Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. To illustrate this in a way we did with the futuristic shirt example let's take a standard medieval tunic and turn it into a fantasy-themed version. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. And right at the heart of it were the leaders of societythe medieval lords. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. 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. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. Sneak around? That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? Showing what your characters are wearing can be a great way to show your readers what they might be up to that day without having to actually narrate anything. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look. It would have been extremely warm too. At a quarter to six, Gem pulled off the low-cut top Emma had wolf-whistled and clappedat when theyd met for their usual weekend catch-up. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. 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. Using a squared, pixelated look or circuitry patterns usually works great too, which can even be combined with layered clothing to create the circuitry feel. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? How to Describe Clothing in a Story (with Examples) | Now Novel The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. As knights became fully armored, so did their mounts. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. Cookie Notice You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. 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. His pants are simple and narrow and reach down to his hard leather shoes. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for female fantasy armor. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. What are the rules of your characters world? In Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Love in the Time of Cholera (1985), we learn of a doctors status through his being the only person at an event who is not smartly dressed: Although it was not customary for invitations to request special attire, least of all for a luncheon in the country, the women wore evening gowns and precious jewels and most of the men were dressed in dinner jackets with black ties, and some even wore frock coats. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. You suddenly know which details to include, which to leave out, and whether to call it a blood-red cloak or a goji berry wrap. for any particular parts of an outfit. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Just click this link and dont even think about touching your wallet. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. Just click the button below to find out more. But for writers like me who get stuck in the white socks, green dress rut, heres a quick reminder: Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment. And if you dont write historical fiction? s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. Do not describe a character's clothing except as that point of view character would do so. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. Maybe theyre hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. 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. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . 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. 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. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Maybe a bit of both. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. These are deep questions. True, it all depends on your purpose. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. 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: 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. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. 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. Consider this example from Hard Times. Dostoyevsky describes how Katerinas landlady, Amalia Ivanovna, dresses for the funeral: the table was properly laid at the time and fixed, and Amalia Ivanovna, feeling she had done her work well, had put on a black silk dress and a cap with new mourning ribbons and met the returning party with some pride. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. Never hose for men and probably never puffy breeches. We already have spray on clothing technology. 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. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. 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. Those outfits can become iconic. They were warriors first and foremost. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. Make it mandatory to hold up a piece of clothing. Its not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. 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. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. In this scene, Gradgrind returns home to find his children playing outside: A space of stunted grass and dry rubbish being between him and the young rabble, he took his eyeglass out of his waistcoat to look for any child he knew by name, and might order off. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators 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. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. A common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Fancy dresses. It makes for a more entertaining read. 80s-inspired. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. 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? It really doesnt take much. I sincerely hope youve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. You can quickly convey a number of things about your characters based on the clothing they wear. 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. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Great points. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight Whereas a more confident or attention seeking person might seek out the edges of what's socially acceptable more or just wear more stylish and potentially more colorful or flamboyant clothing. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. Your email address will not be published. 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. But thats the case wherever you go. You walk down the usual street and suddenly some old memory hits you. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. The important thing to remember is to remain in the character's point of view. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. 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. I once wrote about imbuing everyday objects with meaning because talisman create great opportunities for symbolism! 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! Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. It took a while to get ready, with the help of somebody else needed, usually squires, who began with the feet and worked up from there. 2012 - How to describe scenery ? : r/fantasywriters - reddit.com The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. - 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. List of Medieval Clothing (91 terms!) - The Medieverse: Tim's Realistic He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. Ive always wondered that too! It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Blend in? Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. Understanding how to describe clothing in a story well will help you create fuller, richer character portraits. These small but mighty players can add depth, complexity, and a fresh perspective to your plot. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. Each suit was tailored to the individual. 04. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. Very informative. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters personalities. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. Using this site means trees will be planted. Looking for a word - prince's clothes - English Language Learners Stack Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. 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. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. 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. (Cough-cough-cough.) Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Clothing in fantasy novel | Absolute Write Water Cooler Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters? And what does she put that cap on for? Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy Does your character need to hide? One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. 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. In a book, none of that is true. 160 Best Character description ideas | character description, fantasy Your email address will not be published. Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever desirable means in this situation. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. 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. Besides, these are all just guidelines meant to spark some inspiration in you. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. 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. Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Written by MasterClass Last updated: Aug 19, 2021 3 min read Creating vivid descriptions for a story or character is a mark of a great writer. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. Thanks Benjamin! 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. 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? If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. 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. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. 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. Besides knowing who we design for we also have to know what the rules for designing are within the universe of our characters. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. Adding them with intention can help increase tension, make twists hit that much harder, and keep your reader engaged., How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody, Tertiary Characters: Giving Your Background Players Life, Sidekicks: The Loyal Companion Your Hero Needs. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. Describing armor and clothing. : r/writing - reddit If youre trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, youre probably like me: Youve only pretended to know what organza is. A band t-shirt. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. Which is to say, if you write from the point of view of a character who thinks of clothing only in terms of the simplest descriptors, that's just fine.
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