You could even move the buttons to the side and have it close diagonally instead. You dont need it to sign up. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Thanks I will be following your blog from now one I just came across it today. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. 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? These are deep questions. 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. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral Life is Good t-shirt. That was the theory. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. (Find out more). Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. or the world theyre desperately resisting. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. Through fashion terms you can understand the fundamentals of the fashion industry. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. Your articles are always very informative. Stylish: Elegant and sophisticated clothing to grab attention. 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 . Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. The Victorian author Charles Dickens is widely regarded as a master of characterization, for good reason. Your email address will not be published. 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? I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. If you look at popular works of fiction you'll find two trends, one is the simplistic and often tight-fit look and the other is the more over the top and extravagant look. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. clothed and we should definitely be using them to portray our characters personalities. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. So why not join the gang? The changes and improvements made by technology will often create new trends or alter old ones to the point you may as well consider them a new one, so depending on the technology available in your fictional universe you may wish to create a completely new trend. - Gadgets, hair styles and accessories. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. Excuse the on hold background music. Impoverished with children to care for, she uses her last money to give her husband a dignified funeral. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. 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. - Change lengths. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. And its in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. and our Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. 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. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. - Break up clothing into more separate pieces and give them their own styles. for any particular parts of an outfit. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. 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? Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. Non-visual senses are big, too. 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 common (wood) elvish theme is to have lots of green tints, flowery elements and intricate embroidery. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Well 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. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? The clothing itself can be just standard medieval gear, but with these elements they immediately look (wood) elvish. Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. 1. As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. 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. Really, the topic of this article is not how to describe clothing in writing as much as it is how to tell a story with clothes. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. 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. - 'Stealth'. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. Adorable. Who doesnt like being comfortable when killing? If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. With these two changes alone you already have an item that didn't exist in medieval times, but is familiar enough to work in a fantasy setting. And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. You may have imagined a man in an expensive suit or a woman in designer clothes. It really doesnt take much. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. Think of other interesting combinations: A teacher who dresses provocatively; a beggar with an innate sense of style. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. Lots of gear would have been looted. Have fun with it. Thanks, Sana. You can immediately show a character is wealthy with descriptions of fine clothing. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. Very informative. A band t-shirt. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. It would have been extremely warm too. 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. Not to mention the social status of a person. 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. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. Clothing tells your reader a lot about your characters goals and motivations within a given scenario. Someone jumps down from a boundary wall wearing dark clothes and clutching a bag, that's enough of a clue they're a burglar, and if the protagonist now has to chase them then a description of the form those clothes take down to the buckles on the shoes is going to break the flow. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. is because we get stuck on what things look like. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. They work, they're safe and in many cases have become a standard. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. I thought if I did that at the beginning of a chapter it would be better but I worry it will turn readers off. 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. Theyll see it automatically. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. On the other hand you may wish to add layers for the same purpose. - Convert future clothing to a historic version. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. 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. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. So we've covered ways to make clothing look both futuristic and historic, but these are all just guidelines and mostly based on what's been done before. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. 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? 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. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. Ill add it to my to do list . Mantel creates a vivid sense of the wealth that the church amassed in these times. What matters more to them: fashion or function? Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. One easy way of creating a more customized look is to simply use cultural elements in the standard clothing. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Dr. Urbino in Marquezs example above fits the latter category. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go. 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. "He was wearing a spandex tank top" is an improvement from just mentioning that your character's wearing a shirt; but consider adding the element of color: "He was wearing a black-and-yellow-striped spandex tank top.". Theyre just too important defensively. These images all go a lot further than white socks, green dress, and most of them dont require a lot of extra words. It makes for a more entertaining read. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Love this topic!! We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Great article. A scarlet pantsuit. 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. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. 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. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. 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. Before I delve into the more detailed aspects of creating clothing there's one final thing to keep in mind and that is that fashion repeats itself. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. You really can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, or what they dont wear. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. In a book, none of that is true. Discover an extensive list of terms you may want to know here. 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. Required fields are marked *. Its a good time. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. These are usually a little trickier to do well as they can look familiar quickly, but it's a usually a good element to have at your disposal. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. But it makes a good story. 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. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. 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The good news is that attire is not only important, its also kind of fun when you start digging into it. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? 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. Katerina is affronted by Amalias fine dress because it is new and shows pride. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? What also worries me is that in Chapter 3 I used a lot of descriptions of the house, like the main characters room and then I had him go to various other rooms, looked at pictures of his family he has yet to meet so chapter 3 had the least story development or social scenes but the ones it had were good ones and I ended it with a scene that creates more development and story hype. And what does she put that cap on for? - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. 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. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: This article was very helpfulcan you post some examples of showing versus telling when describing clothing? First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. That decorative belt? And lets not forget the trusty steed. (Cough-cough-cough.) The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. Because it actually is possible. The more you know about real clothing and armor, the more tools in your bag of tricks for describing awesome fantasy pieces. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if theyre enchanted. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. That works. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. Mail was lightweight and flexible. 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. As with mail, steel was the best material due to its hardness, which was obtained by heating the steel to extreme temperatures and then submerging it into cold water, a process known as quenching. In other words take what exists and apply it differently. As for showing with clothing rather than telling, a writer could say, He was lazy and inattentive to his appearance about a character, or they could say his clothes always looked like hed just pulled them out of a pile in some corner of his bedroom and had thrown them on without a glance in the mirror. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. How long do they need their clothes to last? No problem! Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look.
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