Finally there's all the little things that can make an outfit look more futuristic. Its okay if Todds checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. But even regular elements can help with this. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. (Hopefully, I dont really know your life, so maybe not. Ive always wondered that too! If youre good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. Not quite. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. Or is it really important for a reader to know the specific pattern? They are more common around the chest and torso in Asian cultures though, so keep that in mind when adding diagonal lines. 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. That would depend on a few things. 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. 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. The time period of your story. 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. What is a good way to do Show not tell in a first person POV state? Character description may change over the course of a story to emphasize a characters arc. Otherwise they wont take you seriously as an artist.. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, Im going to assume theyre not in San Antonio, Texas. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. No problem! Which was, indeed, a little weird straight off! Earlier I mentioned how it's important to try and keep a feel of unfamiliarity to futuristic clothing. A person who doesn't want to draw attention to themselves would dress completely differently today than they would even a few decades ago. The novels protagonist Rodion gives Katerina the last of his money to host a funeral. As soon as the actor enters stage right or left, we have an inkling of whether theyre a wealthy landowner or peasant, an elegant heiress or humble flower-seller. Lets talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically. But the definition of sneaky depends on your characters situation. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. There's also the element of technology that has to be taken into account. Am I trying to blow the interview? Any suggestions on how to properly do this? Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. Sci-fi and fantasy don't necessarily have to be futuristic and historic respectively, but they're commonly associated as such, so for the sake of simplicity that's what I'm going with for the purposes of this guide. Great idea. Fashion trends come and go and they often return later, albeit in a slightly different form. - 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). I tend to avoid describing clothing. Cookie Notice Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices. 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. Characters Wear More Than Just Clothes. Whether its a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Only the most sophisticated, Dr. Urbino among them, wore their ordinary clothes. 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. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have. Clothing description in a story is useful because it often gives additional information about a character that you might otherwise tell. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness. Clothes that are loose and hanging in folds. If all else fails use Google images and find some visual aids and inspiration sources, they can work wonders. So sometimes all it takes to create futuristic clothing is to take a trend that has passed, alter it slightly and you're done. Heres a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. Follow edited Jun 17, 2020 at 9:43. Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world. You can go for standard quasi medieval fantasy clothing. s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. Not all trends return and fashion isn't perfectly cyclical. 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. 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. Your articles are always very informative. They give you the chance to offer comic relief, a dash of wisdom, and just some good old fashioned friendship., Sidekick characters. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. Sweaters or jumpers? But the biggest challenge can sometimes be simply making something look futuristic or historic fantasy-ish, which is the main focus of this guide. 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. Do all your characters embrace it? An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella. I'll make a separate point for sci-fi/futuristic clothing and fantasy/historic clothing. - Christine, on How to describe clothing in a story (with examples), 8 story hook examples (how to grab attention), Story structure examples: How to create payoffs for readers, How to describe to immerse readers (complete guide), How to write deep POV: 8 tips and examples, 9 exposition examples: How to write clear introductions, How to make a plot captivating: 7 strategies, Writing great characters: 5 lessons from modern novels. 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. Theyre probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabbles Character Notes feature. 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. 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. stylish, expensive clothing, yet not specific to a certain time or place. You walk down the usual street and suddenly some old memory hits you. Something like this: As you can see, a knights armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. The clothes a person wears tellsus many things: their status in life, for example, or their cultural affiliation or identity. For example, think about a wealthy person and how that person might dress. Really like your article. For more information, please see our For example, fur usually wasn't used as a piece of decoration for clothing and if used at all was often worn around the neck and shoulders or underneath other (often hide) clothing to keep warm. I love the way clothes can describe a character. 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. At least in most cases. 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. And lets not forget the trusty steed. We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. And if you dont write historical fiction? Make sure you know whats hot and whats not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. If you arent keeping at least a few secrets from your friends and loved ones, are you really living? Non-visual senses are big, too. What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation? And if you want more, this documentary is excellent. This is often enough to make something look more futuristic, especially if used on something that looks glossy, shiny and/or smooth. 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. Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. Impress someone with my indifference? Thats a good example of using clothing to reinforce the narrative of a characters arc. So let's delve deeper into the details of how to actually figure out what your character wears. 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. If done right you could even use these elements alone with clothing of today to sell a futuristic look. Really, the topic of this article is not how to describe clothing in writing as much as it is how to tell a story with clothes. Delighted to hear youre finding this useful. With these two changes alone you already have an item that didn't exist in medieval times, but is familiar enough to work in a fantasy setting. Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their normal? It's something we have today as well, but they're oddly uncommon and work great for more futuristic looks. Required fields are marked *. Also, don't feel like you have to include every point I've made. Of course there are more ways to alter historic designs and the middle ages aren't the only period to draw inspiration from. In other words, research. 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. 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. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. I really loved this article, but I have one question, it was very helpful. Maybe a bit of both. In one single piece of clothing description (a pink-eyed bundle of shawls), Dickens conveys how timid and ailing Mrs. Gradgrind is in contrast to her bullish, overbearing husband. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection. For example, headphones aren't really a piece of clothing, but they definitely affect our style. Pingback: Fantasy Weapons - Medieval, Magic And Other Types - Richie Billing, Helping writers on their journey and readers find their next favourite story.. To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for female fantasy armor. Is this purely for cinematic effect or would some leaders remove their helmets to show their faces to their soldiers? They should be doing that. "A dress" (or using "the" to refer to a particular "garment") means an item of clothing that is normally worn by women. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc. My story feels like its set more in medieval times, but I don't want my characters running around in full out tunics and. The details create an authentic sense of a prominentcardinals dressin the 1500s.