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? Both doublets and chain mail were worn in conjunction with plated armor for that added protection, particularly for areas plate could not cover, such as arms and the groin. For example, the corset wasn't popular until the 16th century and while earlier versions can be found incredibly early they weren't common place. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor?
Theyre the lifeblood of any relationship. This is great! Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. Play with the question of presentation and power! Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. 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. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. 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. And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. I love the way clothes can describe a character. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. 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. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. Your email address will not be published. It makes for a more entertaining read. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe..
Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. I like the way you wrote this information. This is a fun one. Thanks Chuck! A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? For example, if a character is going on a date, you could write: Gem wanted to look sexy for her date downtown (but not easy), so she changed into more comfortable clothes. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. The time period of your story. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. 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. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. 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. 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. 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. Impress someone with my indifference? That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. Your article is really great. 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. 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. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. Casual. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. 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. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Look how she sits with her mouth open! Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Besides, these are all just guidelines meant to spark some inspiration in you. - Taboos and nudity. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. So have fun with that. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. Because it actually is possible. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. I sincerely hope youve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Ive always wondered that too! One does not refer to "a garb". "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. When shes not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that. Just click the button below to find out more. Sci-fi and fantasy don't necessarily have to be futuristic and historic respectively, but they're commonly associated as such, so for the sake of simplicity that's what I'm going with for the purposes of this guide. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.].
Describing armor and clothing. : r/writing - reddit In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks.
How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers. It would have been extremely warm too. One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' 2012 - I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. Love this topic!! ). Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. Thanks Benjamin! Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style.
Does it Matter What Your Character Wears? - The Write Practice Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. 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. 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. 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: Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. (Cough-cough-cough.) 70s-inspired. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Not to mention the social status of a person. Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. But they werent administrators. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. 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. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? He is old but stylish. 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. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians!