Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Do your main characters tend to steal the show in your novels? Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? A velvet scrunchie. Embarrassed by her own inability to dress in finery for the occasion (and by being upstaged), Katerina resorts to scathing mockery of Amalia. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. You dont need it to sign up. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. And if you dont write historical fiction? As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? Compare this, then, to Dickens description of Gradgrinds wife in the following chapter (Gradgrinds wealthy but poverty-claiming friend has just told Mrs. Gradgrind he was born in a ditch): Mrs. Gradgrind, a little, thin, white, pink-eyed bundle of shawls, of surpassing feebleness, mental and bodily; who was always taking physic without any effect, and who, whenever she showed a symptom of coming to life, was invariably stunned by some weighty piece of fact tumbling on her; Mrs. Gradgrind hoped it was a dry ditch? This is further influenced/confirmed by the show Forged in Fire where the judges were a half step from putting their heads in their hands when a smith put his hot blade in water instead of oil to cool it down. 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. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. 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How long do they need their clothes to last? Thanks I will be following your blog from now one I just came across it today. Not quite. 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. In a book, none of that is true. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. for any particular parts of an outfit. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. They should be doing that. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? 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. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. I once wrote about imbuing everyday objects with meaning because talisman create great opportunities for symbolism! The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. This article has compiled 100 different words you can use to describe clothes, and below the main list of 100 words we've explained our reasoning for a lot of the top picks from that very list, for your personal enjoyment. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. 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. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. At least in most cases. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. But as the show moved forward the suit got more ragged the jacket was open, then gone, the shirt cuffs undone, half the buttons undone and I think by the end when he was on the cross the shirt was gone. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. (Has denim been invented yet? Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. 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 . Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. 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. Cookie Notice Youre not infodumping. It would have been extremely warm too. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. Because it actually is possible. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. (Find out more). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever desirable means in this situation. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. Sweaters or jumpers? Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. 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. Advertisements. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. 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. Glasses, headsets, lenses, jewelry, belts and so on can all help sell the futuristic look. 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. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. 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. In some cases because they simply didn't have the technology for it, in others because it was too expensive and/or time consuming for the average person. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. 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. 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. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. The unsung hero of so many stories. Using this site means trees will be planted. 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 still not off the hook. 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. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. 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. This is a fun one. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description. 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. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. Ha-ha! Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. One does not refer to "a garb". 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. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. Are they overalls or coveralls? Pingback: The Life of the Medieval Lord - Richie Billing, Pingback: How To Create Your Very Own Living Breathing Fantasy World - Richie Billing, Pingback: Fantasy Races - The Ultimate Guide To Elves, Orcs and Dwarves | Richie Billing, Pingback: Killer Diseases of the Middle Ages | Richie Billing, Pingback: Medieval Cannons: The Essential Guide | Richie Billing, Pingback: On Writing: Fantasy Without Magic Of Metal and Magic Publishing, Pingback: The Lives Of Medieval Peasants - Richie Billing. I like the way you wrote this information. A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. These images all go a lot further than white socks, green dress, and most of them dont require a lot of extra words. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. Those outfits can become iconic. But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Dont worry, thats not a trick question. One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. Whenever other races or species are involved, like elves and trolls, it's often best to give them clothing that differs from whatever humans (and other races) wear, even if those differences are subtle. Lets take a look at some ways you can develop those unique ideas: In this section, well take a look at some cool pieces of knight armor in fantasy that people have designed over the years, to give you even more inspiration for your own designs. Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? From time to time we may use affiliate links to help with the costs of running the site. Blend in? His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. 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. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. Sneak around? Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Thanks Benjamin! Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. 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. All of these advancements will become more and more common as time goes on, so it'd make sense for them to be part of our clothing in the future. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. )Secrets might not be something youve specifically thought about when youre drafting a story. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. 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? What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? And what does she put that cap on for? You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. Other elements you could include are mood-based changes (exists today), clothing that uses lights or glowing elements (exists today), clothing that can be repaired or changed on the go (exists today), smart technology woven into the fabric of clothing (exists today), changing colors (think chameleons) whenever you feel like it (exists today, kind of). Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. That was the theory. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Impress someone with my indifference? Also bear in mind that not all clothing descriptions have to be presented as She put on x or He was wearing y. You can draw your readers attention to an item of clothing by having your character draw on their jeans or fiddle with their collar. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. Not to mention the social status of a person. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Good for the mobile knight. The rope belt is solely decorative and a status symbol. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. 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. Theyre just too important defensively. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? Press J to jump to the feed. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. This description generator will create a mostly random description of either a dress or a suit, fit for formal occasions and other fancy needs. Casual. Now add a thick, layered scarf or attach a hood to this tunic and you're already well on your way to a customized look. Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Maybe your character heads out on the town wearing a daring leopard print jumpsuit, only to have their best friend immediately ask where they got the kitty costume.. Its not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. Sci-fi and fantasy don't necessarily have to be futuristic and historic respectively, but they're commonly associated as such, so for the sake of simplicity that's what I'm going with for the purposes of this guide. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. 70s-inspired. But it provided an odd sense of security. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. 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. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. Excuse the on hold background music. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. ), The geographical location of your story. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. You suddenly know which details to include, which to leave out, and whether to call it a blood-red cloak or a goji berry wrap. The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. It took a while to get ready, with the help of somebody else needed, usually squires, who began with the feet and worked up from there. Great points. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? 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 never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. 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. Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? is because we get stuck on what things look like. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. ). And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. - As far as colors go they often seem to be either toned down or bright and happy (or even over the top), depending on the style. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. 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. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. I love the way clothes can describe a character. Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest.
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