Ill add it to my to do list . When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Each suit was tailored to the individual. 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. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. 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. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK Community . 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. 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. - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. 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. 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. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! Sneak around? 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 In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. Good for the mobile knight. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. In one single piece of clothing description (a pink-eyed bundle of shawls), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband. Your email address will not be published. That decorative belt? Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. A band t-shirt. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. 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. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. Also bear in mind that not all clothing descriptions have to be presented as She put on x or He was wearing y. You can draw your readers attention to an item of clothing by having your character draw on their jeans or fiddle with their collar. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. But they werent administrators. Also his mother was poor and anyone who knew that might wonder how he could afford such clothing so it hints at the actual story. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. Using the work of Alexander McQueen, this unit guides students through the analysis of a fashion collection, introducing them to the critical language and methodologies needed to evaluate fashion design and runway presentation. Dr. Urbino in Marquezs example above fits the latter category. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. 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. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. And if you dont write historical fiction? Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. - As far as colors go they often seem to be either toned down or bright and happy (or even over the top), depending on the style. - Change lengths. How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples) | Now Novel Not really. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. Thanks Chuck! Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. How to create a fantasy costume design | Creative Bloq One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. Again, I don't mean make your character walk around naked, but add elements of covering up or exposing certain areas of the body. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. Cookie Notice Another quick way of making standard clothing fantasy themed is by converting clothes form the relative future to one that could be created in whichever time period your universe falls under. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Those outfits can become iconic. 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It's part of culture, so it's definitely something to keep in mind since your fictional universes will have some form of culture as well. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. These are deep questions. - Taboos and nudity. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. Fancy dresses. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. Am I trying to blow the interview? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. Chest plates had grand etchings. Does your character need to hide? They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. 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. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! This is a heavy generalization of course and entirely based on Western culture of today, but these rules may not apply at all in a fictional universe, no matter if it's futuristic or based on a historic setting. I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. In a book, none of that is true. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. That was the theory. The unsung hero of so many stories. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Mail was one of the first types of metal armor developed, arguably by the Celts, though other sources say its origins came from Eastern Europe. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever desirable means in this situation. Not a Dabble user? One does not refer to "a garb". Does it Matter What Your Character Wears? - The Write Practice - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight SHIRT AND PANTS | Fantasy-Writers.org They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Thank you for reading our blog! Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. Or at least they know what century theyre in. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Well come to this below. Thanks, Sana. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. ). 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: Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. An owl, a real owl! What matters more to them: fashion or function? How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. Using this site means trees will be planted. Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. 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. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem.