Share. How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. These are deep questions. 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. As soon as the actor enters stage right or left, we have an inkling of whether theyre a wealthy landowner or peasant, an elegant heiress or humble flower-seller. I like the way you wrote this information. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. It's what we're slowly doing today. A pair of starched Wranglers. Ragged clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Whenever other races or species are involved, like elves and trolls, it's often best to give them clothing that differs from whatever humans (and other races) wear, even if those differences are subtle. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. What are some ways to describe a character's clothing? They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. 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. 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. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. Stockings, long gloves, scarves or separate layers of clothing make a huge difference. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. It can be as simple as making a dress shorter, a jacket longer or sleeves wider and longer. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. is because we get stuck on what things look like. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. 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. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Jeans and a tee it was. Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. All cultures have dress codes to some degree, some more so than others and some more stricter than others, but every culture has a range of styles that would be considered normal, 'out there' and unacceptable to most. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. 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. We all love a character with a cool set of fantasy armor: the baresark Rek from David Gemmells Legend with his enchanted coat of bronze, or Tomas from Raymond Feists Riftwar Cycle with his gleaming white dragon plate which gifted him incredible power. How do you describe this dress - Writing Forums 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. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. If you tell your readers about Nanettes light pink cardigan and string of pearls, you dont have to say much about the shoes and skirt and silk blouse. 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. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. But it provided an odd sense of security. Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. Like say a vest with mirrored sequins and rhinestones, but they all go in a pattern and you feel the need to describe the pattern line by line? - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. Which brings me to my next point. Community . We already have spray on clothing technology. More on that in a bit. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Lets take a look at some individual pieces of armor. Well come to this below. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Very informative. Required fields are marked *. I dont mean camisoles and cardigans. The tragedy of Azincourt, for example, occurred because of a poorly-chosen battleground that had flooded. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. 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). A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. 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. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. Describing clothes? : r/writing - reddit Chausses / Chauces (15th century) Pantaloons; padded hosen for the legs, often worn under chainmail or plate armor. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. 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. 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. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. Clothing reflects the resources available in a specific time and place. 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. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. This is a fun one. Metallic works well too, but make sure any metal bits or metallic looking bits are smooth and clean looking too, otherwise it might look too historic. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Am I trying to blow the interview? Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Not a Dabble user? They were warriors first and foremost. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! It makes for a more entertaining read. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. Privacy Policy. - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. 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. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. Well, mostly. There is simply more characterization, not only of Gem but the other characters, too. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. A few easy changes are to make one side longer than the other, so basically creating a diagonal cut instead of the standard horizontal one. If you want futuristic fantasy simply follow the sci-fi/futuristic tips more or mix and match both sides. They are more common around the chest and torso in Asian cultures though, so keep that in mind when adding diagonal lines. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. Thanks, Sana. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. 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. How long do they need their clothes to last? Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to weaponry Richie Billing. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. Press J to jump to the feed. Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. 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. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. 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. And if you dont write historical fiction? - Use nudity. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. 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. How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. 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.. If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions. 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. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Blend in? Love this topic!! Were trying to avoid, Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. True, it all depends on your purpose. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. (Find out more). 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. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. 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. Fancy clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Cookie Notice And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. 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. Theyre just too important defensively. 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. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. First and foremost we need to know who we're designing for. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. 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. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. Casual. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. If Im wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening: Im in a great mood or Im feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? 60s-inspired. In fact, you should be putting lots of thought and development into protagonists because thats who the story is about.But how much thought have you given to your tertiary characters? The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. In Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, the poor, Tuberculosis-stricken Katerina Ivanovnas husband is trampled to death by a horse-drawn cart. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. I would be great to expand it with armor from other areas, Samurai armor, for example. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Great points. I'll allow my fangirl side to shine for a second and use the Legend of Korra as an example of how mixing styles can work amazingly well. 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. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. This is great! Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. 2012 - The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods? ^.^ All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral Life is Good t-shirt. Play with the question of presentation and power! Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? 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. 28 First of all, beautiful dress and mask! 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. Mantel describes the cardinals vestments: They bring out the cardinals vestments, his copes. 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. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. Or one who was forever wearing poorly-fitted clothing that appeared to be handed down from friends? To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. These elements are very important when taking into account the previous point. 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 . Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. Lots of gear would have been looted. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. Do all your characters embrace it? Ready to sketch vivid characters for your novel? 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.
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