how to describe fantasy clothing how to describe fantasy clothing

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). Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own). What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? 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. 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. 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. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. 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. Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing. 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). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. Baggy jeans. And what does she put that cap on for? Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. In both of these it was mostly the rich who had the extravagant clothing, which brings back the earlier point of how culture influences what a character might wear. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. 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. The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. 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. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. An owl, a real owl! You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). But it provided an odd sense of security. "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s. - Mix cultures. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. This is great! 28 First of all, beautiful dress and mask! As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. 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. Non-visual senses are big, too. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. 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. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. 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. 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. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. (Has denim been invented yet? Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. 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. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. 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. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt weapons and provided some protection from cuts, but against well-forged weapons they were useless. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. 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. Just click the button below to find out more. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. The fact that Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. Not a Dabble user? 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. Share. These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth. Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. 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. Community . And lets not forget the trusty steed. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. This one is simple, right? Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. 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. Instead of saying, for example I saw that the station gate was coming down and the last train was about to leave, you could say The station gate is already screeching closed. 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. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. In the historical fiction books Ive read, none of the heroes took off their helmets unless they were knocked off, or bashed in. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. 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. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. As I write this, I am wearing jeans that are too big, a gray t-shirt I inherited from a former roommate, and a pilled hoodie from a lighting vendor that works with my friends husbands company. You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. Use the Character section of the Idea Finder to develop quick story ideas and flesh out your storys cast. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. 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. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. 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. Fancy dresses. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. For more information, please see our Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. You can weave clothing description into your process when using our story planner for writers. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked. Thanks Chuck! Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. 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. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. Or one who was forever wearing poorly-fitted clothing that appeared to be handed down from friends? See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. It really doesnt take much. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. 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. Great idea. 1. Good for the mobile knight. They are more common around the chest and torso in Asian cultures though, so keep that in mind when adding diagonal lines. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. Theyll see it automatically. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. Each lesson breaks down the analysis of one component of a fashion collection, progressing from a consideration of the designer's technique and influences to the . Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. That would depend on a few things. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. The pieces around the vital organsthe chest and headwere thicker and heavier than those on the arms and legs to try and reduce weight as much as possible. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? In my case my character is new in town and this description of clothing doesnt come until hes getting ready for the party in chapter 4 and its in the context of getting dressed, there are reasons behind it, the party is a very big deal for him getting his foot in the door with other teens in town and he wants to be impressive or maybe wants lot of attention with all the sparklies. Black and white usually does the trick as well. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. Great article. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. 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. To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. 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. Again, I don't mean make your character walk around naked, but add elements of covering up or exposing certain areas of the body. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? Dr. Urbino in Marquezs example above fits the latter category. There are some elements which are common among most works of fiction when it comes to clothing, with these elements in mind it becomes a lot easier to turn the clothing we wear today or wore throughout history into a futuristic or more fantasy oriented equivalent. ), Your character and communitys financial resources. And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg.