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 . Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. 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. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. 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. Cookie Notice Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. Does your character need to hide? These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Stylish. Some materials are used more than others, some colors are more desirable than others and some accessories are more desirable than others and these all changed throughout time. Share. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? As I write this, I am wearing jeans that are too big, a gray t-shirt I inherited from a former roommate, and a pilled hoodie from a lighting vendor that works with my friends husbands company. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Adding them with intention can help increase tension, make twists hit that much harder, and keep your reader engaged., How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody, Tertiary Characters: Giving Your Background Players Life, Sidekicks: The Loyal Companion Your Hero Needs. Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. 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. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. If you look at popular works of fiction you'll find two trends, one is the simplistic and often tight-fit look and the other is the more over the top and extravagant look. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. I don't mean make your characters walk around naked, but exposing (or covering) body parts in ways we don't today helps make ordinary clothing look different, which in turn helps sell the idea of it being futuristic. 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. Thanks I will be following your blog from now one I just came across it today. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. Our characters are always (mostly!) Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Chest plates had grand etchings. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. This one is simple, right? (Cough-cough-cough.) What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. (Has denim been invented yet? These are usually a little trickier to do well as they can look familiar quickly, but it's a usually a good element to have at your disposal. 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 only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Think noble King Arthur and his knights of the roundtable. Play with the question of presentation and power! Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. Not a Dabble user? Ha-ha! Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. 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. A velvet scrunchie. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. Affordable . 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. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Good for the mobile knight. Adorable. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. Let your mind fill in the details, always checking back in with your adjectives to make sure the concept is moving in the right direction. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. 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. Costume is a large part of a character. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. 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. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. A scarlet pantsuit. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever desirable means in this situation. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. 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. Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. And lets not forget the trusty steed. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. 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. 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. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. Thanks Benjamin! 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. Which brings me to my next point. Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. 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. Mail was lightweight and flexible. Someone jumps down from a boundary wall wearing dark clothes and clutching a bag, that's enough of a clue they're a burglar, and if the protagonist now has to chase them then a description of the form those clothes take down to the buckles on the shoes is going to break the flow. What Clothes Say About Your Characters - The Write Practice It's part of culture, so it's definitely something to keep in mind since your fictional universes will have some form of culture as well. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. Youre not infodumping. 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. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. To illustrate this let's take a standard men's suit as an example. But they werent administrators. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! 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? Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. If youre trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, youre probably like me: Youve only pretended to know what organza is. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters? Privacy Policy. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. 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 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. Need help with clothing description in Fantasy | Royal Road Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. Similar to how pixelated designs tend to look more futuristic so do designs full of geometrical shapes. 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 Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Your email address will not be published. To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for female fantasy armor. All cultures have dress codes to some degree, some more so than others and some more stricter than others, but every culture has a range of styles that would be considered normal, 'out there' and unacceptable to most. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. I'm sort of into historical armor so would get a kick out of finding an excuse to talk about vambraces/rerebraces, spaulders, etc. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. - Taboos and nudity. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. These are deep questions. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. 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. Just click the button below to find out more. 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). Theyre the lifeblood of any relationship. Community . I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. 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. Those outfits can become iconic. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. Baggy. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. It's what we're slowly doing today. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. Am I trying to blow the interview? In my case my character is new in town and this description of clothing doesnt come until hes getting ready for the party in chapter 4 and its in the context of getting dressed, there are reasons behind it, the party is a very big deal for him getting his foot in the door with other teens in town and he wants to be impressive or maybe wants lot of attention with all the sparklies. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest. And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. How long do they need their clothes to last? For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. As for showing with clothing rather than telling, a writer could say, He was lazy and inattentive to his appearance about a character, or they could say his clothes always looked like hed just pulled them out of a pile in some corner of his bedroom and had thrown them on without a glance in the mirror. Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. 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. Very informative. Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. Required fields are marked *. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. You walk down the usual street and suddenly some old memory hits you. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. How to Describe Clothes in English - ESL Advice See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Excuse the on hold background music. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. Like Borges would say, (Huh.). You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? Its a good time. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. True, it all depends on your purpose. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. 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. This is great! When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. Your email address will not be published. One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. These elements are very important when taking into account the previous point. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. With these two changes alone you already have an item that didn't exist in medieval times, but is familiar enough to work in a fantasy setting. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Written by MasterClass Last updated: Aug 19, 2021 3 min read Creating vivid descriptions for a story or character is a mark of a great writer. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. 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. One does not refer to "a garb". Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. Ragged clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? It makes for a more entertaining read. Jeans and a tee it was. Looking for a word - prince's clothes - English Language Learners Stack Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. You can keep track of your characters signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write. Thanks Chuck! Knights werent as immobile as people assum, though I can imagine in a quagmire itd be tricky to get up. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. Not quite. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples) | Now Novel A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. So below, well take a look at the relationship between the genre of fantasy and medieval armor. and our Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. Perhaps its because the genre was born out of stories that emerged from the Middle Ages like Beowulf and King Arthur (around the 10th-11th century). To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed, We mentioned gambesons above. Advertisements. The rope belt is solely decorative and a status symbol. Your articles are always very informative. 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. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. 100 Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs ideas | fantasy clothing But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. 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. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? Hopefully, you now have more wardrobe ideas for your characters than just red shirt, blue pants. But what about the process of actually sharing these details in your novel? Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. In visual mediums like TV or comics, cool outfits are on-screen the whole time, and they're the first and most obvious impression you'll get of the character, so they have a big impact on how the character is perceived. The fact that Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. 100 Words to Describe Clothes - grammarhow.com Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. 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. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by, Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. I mean what your character wears provides a clue to how they see themselves, how they want to be seen, and even how others see them. Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own).
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