), The geographical location of your story. Play with the question of presentation and power! Scarves as we know them today weren't really a thing in the middle ages (they were way different) and hoods pretty much came in the form of chaperons and liripipes (Google for reference if needed), not as part of a piece of clothing. And lets not forget the trusty steed. 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. Improve this answer. It can genuinely be tough to come up with cool ideas for epic fantasy armor without drifting back to things that weve seen in the likes of Dungeons and Dragons, The Elder Scrolls and movies like Lord of the Rings. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt, A Guide To Writing Stories That Genuinely Helps, "Helped me land my first book deal" - Jack Shannon, Author, Get More Writing Support From Fellow Fantasy Writers, A complete guide to worldbuilding, with a template. Maybe a bit of both. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. They are more common around the chest and torso in Asian cultures though, so keep that in mind when adding diagonal lines. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? Any suggestions on how to properly do this? Beyond medieval Europe, you have the Far East, the Romans, Viking Before you know it youll have designed a full set of fantasy roman or viking armor. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. Showing what your characters are wearing can be a great way to show your readers what they might be up to that day without having to actually narrate anything. Figurative language . When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. Using the work of Alexander McQueen, this unit guides students through the analysis of a fashion collection, introducing them to the critical language and methodologies needed to evaluate fashion design and runway presentation. No problem! You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. Do all your characters embrace it? The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Or at least they know what century theyre in. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. In a book, none of that is true. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. or the world theyre desperately resisting. 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. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Okay, maybe not.Secrets in real life can be a little trickywe all have thembut they have a way of blowing up in our faces, depending on how big they are.Your characters are really no different. You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. 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. It would have been extremely warm too. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. (Cough-cough-cough.) Blend in? We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look. ), Your character and communitys financial resources. 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. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Just click the button below to find out more. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by, Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. But they werent administrators. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, its that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. 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. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. - Christine, on How to describe clothing in a story (with examples), 8 story hook examples (how to grab attention), Story structure examples: How to create payoffs for readers, How to describe to immerse readers (complete guide), How to write deep POV: 8 tips and examples, 9 exposition examples: How to write clear introductions, How to make a plot captivating: 7 strategies, Writing great characters: 5 lessons from modern novels. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. 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. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. - Another way to use color is to make things seem like they're glowing even if they're not and to use gradients. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. At least in most cases. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. It really doesnt take much. The pieces around the vital organsthe chest and headwere thicker and heavier than those on the arms and legs to try and reduce weight as much as possible. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. Like Borges would say, As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. 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. Its a bit OCD of me. Your email address will not be published. To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for female fantasy armor. Not a Dabble user? You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. Sweaters or jumpers? Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. - Use nudity. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. This usually involves dresses from some time pre-renaissance and a tunic or shirt paired with trousers for men and women who are doing warrior stuff. If youre trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, youre probably like me: Youve only pretended to know what organza is. And what does she put that cap on for? Great article. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. We often express ourselves through our clothing, at least when we have the freedom to do so, so knowing who we're designing for is the first step in creating the perfect outfit for a character. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. Hello, I am attempting to write my first fantasy novel (and my first novel), and I'm having difficulty visualizing what kind of clothes my characters should be wearing. One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. The front part of helmets, or the visors, were there to raise or open so the wearer could breathe during taxing hand-to-hand combat or scan around the battlefield. Another quick way of making standard clothing fantasy themed is by converting clothes form the relative future to one that could be created in whichever time period your universe falls under. What your character wears reveals where they come from, how they rank in society, how they want to be perceived, and even how they feel about themselves. They looked something like this: One of the main defensive strengths of plated armor came from its curved design, which deflected both blades and arrows. This is great! 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. You can also check out some of my other guides too, like: If you have any questions about this guide on fantasy armor, please get in touch. Ill add it to my to do list . But even regular elements can help with this. its obviously black with a centered zipper is easy but then the various pieces, the shapes, the colors, like two rows of this then a row of that, you get what I mean? Advertisements. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. The fact that A scarlet pantsuit. In this scene, Gradgrind returns home to find his children playing outside: A space of stunted grass and dry rubbish being between him and the young rabble, he took his eyeglass out of his waistcoat to look for any child he knew by name, and might order off. