Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? 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. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? Any suggestions on how to properly do this? A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. 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. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. And if you dont write historical fiction? Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. - Geometry. 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? But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. Consider this example from Hard Times. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. Select the most striking details and move on. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. As far as guidelines go this is the first to be broken though, consider this one more of a starting point rather than something to necessarily end on. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. Try some colour. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. 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. Your articles are always very informative. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. Which brings me to my next point. 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. Youre still not off the hook. 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. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. 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. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. 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. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. 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). That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. Theyll see it automatically. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. Ill add it to my to do list . 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. 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. 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. Well, mostly. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. 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. 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. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. 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. 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. Pfoo, the owl! For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. 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. The clothing itself can be just standard medieval gear, but with these elements they immediately look (wood) elvish. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? He is old but stylish. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? 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 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? An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. In one single piece of clothing description (a pink-eyed bundle of shawls), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband. Fancy dresses. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for female fantasy armor. Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. Understanding how to describe clothing in a story well will help you create fuller, richer character portraits. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Great article. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. In the historical fiction books Ive read, none of the heroes took off their helmets unless they were knocked off, or bashed in. And right at the heart of it were the leaders of societythe medieval lords. - 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. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Here are five examples: 1. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. 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. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. This one is simple, right? Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? And lets not forget the trusty steed. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. ), The geographical location of your story. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. The time period of your story. More on that in a bit. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. 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. In other words, research. Knights werent as immobile as people assum, though I can imagine in a quagmire itd be tricky to get up. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. 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. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. 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. Scarves as we know them today weren't really a thing in the middle ages (they were way different) and hoods pretty much came in the form of chaperons and liripipes (Google for reference if needed), not as part of a piece of clothing. A band t-shirt. A velvet scrunchie. (Find out more). Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. Dr. Urbino in Marquezs example above fits the latter category. 1. Also, don't feel like you have to include every point I've made. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! In most cases simply copying the style of whichever era you've based your story on is enough, but it can be fun to create your own styles and in some cases it'd make sense to have your own styles as well. Our characters are always (mostly!) Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. Sweaters or jumpers? Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: Non-visual senses are big, too. 60s-inspired. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. 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. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. Look how she sits with her mouth open! What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? Just click the button below to find out more. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? 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. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. Stylish. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. Thank you for reading our blog! These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. In a fantasy setting, you may be trying to conjure up a certain feel right off the bat based on how you describe a character's clothing (and the words you use to describe them). Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. The unsung hero of so many stories. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Then this is their category. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. 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. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. That would depend on a few things. Ha-ha! A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Or at least they know what century theyre in. 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.. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. 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. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! Other clothing pieces could be various types of hats and scarves, (trench) coats and even something as simple as pockets or buttons used for fastening rather than as decoration to name just a few. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. 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. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. - Diagonal lines: Diagonal lines aren't all that common in historic clothing and they usually only came in the form of neck lines, the edges of unbuttoned jackets or from large pieces of fabric being held up (think ancient Rome). Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. 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. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Because it actually is possible. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. It's what we're slowly doing today. - Use nudity. 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). They should be doing that. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. Play with the question of presentation and power! See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. Not quite. Figurative language . This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Love this topic!! From time to time we may use affiliate links to help with the costs of running the site. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Thanks, Sana. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Written by MasterClass Last updated: Aug 19, 2021 3 min read Creating vivid descriptions for a story or character is a mark of a great writer. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? 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. With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. 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. I like the way you wrote this information. Not really. Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. Not a Dabble user? Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. 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. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Not to mention the social status of a person. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. or the world theyre desperately resisting. 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. 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. for any particular parts of an outfit. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. 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. 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. Both doublets and chain mail were worn in conjunction with plated armor for that added protection, particularly for areas plate could not cover, such as arms and the groin. At least in most cases. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? We'll 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. Affordable .
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