I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts We already have spray on clothing technology. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. 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. This is less important for non-visual arts as clothing isn't always described in writing, but it can still be incredibly helpful to have a fully detailed character in your head or written down somewhere for reference and just to make everything feel more real and alive. Thanks Chuck! 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. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. 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. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. The changes and improvements made by technology will often create new trends or alter old ones to the point you may as well consider them a new one, so depending on the technology available in your fictional universe you may wish to create a completely new trend. 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Elsewhere, Mantels novel is full of descriptions of garments for specific, era-appropriate purposes: Riding cloaks, town coats, and other clothing people of means would have worn at this time. Nudity was often either a complete taboo or just common place in many cultures throughout history, so by changing these taboos (and others) you immediately create a fictional piece. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. 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. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. 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. 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. Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. 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. 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. 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. Read these tips on how (and why) to describe clothes with examples from well-known novels: 1: Use clothing to show status and position 2: Build (or thwart) character expectations with clothing descriptions 3: Describe clothing to contrast characters' personalities 4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. Sometimes they're more interesting and lovable than the main characters themselves and end up stealing the show., Secrets. And what does she put that cap on for? Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. 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. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Its a good time. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. Try some colour. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description. You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. Glasses, headsets, lenses, jewelry, belts and so on can all help sell the futuristic look. Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. The clothing itself can be just standard medieval gear, but with these elements they immediately look (wood) elvish. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. (Has denim been invented yet? (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. "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.". What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Adorable. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. So have fun with that. Clothing reflects the resources available in a specific time and place. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. 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). What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. 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. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. 1. Youre still not off the hook. Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? Using this site means trees will be planted. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? Or theyll be living off soda crackers and peanut butter for the next week because they drained their checking account for a suit to impress at their job interview. Whereas a more confident or attention seeking person might seek out the edges of what's socially acceptable more or just wear more stylish and potentially more colorful or flamboyant clothing. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. But it provided an odd sense of security. You dont need it to sign up. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. A knight, by definition, was a lord. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. I love the way clothes can describe a character. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. (Find out more). Also, don't feel like you have to include every point I've made. If a knight fell from a horse, he could quite easily pick himself up, not stuck on the ground like a tortoise knocked on its shell. 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. Using a squared, pixelated look or circuitry patterns usually works great too, which can even be combined with layered clothing to create the circuitry feel. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. One thing Ive always wondered is if someone wearing plate could fall down just right in a muddy battlefield, and get stuck there in the same way a large flat rock gets stuck laying in mud. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. - Another way to use color is to make things seem like they're glowing even if they're not and to use gradients. 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. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. 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. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing. Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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 . 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. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. Costume is a large part of a character. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral Life is Good t-shirt. Pfoo, the owl! A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. They should be doing that. Figurative language . What matters more to them: fashion or function? So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Share. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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. 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. 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? It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. ^.^ (Cough-cough-cough.) (Where do they buy their clothes? Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. for any particular parts of an outfit. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. These are deep questions. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Really like your article. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. 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 . Your articles are always very informative. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. Do your main characters tend to steal the show in your novels? A velvet scrunchie. 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. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. 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. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. 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. 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. Added on top of that the condition that they had to supply him with soldiers too. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. 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. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. Well, mostly. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. 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. Non-visual senses are big, too. 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. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. But even regular elements can help with this. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). Your article is really great. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Blend in? This is great! Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). What are the rules of your characters world? Understanding how to describe clothing in a story well will help you create fuller, richer character portraits. Ha-ha! Jeans and a tee it was. This article was very helpfulcan you post some examples of showing versus telling when describing clothing? 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. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. 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. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Then this is their category. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. and our As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Look how she sits with her mouth open! It makes for a more entertaining read. Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. But they werent administrators. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? 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.
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