how to describe fantasy clothinghomeless shelter policies and procedures

The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. This is less important for non-visual arts as clothing isn't always described in writing, but it can still be incredibly helpful to have a fully detailed character in your head or written down somewhere for reference and just to make everything feel more real and alive. We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. It was my understanding that they quenched in oil, not water. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. They're the Robin to your Batman, the Luigi to your Mario, the Samwise Gamgee to your Frodo Baggins. Our characters are always (mostly!) Cookie Notice Great article. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character. - 'Stealth'. Are they overalls or coveralls? 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. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. 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. 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. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas. Its hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection. Examples of the prior are Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey and to some degree Star Wars and Tron. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. 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. I second the idea of describing the reactions of the characters to the city. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. I saw Jesus Christ Superstar a long time ago and Jesus was in a sharp black suit. There's a few other elements to keep in mind as well, but in most cases it's best not to worry at all, let your imagination go wild and simply create and enjoy what you want to create. A velvet scrunchie. In my case my character is new in town and this description of clothing doesnt come until hes getting ready for the party in chapter 4 and its in the context of getting dressed, there are reasons behind it, the party is a very big deal for him getting his foot in the door with other teens in town and he wants to be impressive or maybe wants lot of attention with all the sparklies. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. An owl, a real owl! stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. 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 Press J to jump to the feed. "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.". You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. That was the theory. This description generator will create a mostly random description of either a dress or a suit, fit for formal occasions and other fancy needs. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. 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. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because its so important that the readers imagination gets it right. Look how she sits with her mouth open! 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. What I would like to ask is how you would go about describing very specific details on more complex clothing? Examples of the latter are The Fifth Element and The Hunger Games. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). Youll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there. Armor, therefore, wasnt that heavya full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. If Im wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening: Im in a great mood or Im feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable. As well see below, medieval armor developed through necessitypeople needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. Those outfits can become iconic. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' The description will describe a lot of clothing pieces, some of which you may not need depending on where your character lives. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Now on the other end of the spectrum we have fantasy clothing and more history based clothing. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a wayunless from close range, as we discussed last week. This article was very helpfulcan you post some examples of showing versus telling when describing clothing? Does your character need to hide? (Has denim been invented yet? Theyre just too important defensively. Its all in the craft.Its good that youre here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because its a powerful tool. Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Send private message Achievements: Need help with clothing description in Fantasy #1 I'm writing a Fantasy Novel in the middle ages, filled with swords and magic However, I realize I have trouble trying to convey how the characters look, like what the nobles' attire, the bandit's armor. Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. Its something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariahs Lament. For example, a shy person will often wear 'regular' clothing, clothing that isn't too bright or outgoing in both design and colors. Describe these in passing to add visual colour and authenticity to your character descriptions. In other words: To describe a fantasy world, use either neutral terms, or made up words. Maybe your character heads out on the town wearing a daring leopard print jumpsuit, only to have their best friend immediately ask where they got the kitty costume.. 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. Like Borges would say, Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. 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. Well cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. You can continue to alter it to add cultural elements, like the previously mentioned elvish elements or you could stick with this and keep it simple. Both doublets and chain mail were worn in conjunction with plated armor for that added protection, particularly for areas plate could not cover, such as arms and the groin. Why this arguably works better is the details of getting dressed tell us multiple details about Gem. In this section, Ive included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. 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. Great idea. I tend to avoid describing clothing. 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. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Separate and enlarge it, turn down the Opacity of the layer . Stiff with embroidery, strewn with pearls, encrusted with gemstones, they seem to stand by themselves. Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. Maybe a bracelet represents a character's relationship to her mother. ^.^ 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. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights. 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). Ive always wondered that too! What would you think about a wealthy character who looked as though he shopped at thrift stores? If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. By using fur for decoration you quickly create fictional pieces in no time. 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. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. So why not join the gang? Another similar and perhaps way more popular example of this is Steampunk. Really like your article. What matters more to them: fashion or function? - Use lines to break up a piece of clothing and create a kind of mosaic. Heres a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor. Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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. Stylish: Elegant and sophisticated clothing to grab attention. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemys skulls down to the teeth. To illustrate this let's take a standard men's suit as an example. At least in most cases. Non-visual senses are big, too. Thanks, Teresa, and for sharing that great example from the stage. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. But let's take a step back and look at what kind of clothing is usually associated with futuristic settings. Dragon scales, fiery furs and feathers and other elements can quickly turn a standard item into a fantasy one. