Honestly, the most effective stuff I've seen leans on physicality and consequence rather than just adjectives. They'll talk about the texture against a palm—not just 'feathery' but the specific give of the primary shafts, the downy softness at the base that's still strangely resilient. The sound of them unfolding isn't a generic whoosh; it's the dry rustle of parchment, the crackle of static, or a low, resonant hum that vibrates in your teeth. That physical feedback makes it real.
For angel wings, it's often about light playing on surfaces—iridescent oilslick sheens on raven feathers, or a pearlescent glow that seems to come from within the bone. Demon wings get the opposite treatment: the leather feels dry and warm like sun-baked stone, maybe with a faint, mineral scent. They'll describe the strain in the shoulder blades when folded tight for too long, the ache after a long flight. It’ s less about looking majestic and more about having a body that happens to have these massive, functional appendages.