Throughout the novel, clothing and dress are motifs that signify the emotions and experiences of the characters. Bridal gowns represent the possibility of a happy ending for the bride, and they are also the physical representation of magic. Similarly, Soline’s wedding gown travels with her from Paris to America and serves as a touchstone for her to remember Anson by; it materially represents the hopes and dreams of the life that she had planned with Anson after the war. As such, it brings her both happy memories and immense grief and reminds her of the life that she could have had. Soline wears gloves out in public to cover her burns, but the scars underneath and the constant need to wear gloves around others are reminders of her tragic life.

Rory, Owen, and Camilla are all characterized by their clothing and style evolution throughout the novel. Rory has been content to wear shapeless clothes that do not speak to her personal style, while clothes Camilla bought her sit in her closet, unworn and with tags on. When she starts to see her gallery dream come to fruition, it brings with it an opportunity to recreate her style and choose a hairstyle and clothing that better suit her.