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? Now add a thick, layered scarf or attach a hood to this tunic and you're already well on your way to a customized look. Here are a few different types: We mentioned gambesons above. Similarly, find out (or, if youre creating a fantasy world, create) the garments your characters would wear in a particular time and place. A scarf for example might be too hot for some areas, but it's obviously easy to leave those out. Even things like tattoos, hair colors, eye colors and so on can help with this. Added on top of that the condition that they had to supply him with soldiers too. They should be doing that. What would high stakes clothing look like in your story? Its a bit OCD of me. 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. So have fun with that. Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs. The more outlandish the fantasy species your character is the more outlandish you can usually be with clothing, but familiarity is usually still a solid ground for a realistic feel, even if the universe and the creatures are completely unrealistic. show how hard is to escape in a narrow street. See how Dickens contrasts the fact-obsessed, overbearingteacher Thomas Gradgrind and his wifes personalities through (among other details) their clothing description. To make it futuristic you could change where the buttons are, they're normally quite low and form a v-neck line when buttoned up, how about moving them to the top and creating an upside down V shape at the bottom. Particularly in genres such as historical fiction and fantasy, clothing can help to create other worlds (or a long gone era of our own). Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. Think of the process like dressing a doll: start at the beginning and up build the layers. Shoes made with bendable displays already exist, allowing you to change your shoe's design on the fly. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. Like Dostoyevsky, think how something as small as a characters change of clothing can affecttheir own or others behaviour. Below, well take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. Heres a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. 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. 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. They were warriors first and foremost. 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). s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked. 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. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it. Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. You suddenly know which details to include, which to leave out, and whether to call it a blood-red cloak or a goji berry wrap. Thanks, Sana. Some wore a trapper a covering of full chain mailand down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. 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. Do all your characters embrace it? Pingback: A fantasy writers guide to Castles and Keeps: part one Richie Billing. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. But that doesn't mean you can't deviate from these guidelines completely and do whatever you wish. - "Digital look". Yet Dr. Urbinos status as a respected doctor is earned he has nothing to prove by dressing smarter. Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. Its about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do. Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. Great points. But they could also dress in modest, inexpensive-looking clothes. And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg. Nov 28, 2022 - Explore Anung V's board "Character description" on Pinterest. 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. But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. Make them earn any sightof skin, Aunt P always said. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. Allrightsreserved, create an authentic sense of time and place, Use fashion and clothing history archives, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7bbcc198c936bc1af3fbda128514c44fcfc10f0513ea31cad7c21ae61ba0ab0.jpg, 1: Use clothing to show status and position, 2: Build (or thwart) expectations using clothing descriptions, 3: Describe clothing to contrastcharacters personalities, 4: Show clothing to avoid over-relying on telling, 5: Change characters clothing to highlight character development, 6: Use clothing details to recreate authentic setting, 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. 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. [Find more articles on character description in our complete guide to character creation.]. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. It doesn't exclude those that don't know what a qipao is, nor break immersion for those who do. Or at least they know what century theyre in. Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. (Huh.). Clothes that are suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions. Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Whats the respected uniform, and does your character wear it? They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. Again, I don't mean make your character walk around naked, but add elements of covering up or exposing certain areas of the body. That also will help readers really experience things through their eyes. However, you can tell your reader interesting things through a mismatch: A wealthy character might show off their expensive clothing. 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. 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. It's what we're slowly doing today. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. 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 One of the first things I learned when I moved to L.A. is that writers do not dress professionally for big meetings in Hollywood. You dont need it to sign up. And well dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted. Similar to how pixelated designs tend to look more futuristic so do designs full of geometrical shapes. As I write this, I am wearing jeans that are too big, a gray t-shirt I inherited from a former roommate, and a pilled hoodie from a lighting vendor that works with my friends husbands company. With all that armor, its often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. I tried to add as much variety as possible, but without turning the whole description into a mess. One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains. Or else that she feels shamed by her Aunt and thus decides to be good. This pride, though justifiable, displeased Katerina Ivanovna for some reason. What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. Thanks Benjamin! 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. A knight, by definition, was a lord. 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. Let it hang diagonally across their chest and over their shoulder instead. He took off his helmet and a Norman archer made a lucky shot that put out Harolds eye and ended the battle.It should be noted that, with the helmets of the time, it wasnt necessary for Harold to take off his helmet, either to be seen or to get his eye shot out. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud? Ill add it to my to do list . - Change lengths. Your article is really great. Required fields are marked *. But it provided an odd sense of security. Its a good time. Maybe a bit of both. The fact the clothes seem to stand by themselves indicates just how heavy they are with jewels and embroidery. Now this won't work for every piece of clothing of course, not everything has buttons or edges that allow for simple changes we don't already use today, so here are a few ways that are commonly used to make things look more futuristic:

Molecular Manipulation Vs Reality Warping, Grand Wailea Renovations 2020, Pizza Express Tesco Vouchers Restrictions, Is Aha Sparkling Water Whole30 Compliant, Articles H