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. I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. And lets not forget the trusty steed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Not to pile on, but dont forget to make sure you know which materials wereand werentavailable in the world of your novel. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. Copyright 2023 Richie Billing | Fantasy Writer. Richie Billing writes fantasy fiction, historical fiction and stories of a darker nature. Ha-ha! Your email address will not be published. Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. So this really reaffirmed that approach for me. But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. Thanks, Sana. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. And if you dont write historical fiction? - Geometry. Great article. Showing what your characters are wearing can be a great way to show your readers what they might be up to that day without having to actually narrate anything. One does not refer to "a garb". How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change? In other words, research. These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character. 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 cloth ribbon tied around their waist? Impress someone with my indifference? The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Choose A Chapter The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor Chain Mail Plated Armor Helmets Other Types Of Armor The Medieval Knight If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Press J to jump to the feed. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. You can use visual description to make a character more vivid in the readers minds eye. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. William the Conquerors society was shaped with war in mind. Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. What the description shows is that many of the inviteesplay at status through fancy dress. 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. 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. The tragedy of Azincourt, for example, occurred because of a poorly-chosen battleground that had flooded. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. 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. Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio? Mention the familiar swooshing of the neighbors tracksuit as he runs by the house every morning or how the aunts jacket always smells like cold air and pine needles. Select the most striking details and move on. Heres how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs. What are some ways to describe a character's clothing? Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. Have fun with it. We see the contrast between the characters friends reaction and the advisory words of Gems aunt. How to create a fantasy costume design | Creative Bloq One way to deal with clothing is to not try to be unique. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Its because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. In a book, none of that is true. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. 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. That said, once you describe how a person dresses you shouldn't really keep doing it unless it is relevant to the plot. The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. - Change lengths. Whenever other races or species are involved, like elves and trolls, it's often best to give them clothing that differs from whatever humans (and other races) wear, even if those differences are subtle. 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. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed, We mentioned gambesons above. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. Lets take a look at how clothing description indicates your characters identity, goals, and culture. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. Required fields are marked *. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. By playing around with this you quickly create very subtle, but more unique fantasy-themed items. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. What Clothes Say About Your Characters - The Write Practice Such simple things, but the clothes really helped show Jesus plight. Your email address will not be published. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Like Marquez, compare and contrast characters clothes to reveal important details about their social status or position. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. The unsung hero of so many stories. 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. Troubles with Clothing in Fantasy + Some Ideas - Brielle Andela Because it actually is possible. Very informative. 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). They should be doing that. Describing clothes : writing - reddit 70s-inspired. Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day? The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. Describing armor and clothing. : r/writing - reddit Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. Describing clothes? : r/writing - reddit Again, I don't mean make your character walk around naked, but add elements of covering up or exposing certain areas of the body. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. He's had over a dozen short stories published in various magazines and journals, with one adapted for BBC radio. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? Great idea. How to describe scenery ? : r/fantasywriters - reddit.com 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. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Theyre just too important defensively. Mail was one of the first types of metal armor developed, arguably by the Celts, though other sources say its origins came from Eastern Europe. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. They can be important too.If you want to breathe life into your stories, it's time to give tertiary characters a little love. If its 1st person you'll describe things from the POV of your character, and I find that that's different than if you're in, for example, 3rd person. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Need help with clothing description in Fantasy | Royal Road Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Our characters are always (mostly!) Similarly, show how different characters personalities are through apt clothing description. I don't mean make your characters walk around naked, but exposing (or covering) body parts in ways we don't today helps make ordinary clothing look different, which in turn helps sell the idea of it being futuristic. If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Im struggling to properly figure out how to describe clothing for a fantasy setting Im trying to create. 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. Adorable. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. Pfoo, the owl! Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. Theyll see it automatically. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. The last minute change suggests an indecisive nature. Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. 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. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Consider this example from Hard Times. To illustrate this in a way we did with the futuristic shirt example let's take a standard medieval tunic and turn it into a fantasy-themed version. What are the rules of your characters world? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Is your character trying to attract positive attention? The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. (Find out more). But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. It really doesnt take much. What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. 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. 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. But even regular elements can help with this. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. For more information, please see our 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). All of these advancements will become more and more common as time goes on, so it'd make sense for them to be part of our clothing in the future.
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