Character Clothing

by Alisa Anne Andrews
(United States)

Question: I have tried to write for most of my life, but I've only recently started to get the hang of it. I write mostly fantasy, which means I need to create many aspects of the culture, and that includes character clothing. I intend to find the styles close to the culture style of the story's world and change it somewhat. I try to look up clothing styles from different times and places around the world, but I can't ever seem to find what I am looking for. Is there a better way to find the style of clothing I am looking for? Are there better places to look for them, or maybe I am not searching with the right criteria?

Answer: Well, since you are creating a fantasy world, what you're looking for may ultimately come from your imagination.

I think you're taking the right approach by looking at costume history. That's often what film and theatre designers turn to. You will find plenty of books on the subject and many museums will put historical outfits on display.

The other approach would be to consider what materials are available in your fantasy world. Do they have cotton, flax, silk, or some made-up fibre source? Are the animal hides the same as in our world? Which materials are reserved for certain social classes, perhaps because they are rare or labour-intense and therefore more expensive?

Also, what is the economy like? Do most families weave and sew their own clothing (in which case time constraints may mean fewer, simpler garments) or are there weavers and tailors? For example, upper class women may have more time to do embroidery and fine needle work than the average housewife (assuming sewing is women's work in your story world) because rich women don't have to spend time cooking, working in the fields, or milking cows animals.

People's environment, occupation etc. also affect clothing choices. Is it cold enough to need furs? Is there a need for waterproofing or more protective garments? Is the climate so sunny that people wear light, breathable garments that shield their heads and bodies from the sun? Or is it hot and shady, such as in a rain forest, so people wear as little as possible?

Are your characters tradesmen or farmers? Do they have clothing styles dictated by their occupation? For instance, certain styles of clothing, colours, or materials may be reserved for certain guilds or classes. Clergy and soldiers may dress differently than merchants, tradesmen, or nobles.

Of course, most of the time you don't need a lot of detail about clothing, unless a particular clothing choice identifies a character or plays an important role in the story. A few details can be enough to give the reader an image of the story world. The rest may be left to the readers' imaginations.

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