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Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view. Not really. As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. - "Digital look". 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. Youre working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant. One specific form of descriptive writing that particularly affects setting and characterization is the portrayal of characters' clothing. Odds are, youve got a character who dresses to stay alive. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. 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. To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. Richie also runs The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, a podcast devoted to helping writers improve their craft. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. Does your character need to hide? I'm talking about the jagged, triangular shapes you find on some stealth planes or the digital camouflage patterns. Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. 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. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. 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. Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. Id be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. Note that with the camouflage patterns it's best to use this style, but make them less randomized to avoid the military look, unless that's what you're going for of course. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. 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. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham said, Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. Try applying this philosophy to clothing descriptions in your writing and see what happens. Scarves as we know them today weren't really a thing in the middle ages (they were way different) and hoods pretty much came in the form of chaperons and liripipes (Google for reference if needed), not as part of a piece of clothing. Great article. Thanks Chuck! "White tunics" have been worn from 2016 to a good forty thousand years ago. Consider whether your characters attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. Great idea. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. - Diagonal lines: Diagonal lines aren't all that common in historic clothing and they usually only came in the form of neck lines, the edges of unbuttoned jackets or from large pieces of fabric being held up (think ancient Rome). Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, its that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. They can tell us what era they live in, and even a persons current state of mind or intent. Theyre the kind of thing that often happen organically, but you can actually make use of character secrets to make your stories better. What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. 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. But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and youd probably start making new guesses about my intentions. One thing Ive always wondered is if someone wearing plate could fall down just right in a muddy battlefield, and get stuck there in the same way a large flat rock gets stuck laying in mud. As a quick question, in film you see a lot of heroes and leaders not wearing helmets. So here are some more ways to alter a design while sticking with familiarity and a more historic feel: Only when youre keeping secrets in fiction, you can make them even darker and deeper than any you might ever have in real life. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Vividly describing the colors of your character's clothing can enliven ordinary writing. Youll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there. Trendy: Modern, fashionable, and up-to-date outfits. What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? Do all your characters embrace it? Maybe theyre wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone theyve lost. A pair of starched Wranglers. What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? - Furs and other animal parts: A quick and obvious way of making something look more fantasy-themed is by simply adding elements of fantasy creatures. The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. Metallic works well too, but make sure any metal bits or metallic looking bits are smooth and clean looking too, otherwise it might look too historic. I didnt even know how to begin describing this piece of clothing. The final design with all its layers will often hide elements of the clothing that a client may want to see later. Subtle clothing changes can signal character development quite effectively in some scenarios. They also wear talismans, jewelry, and other objects. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. They were warriors first and foremost. This is a heavy generalization of course and entirely based on Western culture of today, but these rules may not apply at all in a fictional universe, no matter if it's futuristic or based on a historic setting. Changes in characters clothing can help revealcharacter development. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day. Dont worry, thats not a trick question. 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. That would depend on a few things. Those of us who dont get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers. When shes not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that. 60s-inspired. Lets take a look at some ways you can develop those unique ideas: In this section, well take a look at some cool pieces of knight armor in fantasy that people have designed over the years, to give you even more inspiration for your own designs. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that. With the major shapes in the thumbnails defined, choose the one that best exemplifies the feeling you're looking for. 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. Will using real-world cultural vocabulary in a fantasy setting So its unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. Plain: Ordinary clothes of one color like gray, beige, or black. A man's padded undercoat worn under a doublet and over a shirt; a woman's (often padded) under-tunic or the skirt of her riding habit. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. For more information, please see our A scarlet pantsuit. Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit? 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. Using the work of Alexander McQueen, this unit guides students through the analysis of a fashion collection, introducing them to the critical language and methodologies needed to evaluate fashion design and runway presentation. The complete opposite is true for fantasy and historic clothing. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. "Garb" or "dress" (without an article) is a rather drab abstract noun for what a person is wearing. As the battle continued through the day, a rumor grew that Harold had died or fled the field, I forget which. A knight, by definition, was a lord. His writing offers a masterclass in how to describe clothing in stories. How to design clothes with a sci-fi feel | Creative Bloq Tell us how the wool of your protagonists sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. 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). What matters more to them: fashion or function? It really doesnt take much. 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. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. 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). For example, a meticulously dressed character who is discovered in a disheveled and poorly dressed state. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. Characters can also comment on or react to one anothers clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship. It makes for a more entertaining read. Excuse the on hold background music. How to Describe Clothes in English - ESL Advice When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. And lets not forget the trusty steed. Its a good time. Think the previously mentioned Fifth Element and Hunger Games clothing versus Star Trek, Star Wars and so on clothing. Privacy Policy. Make it look very clean and smooth and it immediately feels more modern. So Id say in films its more for cinematic effect and also for clarity so the viewer can see whos doing what. The fact that 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. Similar to how pixelated designs tend to look more futuristic so do designs full of geometrical shapes. How to Analyze a Fashion Collection - Bloomsbury Fashion Central Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Not quite. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. 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. Lets delve further into these ideas about describing characters dress: Think of your characters clothing like an actors costume in a play. I have a hard time describing my thoughts on content, but I really felt I should here. Look how she sits with her mouth open! Smart: Neat and tidy clothes but not necessarily formal. Stylish: Elegant and sophisticated clothing to grab attention. 160 Best Character description ideas | character description, fantasy Obviously clothing is extremely varied, especially dresses. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Hello, I am attempting to write my first fantasy novel (and my first novel), and I'm having difficulty visualizing what kind of clothes my characters should be wearing. Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. It's easy to try this out too, at least the simple line version. You can even use different pieces of clothing to cover up body parts differently. Stylish. See more ideas about fantasy clothing, anime outfits, character outfits. When youre shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you dont know how to describe it. One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why youre describing it in the first place. Now turn the edges a different color or make them light up and you immediately have a more futuristic looking suit. Play with the question of presentation and power! Any suggestions on how to properly do this? SHIRT AND PANTS | Fantasy-Writers.org Hopefully, you now have more wardrobe ideas for your characters than just red shirt, blue pants. But what about the process of actually sharing these details in your novel? Think noble King Arthur and his knights of the roundtable. You can weave clothing description into your process when using our story planner for writers. A few small details of clothing may distinguish your characters from each other, highlighting their personalities. But if you do want some guidelines, inspiration or just help this guide'll hopefully provide it. Ha-ha! Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. It's also an indirect way to describe their physical appearance by examining how the clothes fit them. Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top. Another important function of clothing description in stories is to create an authentic sense of time and place. 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. I can only imagine the pain of the chafing! In the historical fiction books Ive read, none of the heroes took off their helmets unless they were knocked off, or bashed in. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Select the most striking details and move on. Very informative. But they werent administrators. You can try all Dabbles premium features for free for fourteen days. Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. Nylon and polyester fabrics weren't invented until almost the mid 20th century for example.