Read the excerpt below and answer the question.
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered
my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley.
He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. I
was so pleased to see him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
What is the purpose of the author's description of Fortunato's clothing?