In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. Or at least they know what century theyre in. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? 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. These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. 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? Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. Improve this answer. Affordable . You can keep track of your characters signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. A scarlet pantsuit. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. Look how she sits with her mouth open! As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Now, for the feedbackit depends what POV you're writing in. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. Characters wear more than just clothes. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. Not to mention the social status of a person. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. 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. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. 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. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. From time to time we may use affiliate links to help with the costs of running the site. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Do all your characters embrace it? Amalias dress thus comes across as insensitive to her; malicious even. Sometimes they're more interesting and lovable than the main characters themselves and end up stealing the show., Secrets. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. 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. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. Your email address will not be published. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. Any suggestions on how to properly do this? Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. Note that with the camouflage patterns it's best to use this style, but make them less randomized to avoid the military look, unless that's what you're going for of course. 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 I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. So have fun with that. Figurative language . One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. Our characters are always (mostly!) I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. Not really. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. 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. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. 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. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. In other words, research. Adding them with intention can help increase tension, make twists hit that much harder, and keep your reader engaged., How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody, Tertiary Characters: Giving Your Background Players Life, Sidekicks: The Loyal Companion Your Hero Needs. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. - Geometry. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. - Taboos and nudity. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. 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. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. You dont need it to sign up. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. As with mail, steel was the best material due to its hardness, which was obtained by heating the steel to extreme temperatures and then submerging it into cold water, a process known as quenching. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. 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. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. Ha-ha! Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by, Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. This description generator will create a mostly random description of either a dress or a suit, fit for formal occasions and other fancy needs. Impress someone with my indifference? (Find out more). The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. 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.. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. 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. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. The fact that 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. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. Read these tips on how (and why) to describe clothes with examples from well-known novels: 1: Use clothing to show status and position 2: Build (or thwart) character expectations with clothing descriptions 3: Describe clothing to contrast characters' personalities 4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. 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. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. 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. Really like your article. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. 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. 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. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. 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. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Using this site means trees will be planted. Love this topic!! I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. 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. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? Play with the question of presentation and power! Or one who was forever wearing poorly-fitted clothing that appeared to be handed down from friends? 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. These small but mighty players can add depth, complexity, and a fresh perspective to your plot. 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. for any particular parts of an outfit. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Baggy. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. 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. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Costume is a large part of a character. 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. - 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. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. 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. Good for the mobile knight.
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