how to describe fantasy clothing how to describe fantasy clothing

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. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. 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. Very informative. Perhaps its because the genre was born out of stories that emerged from the Middle Ages like Beowulf and King Arthur (around the 10th-11th century). That decorative belt? 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. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. In both of these it was mostly the rich who had the extravagant clothing, which brings back the earlier point of how culture influences what a character might wear. 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. We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. For example, if a character is going on a date, you could write: Gem wanted to look sexy for her date downtown (but not easy), so she changed into more comfortable clothes. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. 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. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where theyre going? Select the most striking details and move on. Required fields are marked *. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Heres a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. Pre-empt this by illustrating everything in layers and completing each layer of clothing. Jeans and a tee it was. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. 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. In a fantasy setting, you may be trying to conjure up a certain feel right off the bat based on how you describe a character's clothing (and the words you use to describe them). Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. - 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. I love to wear baggy trousers in summer. Im writing a little in the Epic Fantasy genre and there were quite a few useful notes I wasnt aware of here. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. How were women treated in the Middle Ages? 04. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. It can genuinely be tough to come up with cool ideas for epic fantasy armor without drifting back to things that weve seen in the likes of Dungeons and Dragons, The Elder Scrolls and movies like Lord of the Rings. In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked. Youre already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. If you write historical fiction, youre probably way ahead of me. Lots of gear would have been looted. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. Do all your characters embrace it? An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. It may be apocryphal, but Harold Godwinson is said to have done just that at the battle of Hastings in 1066. (Has denim been invented yet? 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. 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. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. 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. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Its fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept. Lets talk about how to use clothing description as a storytelling tool, how to dress your character for their personality and setting, and how to make clothes interesting to anyone. Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. Without decriptions of the clothing it's a bit boring, the novel becomes a list of people the reader can't imagine doing things. The bully Gradgrind is the type whod wear a waistcoat concealing an eyeglass for catching people out. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. 70s-inspired. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armorrigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. Most clothing throughout history consisted of longer pieces of fabric and with minimal tailoring and cuts. 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. - Change lengths. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Do your main characters tend to steal the show in your novels? Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Thank you for reading our blog! )Secrets might not be something youve specifically thought about when youre drafting a story. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear 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. Finally there's the aspect of fashion to take into account. This is great! The easy way to describe the setting is when the characters interact with it, e.g. The landladys dress highlights, by contrast, the downward spiral of Katerinas fortunes, and she responds to the landladys prideful clothing with her own wounded pride: Look at her, shes making round eyes, she feels that we are talking about her and cant understand. 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. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. Expensive indeed, and heavystronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. 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. These elements are very important when taking into account the previous point. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. Get free books, an invite to my exclusive writing group, writing tools and guides and much more when you join my community. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts 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. Thanks Benjamin! Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. Then this is their category. That's why it's valuable to learn these terms. Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. As a friend told me, Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. Only in certain situations is a description even needed. 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. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. 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. But they are a common element used in fantasy clothing in all sorts of works of fiction. - Mix cultures. 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? And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. 60s-inspired. They are more common around the chest and torso in Asian cultures though, so keep that in mind when adding diagonal lines. 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. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too. How to describe clothing: 6 simple tips Use clothing to show status and position Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions Describe clothing to contrast character personalities Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling Change clothing to highlight character development Use clothing details to create authentic setting Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. 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. We even have the technology to create clothing without seems. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. Ha-ha! The surrounding culture dictates what they cant wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. You can weave clothing description into your process when using our story planner for writers. No problem! Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. Also bear in mind that not all clothing descriptions have to be presented as She put on x or He was wearing y. You can draw your readers attention to an item of clothing by having your character draw on their jeans or fiddle with their collar. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. Your articles are always very informative. Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a persons position in the hierarchy. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. More on that in a bit. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. This is further influenced/confirmed by the show Forged in Fire where the judges were a half step from putting their heads in their hands when a smith put his hot blade in water instead of oil to cool it down. Your main character just put on some makeup and changed into a fancy dress, complete with heels and a tiny handbag. Blend in? It's your creation, your imagination and your time you use and spend, so make sure you use and spend it on something you enjoy. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Am I trying to blow the interview? Youll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. Since it's a friends' get-together, let's wear casual attire. Baggy. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. Affordable . But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. Technology goes beyond simply what kind of clothes could be made though, it also relates to how technology is incorporated into style in general. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress. They were warriors first and foremost. The unsung hero of so many stories. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example. The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. 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. Sometimes the simplest changes are enough to create something completely new and ideal for a particular universe. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. That would depend on a few things. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. 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. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Thanks Liv, Im glad you found this helpful. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Well come to this below. ), Your character and communitys financial resources. Great idea. 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. 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. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. In a book, none of that is true. If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. PsstDoes Your Character Have a Secret? Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. As well see below, one of the best things about using medieval armor in a fantasy story is the freedom to elevate it in some way. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. For more information, please see our So why not join the gang? 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. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, its important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Play with the question of presentation and power! By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items.