Be specific and accurate. 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. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. 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. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. 2012 - Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. 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. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. 80s-inspired. 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. 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. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Baggy. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. Instead of a nobleman being described as wearing red silk slippers, parachute pants, a bejeweled cloth belt, a flowing blouse and an ascot; you can simply describe him as wear very fancy and extravagant clothing befitting his high status in society. And what does she put that cap on for? Now this won't work for every piece of clothing of course, not everything has buttons or edges that allow for simple changes we don't already use today, so here are a few ways that are commonly used to make things look more futuristic: Another quick way of making standard clothing fantasy themed is by converting clothes form the relative future to one that could be created in whichever time period your universe falls under. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Its a bit OCD of me. 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. Mantel describes the cardinals vestments: They bring out the cardinals vestments, his copes. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. It would have been extremely warm too. Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by, Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. Mail was one of the first types of metal armor developed, arguably by the Celts, though other sources say its origins came from Eastern Europe. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. 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). A man's padded undercoat worn under a doublet and over a shirt; a woman's (often padded) under-tunic or the skirt of her riding habit. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. Like say a vest with mirrored sequins and rhinestones, but they all go in a pattern and you feel the need to describe the pattern line by line? Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. 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. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. Sweaters or jumpers? How were women treated in the Middle Ages? Pre-empt this by illustrating everything in layers and completing each layer of clothing. 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. As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. An owl, a real owl! That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. These are deep questions. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Am I trying to blow the interview? And lets not forget the trusty steed. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. One does not refer to "a garb". 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 . If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. 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. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. As with body armor, great efforts were made with the designs of helmets. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. 28 First of all, beautiful dress and mask! As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. The time period of your story. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. (Huh.). Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. From time to time we may use affiliate links to help with the costs of running the site. If its 1st person you'll describe things from the POV of your character, and I find that that's different than if you're in, for example, 3rd person. 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. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. 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. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. 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. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. Fancy dresses. ). You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. Mention the familiar swooshing of the neighbors tracksuit as he runs by the house every morning or how the aunts jacket always smells like cold air and pine needles. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. 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. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. That fancy Ming dynasty dress looks completely different with exposed shoulders and that medieval set of pants look completely different if you turn them into shorts with exposed legs. 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 main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. If you tell your readers about Nanettes light pink cardigan and string of pearls, you dont have to say much about the shoes and skirt and silk blouse. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. 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. Adorable. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral Life is Good t-shirt. I tend to avoid describing clothing. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. 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. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. 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. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. Each suit was tailored to the individual. More on that in a bit. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. Or at least they know what century theyre in. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. 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. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. 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 By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. Besides, these are all just guidelines meant to spark some inspiration in you. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? First and foremost we need to know who we're designing for. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. These small but mighty players can add depth, complexity, and a fresh perspective to your plot. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. But thats the case wherever you go. One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. (Has denim been invented yet? 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. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. This is a fun one. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. Your email address will not be published. But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. We already have spray on clothing technology. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. - Furs and other animal parts: A quick and obvious way of making something look more fantasy-themed is by simply adding elements of fantasy creatures. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. Thanks Chuck! Youll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! 60s-inspired. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. Stylish. Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. In other words, research. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. Characters wear more than just clothes. Much of the clothing we wear today were either rare or completely nonexistent a hundred years ago. No problem! That was the theory. Do they strive to be humble before their god or do they want to spend this one and only life as their bold, ostentatious selves? Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. So why not join the gang? I love the way clothes can describe a character. Affordable . 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. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. I'll allow my fangirl side to shine for a second and use the Legend of Korra as an example of how mixing styles can work amazingly well. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. 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. 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. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. 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. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. Just click the button below to find out more. 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. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. In both of these it was mostly the rich who had the extravagant clothing, which brings back the earlier point of how culture influences what a character might wear. 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. Non-visual senses are big, too. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Sneak around? Well, mostly. You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. He took off his helmet and a Norman archer made a lucky shot that put out Harolds eye and ended the battle.It should be noted that, with the helmets of the time, it wasnt necessary for Harold to take off his helmet, either to be seen or to get his eye shot out. 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. Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. Ill add it to my to do list . Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. 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. Sometimes they're more interesting and lovable than the main characters themselves and end up stealing the show., Secrets. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. 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? Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever desirable means in this situation. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. A knight, by definition, was a lord. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. 70s-inspired. The clothing itself can be just standard medieval gear, but with these elements they immediately look (wood) elvish. Improve this answer. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. Normally I dont dress characters with such complex clothing that takes more than a few sentences to describe but the vest was inspired by a picture I saw and it took at least a paragraph to describe. 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 love to wear baggy trousers in summer. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Our characters are always (mostly!) Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. Figurative language . We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. What matters more to them: fashion or function? What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. Which brings me to my next point. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. 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. Play with the question of presentation and power! Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. - Geometry. 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.. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. - 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. 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. - Taboos and nudity. Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? A velvet scrunchie. The fact that By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. Do all your characters embrace it? Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. These elements are very important when taking into account the previous point. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. 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. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look.