Thankfully I decided to do a retrospective on clothing, because the first character I had to think about dressing in Naked Hero and how she looked was Chantal Duboir, and so far I have barely mentioned the Ladies champion in this blog.
Chantal is the voice of sanity in Lewis's tennis world - a lady full of self doubts who has battled to overcome them, but will be forever plagued by her inner demons. She is a fragile rock who is able to give support but needs the same in return. As an open lesbian who travels with her partner, Marie Clement, her connection with Lewis Macleod is easy to understand. Their relationship is a strong one, but in many ways quite superficial. It is Marie who is the key person in the book.
But what does Chantal look like and what sort of clothes does she wear? Well, for most of the time she is in tennis gear, but I never describe this. Away from the court I don't think she would be decked in over-lavish outfits - simplicity is her style. But when need be she has the ability to make an impression. Here's how I first describe her at that opening scene party in Sydney: an Amazonian Lady in Red...
He took in the full splendour of the two women as he approached them. Not classical beauties, but each had a presence which drew the eye and demanded its admiration. Chantal Duboir was the taller of the two by at least five inches, Amazonian in appearance, dusky skinned and athletically built. Her broad shoulders were proudly displayed by a strapless red dress she was wearing – a daring little number which clung to her body as far as her knees, showing off her figure to devastating effect. She wore no jewels and very little make up. The only adornment was her thick mane of auburn hair which fell luxuriously halfway down her bare back.
Chantal is the voice of sanity in Lewis's tennis world - a lady full of self doubts who has battled to overcome them, but will be forever plagued by her inner demons. She is a fragile rock who is able to give support but needs the same in return. As an open lesbian who travels with her partner, Marie Clement, her connection with Lewis Macleod is easy to understand. Their relationship is a strong one, but in many ways quite superficial. It is Marie who is the key person in the book.
But what does Chantal look like and what sort of clothes does she wear? Well, for most of the time she is in tennis gear, but I never describe this. Away from the court I don't think she would be decked in over-lavish outfits - simplicity is her style. But when need be she has the ability to make an impression. Here's how I first describe her at that opening scene party in Sydney: an Amazonian Lady in Red...
He took in the full splendour of the two women as he approached them. Not classical beauties, but each had a presence which drew the eye and demanded its admiration. Chantal Duboir was the taller of the two by at least five inches, Amazonian in appearance, dusky skinned and athletically built. Her broad shoulders were proudly displayed by a strapless red dress she was wearing – a daring little number which clung to her body as far as her knees, showing off her figure to devastating effect. She wore no jewels and very little make up. The only adornment was her thick mane of auburn hair which fell luxuriously halfway down her bare back.