The place of fashion when it comes to characters in Historical fiction
Fashion can play a profound role in shaping your characters and bringing them to life in your books. Clothing and style are not just about appearances—they can reveal your characters' personalities, socio-economic backgrounds, cultural influences, and even their emotional states. Here's how you might use fashion to enhance your storytelling:
Character Development: How your characters dress can reflect their traits. For example, a meticulous dresser might suggest an orderly personality, whereas someone who wears mismatched clothes might reveal a carefree attitude. Something very strait laced and formal could be Victorian clothes as per below.
Symbolism: Fashion can be symbolic. A tattered coat might represent poverty or hardship, while a tailored suit could symbolize success or ambition.
Setting & Time Period: Fashion helps establish the era and location of your story. A character in 1920s flapper dresses immediately transports the reader to the Jazz Age.
Plot Drivers: Clothing can drive the plot forward. Think of disguises, uniforms, or the significance of a lost or stolen item of clothing.
Culture & Identity: The way a character dresses can express their cultural heritage or their struggle with identity—for example, a character who adopts a hybrid style to reflect living between two cultures.
Incorporating thoughtful descriptions of fashion can deepen your narrative and make your characters memorable. That sense of urgency and resilience through tough times – the second world war is depicted in the fashion below.
Step into the world of grace, resilience, and style with A Nurse's Tale. Dive into a story where women not only heal hearts but also wear their courage and elegance with pride. From intricate tales of love and strength to stunning portrayals of fashion that transcend time, this book is a journey into the lives of extraordinary women. Let A Nurse's Tale captivate you—where history meets humanity, and where every detail, down to the attire, tells a story.
Available on Amazon, Afrori Books: A platform that celebrates diverse voices and stories and bookshop.org. and Barnes & Noble.
click here to get a copy A Nurse's Tale
Ola Awonubi is a British-Nigerian author known for her compelling historical fiction, contemporary romance, and poetry. Her writing is deeply influenced by her Nigerian heritage and her experiences growing up in both England and Nigeria. One of her notable historical novels, A Nurse’s Tale, is inspired by the true story of Princess Adenrele Ademola, a Nigerian royal who trained as a nurse in London during World War II and faced both the devastation of the Blitz and societal prejudice. Awonubi’s work often explores themes of displacement, colonial history, and cultural identity, bringing hidden voices and untold stories to life2. She continues to write historical fiction alongside her romance novels, with her next book set for release in summer 2025