And today's prompt is ...

 I'm not officially taking part in the romantic fiction month, except for liking and sharing posts and reels from lots of friends -and there are some really fun and informative ones out there, I hope you have found and enjoyed a few - but I couldn't resist today's prompt, which was 'What would your characters wear?'

As a well known clothes horse, this is right in my wardrobe, so to speak. Clothes are my thing. And they are also an important element in my writing. A short hand for character and a fast way of setting a scene, introducing a personality, and generally having a bit of fun. Dress your hero in a  black leather jacket- and you know there is going to a bit of the bad boy in there. A brown one is a whole different story - upmarket and well dressed. A heroine taking time over her appearance, whether it is for a business meeting or a date, and you know it is important to her. Clothes are fast clues - dowdy, over revealing, age inappropriate tell you so much about a supporting character without having to go into a lot of detail. 

The IDEA, currently brewing, has a number of places where clothes are part of the story. Art is involved, so there is an element of costume. I have a feeling that Tarot cards will be involved too, so clothing that echoes elements of the card deck may well make an appearance. I've just made the acquaintance of a woman who I know is going to be a minor villain - very expensive and rigid in her tastes. The hero has quite a significant life change after the first third of the book, and the change in the way he dresses is a big part of it. And, of course, I am aiming to incorporate an element of Dark Academia - although I have to say that the moment it is heading closer to Raiders of the Lost Ark!

But Dark Academia has it's own dress code - tweed and wool, dark muted autumn colours, vintage pieces and  classic and tailored styles, leather shoes and accessories, heavy knitwear, blazers and trench coats - everything that says scholarly and traditional. I'm looking forward to enjoying myself  with that.