How to design Clothes & Accessories?

Context

• Daily Life
• What does the character wear on a daily basis?
• How often does her accessories change?
• How do they display a sense of Mundane?
• How ordinary are they?
• Do they seem out of place?
• Do they seem appropriate?
• How do they integrate in the Character’s Environment?
• How coherent are they with her Environment?

• Ceremony
• Do the Clothing evoke Solemnity?
• Are they Appropriate?
• Are they part of the ceremony’s decorum?
• Are they Obligatory?
• How do they relate to the Ceremony?

• Celebration
• How is the Clothing designed?
• How do they relate to the Celebration?
• What sort of Celebration is it?
• How does it evoke Merriment?
• How does it evoke Joy?
• How Colorful is it?
• How Ostentatious is it?

Shape

• Clothing
• How do the Colors define the character?
• How is the Textile chosen?
• On which criteria?
• Which Textures are used?
• Are there Strips?
• How Thick are they?
• How Thin are they?
• Are there metallic parts?
• Chains maybe?
• Are there other Extras?

• Synergy with Physical Features
• How do the accessories reveal the Character’s Features?
• Does she wear Bracelets?
• Does she wear Necklaces?
• Does she wear a collar?
• Does she wear chains?
• Where?
• How do her clothes reveal the shape of her chest?
• How do her clothes reveal the shape of her shoulders?
• How do her clothes reveal the shape of her hips?

• Silhouette
• How does it enhance the Character’s silhouette?
• How does it amplify the Character’s shape?
• How is her waist?
• How does a belt underline her waist?
• How Thin is the Character?
• How Thick is the Character?
• Is she Slender?
• Is she Muscular?
• Is she Petite?
• Is she Busty?

Symbols

• Legacy
• What accessory has been passed onto the Character?
• Which precious object has been passed onto her?
• Is it an Heirloom?
• How is this part of an Heritage?
• From whom does it come from?
• Is it a Mirror?
• Is it a Cup?
• Is it a piece of silverware/tableware?
• Is it a piece of Crockery?
• Is it a piece of clothing?
• Is it a Medal?
• Is it a Title?
• Is it a mark of Distinction?

• Weapons
• Is the character bearing a Sword?
• Is she bearing a Lance?
• Does she have a Scepter/Staff?
• Does she have a Bow?
• Does she have a Gun?
• Does she use it?
• How is the Weapon decorated?
• Does she expose it?
• Is she proud of it?
• Is it only ornamental?

• Animals & Totems
• Does the Character identify herself to a living being?
• Which living being?
• How does it relate to the Character?
• How is it transcribe into the Clothes?
• Are there horns?
• Are there bones?
• Is there Fur?
• Is the character part of a Cult?
• Is she part of an Organization?
• Does she bear their brand on her clothes?

• Jewels
• Does the character wear Amulets?
• Does she wear Rings?
• Does she wear Chains?
• How does she wear them?
• Does she hide her jewels?
• Does she reveal them?
• Does she keep them in a pocket?
  • Always onto her, but never worn.

Characterization

• Goal
• How do the Accessories display her Interest?
• Do they reveal an Obsession?
• How do they transcribe her Occupation?
• How do they display her desires?
• How do they relate to her Profession?
• How do they reveal the Activities she practices?

• Behavior
• How is her clothing related to her Strengths?
• How does it reveal her Weaknesses?
• How does it show her Engagement?
• To which Ideal?
• Is she Inclusive?
• Is she Individualist?
• Is she Resilient?
• Do they reveal her Attachment to the other group members?

• Origins
• How do her clothes display her Status?
• How do they relate to her Class?
• Are they specific to her Species?
• Do they contrast with her Physical traits?
• Do they Embellish her?

What’s needed?

• Survival
• What’s necessary immediately?
• Are we in trouble?
• Are we in an hostile environment?
• What’s required to create heat?
• What’s required to create a shelter?
• What needed to make food?
• Is there an emergency?
• What’s available immediately?
• What do we need now?

• Technology
• What sort of accessory is available?
• Which Material is used to create them?
• What type of fabric is used to create them?
• How has been created?
• With which tools?
• Through which processes?

• Fight
• What’s the character’s weapon like?
• What are its dimensions?
• What are its dimensions?
• How much does it weight?

• Role & Function
• Is the Character the Protagonist?
• Is she the Antagonist?
• Who is she aligned with?
• What is her Role in the group?
• Is she geared properly?
• Does she have all the accessories she need?
• In which situation may she be lacking some resources?

Imagine the same Character Differently

• Imagine her
• With different Clothes.
• With different Hair.
• With different Weapons.
• In a different Vehicle.

• Perception
• Do you enjoy watching this character?
• Would you talk to this character?
• Would you work with this character?
• Would you date this character?
• Would you have a relationship with this character?
• Would you fight this character?
• Would you fight for this character?
• How do her clothes define the Era she’s in?
• How do they contrast with actual Era?
• How do they create a sense of Alien?

• Iterative Drawing
• Draw the same accessory different designs.
• Change the shape.
• Change the color.
• Cut a hole in it.
• Change the hole’s shape.
• Cut another hole.
• Cover it with a band of cloth.
• Pin something on it.
• Cover it with foil.
• Cover it with another texture.
• Change the Material.
• Change the Size.
• Change the Position on the Body.