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 knight, by definition, was a lord. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! Chapters 1 and 2 were pretty decent and I started chapter 4 with him dressing for the party. In the historical fiction books Ive read, none of the heroes took off their helmets unless they were knocked off, or bashed in. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. Maybe a bit of both. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. 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. 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. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. Because like all other character details, its not enough to paint a picture. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. We have all sorts of headphone designs to reflect our clothing styles and just wearing or not wearing a headphone will completely change how a character is often perceived. How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. 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. Try some colour. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. 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. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed, We mentioned gambesons above. Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. See more ideas about character description, fantasy fashion, fantasy clothing. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. 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. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? 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. How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? They were warriors first and foremost. Your email address will not be published. Characters wear more than just clothes. Do all your characters embrace it? Required fields are marked *. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. (Where do they buy their clothes? Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. However, you can show and imply a characters intention without spelling it out: Theyd agreed to meet downtown at six. The fact Gem goes with jeans and a tee could suggest that she trusts her aunts advice. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just jeans. I get it. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. 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 . 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. Use fashion and clothing history archives if necessary. Non-visual senses are big, too. 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. 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. I tend to avoid describing clothing. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline. Share. Clothing creation guide - Roll for Fantasy At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. 50+ Fashion Terms: Fundamental Words Related to Style 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. Heres a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity. And right at the heart of it were the leaders of societythe medieval lords. Jeans and a tee it was. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. The same goes for other types of technology that could realistically be incorporated into the design of your character's clothing. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. 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. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex. Medieval clothing description generator - Fantasy name generators Now, if you write historical fiction, its important to research the clothing of your chosen era. 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. 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. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. Thus his plain dress is, ironically, indicative of higher status. "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.". Here, for example, Hilary Mantel describes a Cardinals residence being plundered by the Kings men in 1529 England, in her historical novel Wolf Hall. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. Fashionably elegant and sophisticated. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. Mantel describes the cardinals vestments: They bring out the cardinals vestments, his copes. What backstory or character motivations could combinations of appearance and reality suggest? His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. Struggling with describing clothes for a fantasy setting. : r/DnD - reddit And what weve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. One way is to avoid what we call filter words. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. 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. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). )Secrets might not be something youve specifically thought about when youre drafting a story. Your articles are always very informative. Youre not infodumping. With historical fiction one interesting aspect is to bring back the reader to that time period. To create a more futuristic looking style an easy way of doing it is to incorporate technology into the clothing itself. What matters more to them: fashion or function? An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella.