how to describe fantasy clothing

Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. And when Mother Nature gets involved, even the best suit of armor can have problems. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. Each suit was tailored to the individual. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. 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. Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. 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. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. What your character wears reveals where they come from, how they rank in society, how they want to be perceived, and even how they feel about themselves. If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. Send private message Achievements: Need help with clothing description in Fantasy #1 I'm writing a Fantasy Novel in the middle ages, filled with swords and magic However, I realize I have trouble trying to convey how the characters look, like what the nobles' attire, the bandit's armor. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. Sweaters or jumpers? You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Look how she sits with her mouth open! Not a Dabble user? These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. 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. Will using real-world cultural vocabulary in a fantasy setting Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? 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). Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. 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. Further reading How To Write Fight Scenes. Lets talk about how to use clothing description as a storytelling tool, how to dress your character for their personality and setting, and how to make clothes interesting to anyone. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing. Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Chest plates had grand etchings. ). Struggling with describing clothes for a fantasy setting. : r/DnD - reddit How were women treated in the Middle Ages? and our Costume is a large part of a character. You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your characters wardrobe. 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. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. Hello, I am attempting to write my first fantasy novel (and my first novel), and I'm having difficulty visualizing what kind of clothes my characters should be wearing. Medieval clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators You find that its about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. A velvet scrunchie. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. 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. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. 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. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. The front part of helmets, or the visors, were there to raise or open so the wearer could breathe during taxing hand-to-hand combat or scan around the battlefield. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. How to describe clothing: 6 simple tips Use clothing to show status and position 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 - Geometry. Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. 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. 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: 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. That decorative belt? (Huh.). You can also fulfil (or contradict) impressions your characters (or readers) form based on appearances. 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. It really doesnt take much. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. 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. In the historical fiction books Ive read, none of the heroes took off their helmets unless they were knocked off, or bashed in. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. Ha-ha! Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. Some materials are used more than others, some colors are more desirable than others and some accessories are more desirable than others and these all changed throughout time. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Embarrassed by her own inability to dress in finery for the occasion (and by being upstaged), Katerina resorts to scathing mockery of Amalia. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. 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. 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. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. For instance, if I'm reading a story and the narrative mentions jeans right off, I'm thinking mid twentieth century or later (while dungarees would be late nineteenth . 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 line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Not to pile on, but dont forget to make sure you know which materials wereand werentavailable in the world of your novel. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. 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.. With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. List of Medieval Clothing (91 terms!) - The Medieverse: Tim's Realistic If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. Good for the mobile knight. As such, the contemporary tales that have followed, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons and everything in between, have paid homage to that era. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. 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. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. 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). 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. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. It's what we're slowly doing today. Impress someone with my indifference? In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. - Change lengths. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. Describing clothes? : r/writing - reddit 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. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Your article is really great. How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples) | Now Novel Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. Describing armor and clothing. : r/writing - reddit For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. And lets not forget the trusty steed. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. Casual. As far as guidelines go this is the first to be broken though, consider this one more of a starting point rather than something to necessarily end on. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. 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. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. (Where do they buy their clothes? One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. Affordable . One does not refer to "a garb". Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. As knights became fully armored, so did their mounts. Its a good time. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. Improve this answer. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? Youll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. 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. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. Am I trying to blow the interview? Besides knowing who we design for we also have to know what the rules for designing are within the universe of our characters. Not quite. Clothing in fantasy novel | Absolute Write Water Cooler We'll 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. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. This may seem like a tricky thing to do as there's so much out there already, but it can often be as simple as simply changing a texture, the patterns used or the amount of fabric. 1. And right at the heart of it were the leaders of societythe medieval lords. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). 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. Looking for a word - prince's clothes - English Language Learners Stack 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. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. 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. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. In some cases because they simply didn't have the technology for it, in others because it was too expensive and/or time consuming for the average person. Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy Not really. The rope belt is solely decorative and a status symbol. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. In other words take what exists and apply it differently.