When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. Thanks, Sana. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? That was the theory. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. Required fields are marked *. In a book, none of that is true. Not a Dabble user? Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! 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? Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. I tend to avoid describing clothing. Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. - Change lengths. 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. Here are five examples: 1. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? (Huh.). The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. It's easy to try this out too, at least the simple line version. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? 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. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. 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. The fact Gem goes with jeans and a tee could suggest that she trusts her aunts advice. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes. I'm sort of into historical armor so would get a kick out of finding an excuse to talk about vambraces/rerebraces, spaulders, etc. Consider this example from Hard Times. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. 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. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. for any particular parts of an outfit. You can also check out some of my other guides too, like: If you have any questions about this guide on fantasy armor, please get in touch. As well see below, one of the best things about using medieval armor in a fantasy story is the freedom to elevate it in some way. Look how she sits with her mouth open! 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. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. 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. Compare this, then, to Dickens description of Gradgrinds wife in the following chapter (Gradgrinds wealthy but poverty-claiming friend has just told Mrs. Gradgrind he was born in a ditch): Mrs. Gradgrind, a little, thin, white, pink-eyed bundle of shawls, of surpassing feebleness, mental and bodily; who was always taking physic without any effect, and who, whenever she showed a symptom of coming to life, was invariably stunned by some weighty piece of fact tumbling on her; Mrs. Gradgrind hoped it was a dry ditch? Baggy. Characters wear more than just clothes. Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. 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. Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Privacy Policy. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. For more information, please see our See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. In other words, research. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. 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. Stylish. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. And right at the heart of it were the leaders of societythe medieval lords. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? - 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. Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? 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. Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. 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. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. And what does she put that cap on for? Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. 2012 - When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. Whether its a beekeeping suit, climbing helmet, knee pads, or sun-protective fabric, what your character wears provides a clue about whats at stake in the coming scene. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. More on that in a bit. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. That would depend on a few things. Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed, We mentioned gambesons above. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt, A Guide To Writing Stories That Genuinely Helps, "Helped me land my first book deal" - Jack Shannon, Author, Get More Writing Support From Fellow Fantasy Writers, A complete guide to worldbuilding, with a template. 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 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. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Theyre the lifeblood of any relationship. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. 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. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. 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. Thanks Chuck! 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? Besides knowing who we design for we also have to know what the rules for designing are within the universe of our characters. - Taboos and nudity. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. 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In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. - Geometry. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, its that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. its obviously black with a centered zipper is easy but then the various pieces, the shapes, the colors, like two rows of this then a row of that, you get what I mean? 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. Each suit was tailored to the individual. One does not refer to "a garb". - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. 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. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. Costume is a large part of a character. The geographical setting might suggest that your characters are expected to abide by strict rules for modesty or are celebrated for being wild and free. Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. 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. Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. A possible source of conflict for a story, perhaps! Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. 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. Ive always wondered that too! 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. To illustrate this let's take a standard men's suit as an example. Or at least they know what century theyre in. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. These small but mighty players can add depth, complexity, and a fresh perspective to your plot. 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. Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Just click the button below to find out more. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. 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. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. 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. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. 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. You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Another benefit to chain mail, a point which can slip the mind of writers, is that it was cheap and efficient, able to accommodate different-sized warriors, unlike expensive plated armor. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. In some cases because they simply didn't have the technology for it, in others because it was too expensive and/or time consuming for the average person. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. 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. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. 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. Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. Using this site means trees will be planted. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. Your email address will not be published. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Thank you for reading our blog! Its a good time. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. Youre still not off the hook. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. Think noble King Arthur and his knights of the roundtable. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. 60s-inspired. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters personalities. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. So below, well take a look at the relationship between the genre of fantasy and medieval armor. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. Love this topic!! 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).
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