Esther: An African-American seamstress in New York City, Esther sews intimate apparel for ladies of all levels of society. She is thirty-five and single, but she desires to marry and has saved for eighteen years to open a beauty shop for African-American women.
Mrs. Dickson: A widowed African-American woman, Mrs. Dickson owns the boarding house where Esther lives.
Mrs. Van Buren: A wealthy, white American woman in her thirties, Mrs. Van Buren orders fancy corsets from Esther. She has also become her friend.
Mr. Marks: A Romanian Jewish fabric seller in his thirties, Mrs. Marks is friends with Esther.
Mayme: An African-American prostitute in her thirties, Mayme, through her lingerie orders, has become good friends with Esther.
George: A Barbadian man in his thirties, George initiates a correspondence with Esther while he is working to build the Panama Canal. He eventually comes to New York City and marries Esther.
