Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. Excuse the on hold background music. As with body armor, great efforts were made with the designs of helmets. And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. - Change lengths. 70s-inspired. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. It's what we're slowly doing today. 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 that are loose and hanging in folds. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. For example, fur usually wasn't used as a piece of decoration for clothing and if used at all was often worn around the neck and shoulders or underneath other (often hide) clothing to keep warm. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. its obviously black with a centered zipper is easy but then the various pieces, the shapes, the colors, like two rows of this then a row of that, you get what I mean? As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. Our characters are always (mostly!) Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and theyll feel your characters priorities deep in their own souls. They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, its that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. Youre not infodumping. The pieces around the vital organsthe chest and headwere thicker and heavier than those on the arms and legs to try and reduce weight as much as possible. This is a fun one. 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. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Cookie Notice 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. 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. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. 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. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. You can keep track of your characters signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write. Much of the clothing we wear today were either rare or completely nonexistent a hundred years ago. This includes things like a pilots uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. 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. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. - Taboos and nudity. 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. (Cough-cough-cough.) This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. If it fits your universe it usually works, so don't be afraid of doing something different. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. is because we get stuck on what things look like. 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. Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. Love this topic!! Its a bit OCD of me. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. It would have been extremely warm too. A knight, by definition, was a lord. Fashionable: Clothes representing a current style in fashion. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. Theyre just too important defensively. 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. - 'Stealth'. - Diagonal lines: Diagonal lines aren't all that common in historic clothing and they usually only came in the form of neck lines, the edges of unbuttoned jackets or from large pieces of fabric being held up (think ancient Rome). Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. ). Also try searching cool fantasy armor, or epic fantasy armor. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. 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. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. 160 Best Character description ideas | character description, fantasy [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. 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. The unsung hero of so many stories. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. Figurative language . - Use nudity. 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. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. In 2021 his debut novel, Pariah's Lament, an epic fantasy, was published by Of Metal and Magic. Use your first-person narrators senses sight, hearing, touch, etc. 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 this really reaffirmed that approach for me. Have fun with it. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. Blunt, Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. I love the way clothes can describe a character. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. How long do they need their clothes to last? For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Be specific and accurate. 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. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. Your email address will not be published. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. (Huh.). Do all your characters embrace 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. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. 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. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. Similar to how pixelated designs tend to look more futuristic so do designs full of geometrical shapes. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. Not quite. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. 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: Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Your article is really great. Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters? - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Further reading How To Write Fight Scenes. Describing clothes? : r/writing - reddit or the world theyre desperately resisting. Or at least they know what century theyre in. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. Hi Paige, thank you (and thanks for your question). Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. In one single piece of clothing description (a pink-eyed bundle of shawls), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband. But Ive also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. Great points. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Heating to the perfect temperature was key. In other words, research. Also, don't feel like you have to include every point I've made. Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. 04. Thanks Chuck! Privacy Policy. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Creative Words to Describe Outfit & Clothing - INK 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. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Medieval clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators At least in most cases. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Elsewhere, Mantels novel is full of descriptions of garments for specific, era-appropriate purposes: Riding cloaks, town coats, and other clothing people of means would have worn at this time. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt weapons and provided some protection from cuts, but against well-forged weapons they were useless. That cloth ribbon tied around their waist? A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. 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. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. And lets not forget the trusty steed. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! 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.

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