Lori Barghini Husband, 27th Engineer Battalion Vietnam, Key And Peele Insult Comic Girl Name, Demorrow Practice Marimba, Articles H

The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. 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. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. I used to be under the mindset that describing attire was boring and it was better to let the reader fill in those details but especially with the novel Im working on now, I have used clothing to portray more about their character. Thanks, Sana. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. 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. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. 1. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. I sincerely hope youve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. Not to mention the social status of a person. 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. 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. Have fun with it. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Does your character need to hide? 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. He is old but stylish. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. 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. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. These small but mighty players can add depth, complexity, and a fresh perspective to your plot. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? 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. I tend to avoid describing clothing. Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. If your protagonist is donning a tri-cornered hat, loosening a corset, or strutting through town in a new toga, your reader has a good sense of time period. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own). is because we get stuck on what things look like. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. It's what we're slowly doing today. (Cough-cough-cough.) Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? 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. So have fun with that. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. Great idea. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Affordable . But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Further reading How To Write Fight Scenes. - Taboos and nudity. Cookie Notice s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. Your email address will not be published. It would have been extremely warm too. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. Its not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. 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. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. 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. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. When describing clothing in writing, consider: You can also use this aspect of clothing description to paint a vivid picture of the world you imagined. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. When shes not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. This article has compiled 100 different words you can use to describe clothes, and below the main list of 100 words we've explained our reasoning for a lot of the top picks from that very list, for your personal enjoyment. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. 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. If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. 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. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. 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. This description generator will create a mostly random description of either a dress or a suit, fit for formal occasions and other fancy needs. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. As with body armor, great efforts were made with the designs of helmets. Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. Press J to jump to the feed. clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters personalities. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. 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. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. A velvet scrunchie. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. 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. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. This is a fun one. All cultures have dress codes to some degree, some more so than others and some more stricter than others, but every culture has a range of styles that would be considered normal, 'out there' and unacceptable to most. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. Knights werent as immobile as people assum, though I can imagine in a quagmire itd be tricky to get up. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. 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. 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. Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. Any suggestions on how to properly do this? Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. No problem! And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. So below, well take a look at the relationship between the genre of fantasy and medieval armor. Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. Baggy jeans. - 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. In a book, none of that is true. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. 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. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. 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. An owl, a real owl! Heres a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. 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. 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? Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. 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. Black and white usually does the trick as well. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. It's your creation, your imagination and your time you use and spend, so make sure you use and spend it on something you enjoy. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Adorable. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. - 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). Thank you for sharing this valuable information. 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. Maybe a bit of both. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. 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. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Improving Google Rankings With Keywords And Content, Tips On How To Make An Essay More Engaging, A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing, A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing, The Life of the Medieval Lord - Richie Billing, How To Create Your Very Own Living Breathing Fantasy World - Richie Billing, Fantasy Races - The Ultimate Guide To Elves, Orcs and Dwarves | Richie Billing, Killer Diseases of the Middle Ages | Richie Billing, Medieval Cannons: The Essential Guide | Richie Billing, On Writing: Fantasy Without Magic Of Metal and Magic Publishing, The Lives Of Medieval Peasants - Richie Billing, Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Great Examples Of The 5 Senses In Writing, 5 Mistakes Men Can Make Writing Women Characters, The Power of Words: Essay Writing Techniques, Mastering Body Language With Former FBI Agent Joe Navarro, A Lawyer's Perspective On Writing Fantasy, Do you want to grow your mailing list, check out. You walk down the usual street and suddenly some old memory hits you. 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. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. Blend in? I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. 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. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. Costume is a large part of a character. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. 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. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. Figurative language . The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. 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. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. 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). An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. 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. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. 60s-inspired. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. 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. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. - Change lengths. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail.