Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. How long do they need their clothes to last? But it provided an odd sense of security. Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own). 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. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. 50+ Fashion Terms: Fundamental Words Related to Style Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. 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. 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. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. A velvet scrunchie. - Another way to use color is to make things seem like they're glowing even if they're not and to use gradients. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Theyll see it automatically. - Change lengths. How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples) | Now Novel 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. A possible source of conflict for a story, perhaps! 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. Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. (Has denim been invented yet? Stylish: Elegant and sophisticated clothing to grab attention. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. Pfoo, the owl! 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. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. What matters more to them: fashion or function? - 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). When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. Clothing reflects the resources available in a specific time and place. Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? 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. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. Sweaters or jumpers? Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. How to describe scenery ? : r/fantasywriters - reddit.com 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. Are they overalls or coveralls? Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. Before I delve into the more detailed aspects of creating clothing there's one final thing to keep in mind and that is that fashion repeats itself. 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. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. Our characters are always (mostly!) Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. 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. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. Am I trying to blow the interview? You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. How do you describe this dress - Writing Forums Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. and our Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. 28 First of all, beautiful dress and mask! The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. They were warriors first and foremost. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Mail was lightweight and flexible. Improve this answer. 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. Using the work of Alexander McQueen, this unit guides students through the analysis of a fashion collection, introducing them to the critical language and methodologies needed to evaluate fashion design and runway presentation. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. Using this site means trees will be planted. True, it all depends on your purpose. 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. 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. The landladys dress highlights, by contrast, the downward spiral of Katerinas fortunes, and she responds to the landladys prideful clothing with her own wounded pride: Look at her, shes making round eyes, she feels that we are talking about her and cant understand. 1. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. 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. 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. Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. In Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Love in the Time of Cholera (1985), we learn of a doctors status through his being the only person at an event who is not smartly dressed: Although it was not customary for invitations to request special attire, least of all for a luncheon in the country, the women wore evening gowns and precious jewels and most of the men were dressed in dinner jackets with black ties, and some even wore frock coats. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. How to describe clothing: 6 simple tips Use clothing to show status and position 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 The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Privacy Policy. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. 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). Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. From time to time we may use affiliate links to help with the costs of running the site. Sometimes they're more interesting and lovable than the main characters themselves and end up stealing the show., Secrets. 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. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. Black and white usually does the trick as well. Sneak around? Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. And what does she put that cap on for? They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. 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. But it makes a good story. 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. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? What also worries me is that in Chapter 3 I used a lot of descriptions of the house, like the main characters room and then I had him go to various other rooms, looked at pictures of his family he has yet to meet so chapter 3 had the least story development or social scenes but the ones it had were good ones and I ended it with a scene that creates more development and story hype. 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. 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.. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. Well come to this below. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. Dostoyevsky describes how Katerinas landlady, Amalia Ivanovna, dresses for the funeral: the table was properly laid at the time and fixed, and Amalia Ivanovna, feeling she had done her work well, had put on a black silk dress and a cap with new mourning ribbons and met the returning party with some pride. Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. (Where do they buy their clothes? A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. List of Medieval Clothing (91 terms!) - The Medieverse: Tim's Realistic Fantasy Armor - The Ultimate Guide - Richie Billing Because it actually is possible. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. The unsung hero of so many stories. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing - 'Stealth'. The time period of your story. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight Stylish. They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. But thats the case wherever you go. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows.