Each lesson breaks down the analysis of one component of a fashion collection, progressing from a consideration of the designer's technique and influences to the . Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. In a book, none of that is true. Not really. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. 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. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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. Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy When describing clothing in writing, consider: You can also use this aspect of clothing description to paint a vivid picture of the world you imagined. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. 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. 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. 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. It's easy to try this out too, at least the simple line version. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. ^.^ Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. Instead of saying, for example I saw that the station gate was coming down and the last train was about to leave, you could say The station gate is already screeching closed. Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. One thing Ive always wondered is if someone wearing plate could fall down just right in a muddy battlefield, and get stuck there in the same way a large flat rock gets stuck laying in mud. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? 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. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. Each suit was tailored to the individual. Impress someone with my indifference? The line could be thin or thick, glowing, metallic-looking or just plain, padded or smooth, patterned, decorated or simply a seem. Which brings me to my next point. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. 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. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. An owl in new ribbons, ha-ha-ha! You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. 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. Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Do all your characters embrace it? To add to the previous mosaic part stealth technology can provide great patterns. 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? We already have spray on clothing technology. But it provided an odd sense of security. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? 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). That would depend on a few things. Affordable . They mixed more traditional Asian styles with the more Western Industrial Revolution period styles. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. 04. Writing Tips on Describing Clothes - Pen and the Pad Not quite. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Have fun with it. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. Sneak around? 60s-inspired. How to design clothes with a sci-fi feel | Creative Bloq Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Improve this answer. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. Figurative language . A scarlet pantsuit. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). 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. Any suggestions on how to properly do this? Adorable. How to Give Your Characters Style: Describing Clothing in Writing Good for the mobile knight. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. 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. Its a bit OCD of me. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. 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. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. Theyre just too important defensively. - Make things look glossy, smooth and clean. Ill add it to my to do list . 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. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. 80s-inspired. 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. 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. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? 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. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. 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. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. - Another way to use color is to make things seem like they're glowing even if they're not and to use gradients. This one is simple, right? Required fields are marked *. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. Baggy. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. Your email address will not be published. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. (Has denim been invented yet? 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. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) Thank you for sharing this valuable information. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. 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 Ragged clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Whether its a beekeeping suit, climbing helmet, knee pads, or sun-protective fabric, what your character wears provides a clue about whats at stake in the coming scene. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. Advertisements. Get an image of a blank shirt and simply draw the lines on it, it'll form a great base to work with. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. Youre more than welcome to join us and wed love to have you on board. Here are five examples: 1. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. Leonidas in 300, for instance, almost certainly wore a helmet in the battle with the Persians! If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. A velvet scrunchie. 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. 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. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. - 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). Casual. 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. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Not a Dabble user? Privacy Policy. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. It would have been extremely warm too. How to describe clothing in a story: Creating characters