Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. 1. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. Stylish. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? Whether its a beekeeping suit, climbing helmet, knee pads, or sun-protective fabric, what your character wears provides a clue about whats at stake in the coming scene. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. Not to pile on, but dont forget to make sure you know which materials wereand werentavailable in the world of your novel. But for writers like me who get stuck in the white socks, green dress rut, heres a quick reminder: Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment. That works. For example, fur usually wasn't used as a piece of decoration for clothing and if used at all was often worn around the neck and shoulders or underneath other (often hide) clothing to keep warm. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Mention the familiar swooshing of the neighbors tracksuit as he runs by the house every morning or how the aunts jacket always smells like cold air and pine needles. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. Advertisements. Required fields are marked *. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. Press J to jump to the feed. Will using real-world cultural vocabulary in a fantasy setting Dont worry, thats not a trick question. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. Ill add it to my to do list . The jacket has a narrow, rectangular neckline which reveals part of the fancy shirt worn below it and is worn with a light rope belt, which is held together by a simple knot. Thus, "a dress" is inappropriate for a (male) prince, unless he is pretending to be a woman. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Love this topic!! If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. These are deep questions. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. Instead of saying, for example I saw that the station gate was coming down and the last train was about to leave, you could say The station gate is already screeching closed. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. And what does she put that cap on for? The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. How to Describe Clothes in English - ESL Advice I'll allow my fangirl side to shine for a second and use the Legend of Korra as an example of how mixing styles can work amazingly well. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. We have all sorts of headphone designs to reflect our clothing styles and just wearing or not wearing a headphone will completely change how a character is often perceived. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. There are some elements which are common among most works of fiction when it comes to clothing, with these elements in mind it becomes a lot easier to turn the clothing we wear today or wore throughout history into a futuristic or more fantasy oriented equivalent. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. Lets talk about how to use clothing description as a storytelling tool, how to dress your character for their personality and setting, and how to make clothes interesting to anyone. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. As far as guidelines go this is the first to be broken though, consider this one more of a starting point rather than something to necessarily end on. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. Well, mostly. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. Using this site means trees will be planted. Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. Your email address will not be published. Not to mention the social status of a person. Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? How to describe clothing: 6 simple tips Use clothing to show status and position Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions Describe clothing to contrast character personalities Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling Change clothing to highlight character development Use clothing details to create authentic setting - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Its a good time. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Consider this example from Hard Times. But it makes a good story. Creating new clothing styles for fictional worlds can be a daunting task, there's just so much out there already and so many elements to play around with to create a fun and unique style, no matter whether the art form is visual or not. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. - Use nudity. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. We'll also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by knights, potential designs, and ways to help you find inspiration for creating your own. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. When shes not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. Great idea. Not a Dabble user? How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. One does not refer to "a garb". That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. To illustrate this in a way we did with the futuristic shirt example let's take a standard medieval tunic and turn it into a fantasy-themed version. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? To make it futuristic you could change where the buttons are, they're normally quite low and form a v-neck line when buttoned up, how about moving them to the top and creating an upside down V shape at the bottom. How to create a fantasy costume design | Creative Bloq This one is simple, right? Characters wear more than just clothes. Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. (Find out more). We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. How to design clothes with a sci-fi feel | Creative Bloq One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. Am I trying to blow the interview? Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. Before I delve into the more detailed aspects of creating clothing there's one final thing to keep in mind and that is that fashion repeats itself. Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. Thank you for reading our blog! Casual. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. - Change lengths. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Ive always wondered that too! So why not join the gang? stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. It's what we're slowly doing today. He is old but stylish. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. ^.^ Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. It would have been extremely warm too. ), Your character and communitys financial resources. If its 1st person you'll describe things from the POV of your character, and I find that that's different than if you're in, for example, 3rd person. I once wrote about imbuing everyday objects with meaning because talisman create great opportunities for symbolism! The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. Theyre just too important defensively. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. - Geometry. Affordable . Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Need help with clothing description in Fantasy | Royal Road Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Sweaters or jumpers? Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Ragged clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. Mail was lightweight and flexible. The changes and improvements made by technology will often create new trends or alter old ones to the point you may as well consider them a new one, so depending on the technology available in your fictional universe you may wish to create a completely new trend. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Any suggestions on how to properly do this? One of the first things I learned when I moved to L.A. is that writers do not dress professionally for big meetings in Hollywood. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. So we've covered ways to make clothing look both futuristic and historic, but these are all just guidelines and mostly based on what's been done before. (Where do they buy their clothes? Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. ). For instance, if I'm reading a story and the narrative mentions jeans right off, I'm thinking mid twentieth century or later (while dungarees would be late nineteenth . As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Mantel describes the cardinals vestments: They bring out the cardinals vestments, his copes. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. As soon as the actor enters stage right or left, we have an inkling of whether theyre a wealthy landowner or peasant, an elegant heiress or humble flower-seller. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. For example, if a character is going on a date, you could write: Gem wanted to look sexy for her date downtown (but not easy), so she changed into more comfortable clothes. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. 2012 - Costume is a large part of a character. Baggy. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. Elsewhere, Mantels novel is full of descriptions of garments for specific, era-appropriate purposes: Riding cloaks, town coats, and other clothing people of means would have worn at this time. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. The more outlandish the fantasy species your character is the more outlandish you can usually be with clothing, but familiarity is usually still a solid ground for a realistic feel, even if the universe and the creatures are completely unrealistic. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Describing clothing - Creative Writing Forums Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. Other clothing pieces could be various types of hats and scarves, (trench) coats and even something as simple as pockets or buttons used for fastening rather than as decoration to name just a few. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. 160 Best Character description ideas | character description, fantasy This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham said, Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. Try applying this philosophy to clothing descriptions in your writing and see what happens. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. Fantasy Armor - The Ultimate Guide - Richie Billing Writing Tips on Describing Clothes - Pen and the Pad A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. Each lesson breaks down the analysis of one component of a fashion collection, progressing from a consideration of the designer's technique and influences to the . Really, the topic of this article is not how to describe clothing in writing as much as it is how to tell a story with clothes. I sincerely hope youve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. In a book, none of that is true. True, it all depends on your purpose. They should be doing that. Normally I dont dress characters with such complex clothing that takes more than a few sentences to describe but the vest was inspired by a picture I saw and it took at least a paragraph to describe. A scarlet pantsuit. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. They're the ones who are always there to lend a helping hand, crack a joke, or provide some much-needed emotional relief.And let's be real, sometimes they dont go unsung. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. In a fantasy setting, you may be trying to conjure up a certain feel right off the bat based on how you describe a character's clothing (and the words you use to describe them). Each suit was tailored to the individual. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. The first time I joined my family for our biannual Minnesota fishing trip after moving to L.A. from the Midwest, I found myself constantly losing my aunt and mother.
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