Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. 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). Baggy. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. 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. Think noble King Arthur and his knights of the roundtable. So we've covered ways to make clothing look both futuristic and historic, but these are all just guidelines and mostly based on what's been done before. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. is because we get stuck on what things look like. How to describe clothing in a story: Creating characters (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? 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. How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central I like the way you wrote this information. Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? 04. 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. And what does she put that cap on for? - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. If a knight fell from a horse, he could quite easily pick himself up, not stuck on the ground like a tortoise knocked on its shell. Sneak around? Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. 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. 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. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. For more information, please see our Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? 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. Lots of gear would have been looted. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. 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. Or theyll be living off soda crackers and peanut butter for the next week because they drained their checking account for a suit to impress at their job interview. 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. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. 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. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. (Cough-cough-cough.) Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators 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. 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. This usually involves dresses from some time pre-renaissance and a tunic or shirt paired with trousers for men and women who are doing warrior stuff. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. Its not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. 28 First of all, beautiful dress and mask! Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. - Taboos and nudity. - 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). Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. Then this is their category. Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy 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. 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. Really like your article. clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters personalities. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. Casual. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. 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. Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by, Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. Our characters are always (mostly!) Clothing in fantasy novel | Absolute Write Water Cooler One does not refer to "a garb". I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. 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. Select the most striking details and move on. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. Much of the clothing we wear today were either rare or completely nonexistent a hundred years ago. Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. 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. 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. Thanks, Sana. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. Play with the question of presentation and power! 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. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own). Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. - 'Stealth'. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. 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. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. Ha-ha! ), Your character and communitys financial resources. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. Using a squared, pixelated look or circuitry patterns usually works great too, which can even be combined with layered clothing to create the circuitry feel. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. Thank you for reading our blog! This is great! A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. Elsewhere, Mantels novel is full of descriptions of garments for specific, era-appropriate purposes: Riding cloaks, town coats, and other clothing people of means would have worn at this time. 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. 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? Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. Showing what your characters are wearing can be a great way to show your readers what they might be up to that day without having to actually narrate anything. 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. Heres a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. 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. (Has denim been invented yet? - "Digital look". It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. First and foremost we need to know who we're designing for. Each suit was tailored to the individual. That would depend on a few things. Those outfits can become iconic. Advertisements. 80s-inspired. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. and our A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. (Find out more). Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. The more outlandish the fantasy species your character is the more outlandish you can usually be with clothing, but familiarity is usually still a solid ground for a realistic feel, even if the universe and the creatures are completely unrealistic. 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. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. "He was wearing a spandex tank top" is an improvement from just mentioning that your character's wearing a shirt; but consider adding the element of color: "He was wearing a black-and-yellow-striped spandex tank top.". But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. Does it Matter What Your Character Wears? - The Write Practice Writing Tips on Describing Clothes - Pen and the Pad You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. 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 immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. At least in most cases. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. 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. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. Your email address will not be published. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. Do they strive to be humble before their god or do they want to spend this one and only life as their bold, ostentatious selves? Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. Great points. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. Youre not infodumping. I love the way clothes can describe a character. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex.

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