document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Look at this picture, is it insane for an author to try to describe this on a character? That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. This can be a very effective way if your universe is based on an existing culture. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view.
Describing clothes? : r/writing - reddit 160 Best Character description ideas | character description, fantasy A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. But thats the case wherever you go. 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. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Blend in? Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. 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. The fact Gem goes with jeans and a tee could suggest that she trusts her aunts advice. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices.
Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. It's what we're slowly doing today. The jacket has a narrow, rectangular neckline which reveals part of the fancy shirt worn below it and is worn with a light rope belt, which is held together by a simple knot. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. Select the most striking details and move on. 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. But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. These are deep questions. Added on top of that the condition that they had to supply him with soldiers too. I don't mean make your characters walk around naked, but exposing (or covering) body parts in ways we don't today helps make ordinary clothing look different, which in turn helps sell the idea of it being futuristic. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. Chest plates had grand etchings.
How to design clothes with a sci-fi feel | Creative Bloq Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. 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. And lets not forget the trusty steed. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Meanwhile, the character who works two jobs while going to school full-time might scour the Goodwill rack for a designer tag to help them fit in at the same party. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. 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. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. 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. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. Well also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by knights, potential designs, and ways to help you find inspiration for creating your own. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. The train hums and throbs in place as people rush to pile in.. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. Community . I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. Its not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. 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. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) You dont need it to sign up. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. 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. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Then this is their category. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. - "Digital look". It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. 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. 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. (Where do they buy their clothes? Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. Nov 1, 2019 - Explore Arisa Nightingale's board "Male Fantasy Outfit Concepts & Designs", followed by 456 people on Pinterest. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. Allrightsreserved, create an authentic sense of time and place, Use fashion and clothing history archives, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg, 1: Use clothing to show status and position, 2: Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions, 3: Describe clothing to contrastcharacters personalities, 4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling, 5: Change characters clothing to highlight character development, 6: Use clothing details to recreate authentic setting, 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. Good for the mobile knight. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. Well come to this below. Do all your characters embrace it? is because we get stuck on what things look like. Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. One does not refer to "a garb". 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? Cookie Notice You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. 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. - Change lengths.
Does it Matter What Your Character Wears? - The Write Practice or the world theyre desperately resisting. Great idea. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. For more information, please see our In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. 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 There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. All of these advancements will become more and more common as time goes on, so it'd make sense for them to be part of our clothing in the future. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Try some colour. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. So why not join the gang? Beyond medieval Europe, you have the Far East, the Romans, Viking Before you know it youll have designed a full set of fantasy roman or viking armor. If youre trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, youre probably like me: Youve only pretended to know what organza is. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. Which brings me to my next point. You walk down the usual street and suddenly some old memory hits you. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. 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. So have fun with that. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? 04. First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. This is less important for non-visual arts as clothing isn't always described in writing, but it can still be incredibly helpful to have a fully detailed character in your head or written down somewhere for reference and just to make everything feel more real and alive. This article has compiled 100 different words you can use to describe clothes, and below the main list of 100 words we've explained our reasoning for a lot of the top picks from that very list, for your personal enjoyment. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! These aren't the only elements either, pretty much every part of clothing changes with the times and depend heavily upon what's fashionable at the time. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. ^.^ Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. And if you dont write historical fiction? Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. Impress someone with my indifference?
Describing clothes : writing - reddit Are they overalls or coveralls? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. - Mix cultures. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. 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. Not to pile on, but dont forget to make sure you know which materials wereand werentavailable in the world of your novel. Thanks I will be following your blog from now one I just came across it today.
Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators 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. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. That works. 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. 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. This is great! Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. - Christine, on How to describe clothing in a story (with examples), 8 story hook examples (how to grab attention), Story structure examples: How to create payoffs for readers, How to describe to immerse readers (complete guide), How to write deep POV: 8 tips and examples, 9 exposition examples: How to write clear introductions, How to make a plot captivating: 7 strategies, Writing great characters: 5 lessons from modern novels. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. Thanks, Sana. Theyre just too important defensively. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. To illustrate this let's take a standard men's suit as an example. Thus, "a dress" is inappropriate for a (male) prince, unless he is pretending to be a woman. Besides knowing who we design for we also have to know what the rules for designing are within the universe of our characters. 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. - 'Stealth'. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory.
Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Required fields are marked *. Really like your article. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. For a bigger image, just click on the link above.
SHIRT AND PANTS | Fantasy-Writers.org Great article. Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. 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. What also worries me is that in Chapter 3 I used a lot of descriptions of the house, like the main characters room and then I had him go to various other rooms, looked at pictures of his family he has yet to meet so chapter 3 had the least story development or social scenes but the ones it had were good ones and I ended it with a scene that creates more development and story hype. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. 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. 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. Costume is a large part of a character.
Describing armor and clothing. : r/writing - reddit How were women treated in the Middle Ages? I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. 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). The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! 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. Not really. 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? The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. for any particular parts of an outfit. What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. 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. If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. 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). 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. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. The first time I joined my family for our biannual Minnesota fishing trip after moving to L.A. from the Midwest, I found myself constantly losing my aunt and mother. 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. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. 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. 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. A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Like Borges would say, I used to be under the mindset that describing attire was boring and it was better to let the reader fill in those details but especially with the novel Im working on now, I have used clothing to portray more about their 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. 60s-inspired. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. These detail could suggest that your character is miserly or down-to-earth despite their wealth. I mean what your character wears provides a clue to how they see themselves, how they want to be seen, and even how others see them.