Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. Required fields are marked *. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. 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. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? 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. Then this is their category. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. 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. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. So have fun with that. Just click the button below to find out more. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. Another benefit to chain mail, a point which can slip the mind of writers, is that it was cheap and efficient, able to accommodate different-sized warriors, unlike expensive plated armor. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. 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. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. 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. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. 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. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. - 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. And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. One does not refer to "a garb". Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. These elements are very important when taking into account the previous point. 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. As with mail, steel was the best material due to its hardness, which was obtained by heating the steel to extreme temperatures and then submerging it into cold water, a process known as quenching. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? - "Digital look". The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. Thus, "a dress" is inappropriate for a (male) prince, unless he is pretending to be a woman. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. This is great! 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. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. 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. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. 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. s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. If youre trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, youre probably like me: Youve only pretended to know what organza is. Using this site means trees will be planted. 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. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. More on that in a bit. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. Your article is really great. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. 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? At a quarter to six, Gem pulled off the low-cut top Emma had wolf-whistled and clappedat when theyd met for their usual weekend catch-up. I like the way you wrote this information. Be specific and accurate. A knight, by definition, was a lord. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. 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? Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. I sincerely hope youve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. Metallic works well too, but make sure any metal bits or metallic looking bits are smooth and clean looking too, otherwise it might look too historic. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Have fun with it. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral Life is Good t-shirt. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? This may seem like a tricky thing to do as there's so much out there already, but it can often be as simple as simply changing a texture, the patterns used or the amount of fabric. Thanks Benjamin! 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. The time period of your story. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. 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. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. - Taboos and nudity. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. A few easy changes are to make one side longer than the other, so basically creating a diagonal cut instead of the standard horizontal one. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. 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. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. Chest plates had grand etchings. 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. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. That works. - Mix cultures. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. 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. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. If Im wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening: Im in a great mood or Im feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. What matters more to them: fashion or function? - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. 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. Borrowed armor wouldnt fit as well as a suit made for the wearer and wouldnt be as well balanced, so someone in borrowed armor would be more likely to have problems moving in his armor. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? In a book, none of that is true. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. (Where do they buy their clothes? So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. - Use nudity. 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. 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. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. How long do they need their clothes to last? Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. Black and white usually does the trick as well. This is mostly something to keep in mind when designing for characters living in the future, but it could work for alternative historic universes as well. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. 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. ), The geographical location of your story. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. 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. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. But it provided an odd sense of security. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. Great points. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. Very informative. Your email address will not be published. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. 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. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. (Cough-cough-cough.) But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. 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. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. 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. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. When you use clothing to define who your character is, remember that it can also clarify how they feel about themselves and how they fit into the world around them. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? In Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Love in the Time of Cholera (1985), we learn of a doctors status through his being the only person at an event who is not smartly dressed: Although it was not customary for invitations to request special attire, least of all for a luncheon in the country, the women wore evening gowns and precious jewels and most of the men were dressed in dinner jackets with black ties, and some even wore frock coats. 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. And lets not forget the trusty steed. But they werent administrators. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts You can weave clothing description into your process when using our story planner for writers. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. 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. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. 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. That was the theory. The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. 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. Select the most striking details and move on. We all love a character with a cool set of fantasy armor: the baresark Rek from David Gemmells Legend with his enchanted coat of bronze, or Tomas from Raymond Feists Riftwar Cycle with his gleaming white dragon plate which gifted him incredible power. 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 . (Huh.). You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Thank you for reading our blog! An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! In fact, you should be putting lots of thought and development into protagonists because thats who the story is about.But how much thought have you given to your tertiary characters? Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. That decorative belt? Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. 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. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. Jeans and a tee it was. 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). For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. It's what we're slowly doing today. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? Not a Dabble user? There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. 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? Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. Fancy dresses. - 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. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. Blend in? It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. "He was wearing a spandex tank top" is an improvement from just mentioning that your character's wearing a shirt; but consider adding the element of color: "He was wearing a black-and-yellow-striped spandex tank top.". For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. As with body armor, great efforts were made with the designs of helmets. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth.

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