of her character. The only
time she’s not appropriately dressed for the occasion is so out of character,
people around her realize something is really wrong. When she falls in love
with the sexy Italian Mafioso, she sheds her stiff classy appearance and learns
to relax in comfortable jeans.
And of course
in WEDDING SURPRISE, my contribution to the TEN BRIDES FOR TEN HEROES, I paid
particular attention to Claire’s rehearsal outfit and splendid wedding dress.
Are you a fashionista when it comes to your characters? How do you dress them? Do they look like the picture on your cover? Or do you avoid mentioning what they wear?
From chemistry in the lab to chemistry between people.
Mona Risk left a scientific career to share with readers the many stories brewing in her head. Her books won Best Romance Novel of the Year at Preditors & Editors; Best Contemporary Romances at Readers Favorite; Epic Award Finalists; and many stellar reviews, and are Amazon Bestsellers. She received the 2013 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine for her "Wonderfully written books about true love." ~ Happy Ever After Reviews
