Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' 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. Describing clothes : writing - reddit Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. An owl, a real owl! Your email address will not be published. This article was very helpfulcan you post some examples of showing versus telling when describing clothing? That would depend on a few things. It makes for a more entertaining read. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. - "Digital look". If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look. 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. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. 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. Your articles are always very informative. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. 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. I love the way clothes can describe a character. Ill add it to my to do list . Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Consider this example from Hard Times. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. 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. In visual mediums like TV or comics, cool outfits are on-screen the whole time, and they're the first and most obvious impression you'll get of the character, so they have a big impact on how the character is perceived. - 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. and our If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody 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. Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK But for writers like me who get stuck in the white socks, green dress rut, heres a quick reminder: Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Chest plates had grand etchings. 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. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. 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. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. At a quarter to six, Gem pulled off the low-cut top Emma had wolf-whistled and clappedat when theyd met for their usual weekend catch-up. 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. Improve this answer. That decorative belt? So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. Baggy jeans. 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. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. So have fun with that. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. (Where do they buy their clothes? Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. He is old but stylish. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. 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. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. 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). Youre not infodumping. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. Stylish. The rope belt is solely decorative and a status symbol. Need help with clothing description in Fantasy | Royal Road Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. The fact Gem goes with jeans and a tee could suggest that she trusts her aunts advice. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. Here are five examples: 1. Theyll see it automatically. Not a Dabble user? 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. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. )Secrets might not be something youve specifically thought about when youre drafting a story. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. Sweaters or jumpers? Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. They looked something like this: One of the main defensive strengths of plated armor came from its curved design, which deflected both blades and arrows. Which is to say, if you write from the point of view of a character who thinks of clothing only in terms of the simplest descriptors, that's just fine. or the world theyre desperately resisting. Not to pile on, but dont forget to make sure you know which materials wereand werentavailable in the world of your novel. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight - 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). Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. (Has denim been invented yet? The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. Great article. Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? Further reading How To Write Fight Scenes. The changes and improvements made by technology will often create new trends or alter old ones to the point you may as well consider them a new one, so depending on the technology available in your fictional universe you may wish to create a completely new trend. Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. Cookie Notice This is a fun one. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. Using this site means trees will be planted. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. 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. Thanks, Sana. How to create a fantasy costume design | Creative Bloq But it provided an odd sense of security. Share. Just click the button below to find out more. Does it Matter What Your Character Wears? - The Write Practice 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. One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. Impress someone with my indifference? Whenever other races or species are involved, like elves and trolls, it's often best to give them clothing that differs from whatever humans (and other races) wear, even if those differences are subtle. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. ), The geographical location of your story. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. 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). But thats the case wherever you go. Pre-empt this by illustrating everything in layers and completing each layer of clothing. Not really. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Dr. Urbino in Marquezs example above fits the latter category. This is less important for non-visual arts as clothing isn't always described in writing, but it can still be incredibly helpful to have a fully detailed character in your head or written down somewhere for reference and just to make everything feel more real and alive. I'm sort of into historical armor so would get a kick out of finding an excuse to talk about vambraces/rerebraces, spaulders, etc. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. Theyre the lifeblood of any relationship. The front part of helmets, or the visors, were there to raise or open so the wearer could breathe during taxing hand-to-hand combat or scan around the battlefield. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Required fields are marked *. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. Blend in? So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. Besides knowing who we design for we also have to know what the rules for designing are within the universe of our characters. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. But even regular elements can help with this. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. Good for the mobile knight. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. Because it actually is possible. 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? By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. Much of the clothing we wear today were either rare or completely nonexistent a hundred years ago. In other words, research. 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. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? 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. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. 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. 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. - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. - Use nudity. 04. Non-visual senses are big, too. (Huh.). The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. 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? Thus, "a dress" is inappropriate for a (male) prince, unless he is pretending to be a woman. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. Figurative language . It would have been extremely warm too. 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: Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. 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. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. Well, mostly. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. 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. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. One major element that makes creating more futuristic clothing easier is to make sure it doesn't look familiar, to make sure it doesn't look like something you'd come across today. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Lots of gear would have been looted. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Ha-ha! The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? 70s-inspired. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. Do all your characters embrace it? As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. 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. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Each suit was tailored to the individual. 60s-inspired. Our characters are always (mostly!) 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. If Im wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening: Im in a great mood or Im feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable. Heres a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. 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 time period of your story. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. This description generator will create a mostly random description of either a dress or a suit, fit for formal occasions and other fancy needs. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. ). Fantasy Armor - The Ultimate Guide - Richie Billing