Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Image Descriptions for fashion content (self.Blind)
submitted by OldHagFashion
TL;DR: For those interested in fashion as a hobby, when putting together image descriptions of fashion centered content, what level of detail is preferred? What information would best enable you to engage deeply with the content? What information is not really all that helpful for you? Do any of you have examples of fashion content that had excellent image descriptions?
Hello, I'm a sighted person who moderates a fashion sub-reddit. One of my goals is to make it diverse and inclusive and of course that means creating an image description policy. However, I'm having trouble finding guidance on how best to create image descriptions for fashion centered content. I've found a few blogs or websites talk about it, but they seem unsatisfying. The description examples I've seen seem to be patronizingly simple and more about posturing as accessible without providing enough detail to actually enable blind/VI users to engage. For instance, describing an image as "a smiling model sits at a table wearing a red dress" doesn't actually tell us anything about the outfit--what's the cut of the dress? the neck line? sleeves or no sleeves? What's the material? Are there any embellishments? What about shoes, jewelry, hand bag? So many of these details are important for real engagement with fashion content.
There is also the descriptions of models themselves that I haven't found satisfying guidance on. Engagement with fashion often means engaging with the body-politics of the fashion world and so image descriptions that do not include reference to skin color; hair texture, color, and style; and body size and shape seem to me to neglect an important facet of engagement with fashion. For instance blind plus-size pear-shaped folks looking for a fashion twin are going to be SOL if there is no description of the model outside of binary gender description.
So my question is multi-fold: if you are someone interested in fashion-centered content, what level of detail is preferred to best enable you to engage? What details about an outfit do you think are most important to describe vs those that are really not all that important? Is there anyone that you know who has really excellent image descriptions of fashion related content that you would like to see others emulate?
Hello, I'm a sighted person who moderates a fashion sub-reddit. One of my goals is to make it diverse and inclusive and of course that means creating an image description policy. However, I'm having trouble finding guidance on how best to create image descriptions for fashion centered content. I've found a few blogs or websites talk about it, but they seem unsatisfying. The description examples I've seen seem to be patronizingly simple and more about posturing as accessible without providing enough detail to actually enable blind/VI users to engage. For instance, describing an image as "a smiling model sits at a table wearing a red dress" doesn't actually tell us anything about the outfit--what's the cut of the dress? the neck line? sleeves or no sleeves? What's the material? Are there any embellishments? What about shoes, jewelry, hand bag? So many of these details are important for real engagement with fashion content.
There is also the descriptions of models themselves that I haven't found satisfying guidance on. Engagement with fashion often means engaging with the body-politics of the fashion world and so image descriptions that do not include reference to skin color; hair texture, color, and style; and body size and shape seem to me to neglect an important facet of engagement with fashion. For instance blind plus-size pear-shaped folks looking for a fashion twin are going to be SOL if there is no description of the model outside of binary gender description.
So my question is multi-fold: if you are someone interested in fashion-centered content, what level of detail is preferred to best enable you to engage? What details about an outfit do you think are most important to describe vs those that are really not all that important? Is there anyone that you know who has really excellent image descriptions of fashion related content that you would like to see others emulate?
WorldlyLingonberry40 1 points 1y ago
Hi, as a blind person I try to dress well. However, I feel fustration because I cannot identify with models demonstrating how clothes looks like, for someone of my complection and body type.
I'm a guy.
I'm a guy.
Remy_C 1 points 1y ago
This would actually be super helpful. I'm a writer, and even with limited vision, writing about clothing has always been very undrwhelming. Having some vivid descriptions of clothing, including color (or colors), cut, style, fabrick and other details would be really awesome.
jimmyTheBlind 1 points 1y ago
For me, when I am shopping for clothes etc there are a few things I want to have described. Your example description is a great first step. Then go into further detail. Expanding on your example, something like:
"The model is slim and athletically built, with a mediterrainin complexion, she has her long dark hair pulled away from her face. The dress is a warm scarlet in a breezy fabric that drapes loosely flowing down to mid calf. She is wearing black flats with an embroidered detail across the toe of the shoe."
It gets difficult and it depends on how much time/effort the writer is willing to give the description. Ideally, one would paint a picture with words to convey the composition and the mood of the picture. Luck
"The model is slim and athletically built, with a mediterrainin complexion, she has her long dark hair pulled away from her face. The dress is a warm scarlet in a breezy fabric that drapes loosely flowing down to mid calf. She is wearing black flats with an embroidered detail across the toe of the shoe."
It gets difficult and it depends on how much time/effort the writer is willing to give the description. Ideally, one would paint a picture with words to convey the composition and the mood of the picture. Luck
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