The description of the characters’ appearance in a piece of fiction helps to reveal their inner world, personalities, points of view and values, which is important for the interpretation of the author’s work.The proposed investigation clarifies the state of research concerning elements of human appearance in Ukrainian linguistics; the contents and structure of «human appearance» concept are determined; the variety of means for verbal representation of the analysed concept to describe the characters in Yu. Vynnychuk’s novel «Tango smerti (Tango of death)» is studied; some specific issues in the process of depicting human appearance are identified as they are characteristic features of the writer’s idiostyle.The concept structure includes such subconcepts as «head», «body», «limbs», «physique / figure» and «clothes», which also comprise microconcepts, segments and elements.The portrait in Yu. Vynnychuk’s works is stated not to be just a kind of describing but one of the leading means for developing character and depicting the social status of the heroes. The author uses extensive descriptions, and it does not depend on the person being described, as they are employed for portraying both the main character and a passer-by. Among the writer’s linguistic means there are epithets, metaphors, comparisons, synonymic chains, diminutive suffixes and lexemes with derogatory or complementary connotation.The author’s attitude is revealed by the peculiarities of depicting different elements; i. e. pragmatics of the text is clearly presented. This is especially noticeable in the imaginary division of the characters into opposition camps of supporters and strangers. The first group includes various strata of Lviv residents in the 1920s and 1940s such as Professor Yarosh and his friends while another group embraces everybody who violated somehow the peaceful coexistence of the people in the city (the Bolsheviks, their wives, People’s Commissars for Internal Affairs, who later turned into security guards, etc.)In general, the author of the novel can be called a master of describing human appearance.