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? These aren't the only elements either, pretty much every part of clothing changes with the times and depend heavily upon what's fashionable at the time. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Sneak around? Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters? The tragedy of Azincourt, for example, occurred because of a poorly-chosen battleground that had flooded. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. One does not refer to "a garb". The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. for any particular parts of an outfit. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. Lots of gear would have been looted. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. Those outfits can become iconic. Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. Not to mention the social status of a person. 70s-inspired. But thats the case wherever you go. Well, mostly. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. For example, the corset wasn't popular until the 16th century and while earlier versions can be found incredibly early they weren't common place. Mantel describes the cardinals vestments: They bring out the cardinals vestments, his copes. What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. This is a heavy generalization of course and entirely based on Western culture of today, but these rules may not apply at all in a fictional universe, no matter if it's futuristic or based on a historic setting. A simple t-shirt could be cut diagonally in the front, give both shoulder parts a different style from the arms, elongate one side and so on. A possible source of conflict for a story, perhaps! So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. Also, don't feel like you have to include every point I've made. If your protagonist is donning a tri-cornered hat, loosening a corset, or strutting through town in a new toga, your reader has a good sense of time period. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. In both of these it was mostly the rich who had the extravagant clothing, which brings back the earlier point of how culture influences what a character might wear. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. In one single piece of clothing description (a pink-eyed bundle of shawls), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Jeans and a tee it was. When describing clothing in writing, consider: You can also use this aspect of clothing description to paint a vivid picture of the world you imagined. This is a fun one. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. 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. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. 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. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? But it makes a good story. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. It's your creation, your imagination and your time you use and spend, so make sure you use and spend it on something you enjoy. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. Thanks Chuck! And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. First and foremost we need to know who we're designing for. What matters more to them: fashion or function? Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed, We mentioned gambesons above. He took off his helmet and a Norman archer made a lucky shot that put out Harolds eye and ended the battle.It should be noted that, with the helmets of the time, it wasnt necessary for Harold to take off his helmet, either to be seen or to get his eye shot out. As well see below, one of the best things about using medieval armor in a fantasy story is the freedom to elevate it in some way. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. And if you dont write historical fiction? Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. The unsung hero of so many stories. Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. Then this is their category. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. They should be doing that. Meanwhile, the character who works two jobs while going to school full-time might scour the Goodwill rack for a designer tag to help them fit in at the same party. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? Dostoyevsky describes how Katerinas landlady, Amalia Ivanovna, dresses for the funeral: the table was properly laid at the time and fixed, and Amalia Ivanovna, feeling she had done her work well, had put on a black silk dress and a cap with new mourning ribbons and met the returning party with some pride. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Send private message Achievements: Need help with clothing description in Fantasy #1 I'm writing a Fantasy Novel in the middle ages, filled with swords and magic However, I realize I have trouble trying to convey how the characters look, like what the nobles' attire, the bandit's armor. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Try some colour. What are the rules of your characters world? The geographical setting might suggest that your characters are expected to abide by strict rules for modesty or are celebrated for being wild and free. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. Note that with the camouflage patterns it's best to use this style, but make them less randomized to avoid the military look, unless that's what you're going for of course. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. 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. Using this site means trees will be planted. Well 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. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Mail was one of the first types of metal armor developed, arguably by the Celts, though other sources say its origins came from Eastern Europe. Consider this example from Hard Times. Not really. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. Not quite. These images all go a lot further than white socks, green dress, and most of them dont require a lot of extra words. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. There's a few other elements to keep in mind as well, but in most cases it's best not to worry at all, let your imagination go wild and simply create and enjoy what you want to create. Allrightsreserved, create an authentic sense of time and place, Use fashion and clothing history archives, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg, 1: Use clothing to show status and position, 2: Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions, 3: Describe clothing to contrastcharacters personalities, 4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling, 5: Change characters clothing to highlight character development, 6: Use clothing details to recreate authentic setting, 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. That decorative belt? 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. A man's padded undercoat worn under a doublet and over a shirt; a woman's (often padded) under-tunic or the skirt of her riding habit. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Chest plates had grand etchings. Costume is a large part of a character.

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