I’ve been trying to do more sketches because I’m way too efficient in my work that I never draw anything unless it’s necessary and/or productive (i.e., will be coloured, can be used for publicity in one way or another, etc) and obviously this is very bad for sharpening my skill lol ]:
I decided to write a wall of text explaining my design thought process and what I usually consider. Click on the link to read more.
Obviously this design stems from the sketch from 2 posts ago, but instead of a dress, I turned it into a warrior’s design because that’s what best describes her. I did this on a whim and I didn’t clean it up at all so it’s hard to tell what a lot of it is supposed to be for most people except myself. For rough designs I like to use scribbles and swirls to create the floral rococo patterns I enjoy using to save myself a lot of unneeded effort, as you can see here! Her face looks half assed because that’s not the purpose (also why I chopped off 3 of the heads) and I’m bad at drawing pleasant looking faces quickly lol ]:
what she’s wearing is really just a short dress, with an armour around her waist. The dress fits to the body, and the front and back flab is attached on the side slits with elastic or spring-like belts (kinda shown in the little figure on top) for when she–obviously–doesn’t stand still like a good girl. I originally wanted to just give her some normal pants/shorts but they look retarded with the stockings; a separate skirt looks too informal, and simply underwear is dumb, so I had to resort to this for now. maybe I’ll change it into boy shorts or something later even though that’s kinda equally lame
The three circular pieces of the armour are worn from below like a skirt, and kept around the waist with a belt. I haven’t considered how it will be kept from floating up and down when she’s jumping around, or how to prevent it from obstructing leg movements since it’s connected on the back and therefore rigid. I will probably separate them on the back and cover up the back with something later.
The two thick and patterned drapes on the front are the same as the long sash with golden weaving that the pope puts around his neck. the cloth around the back is tailored in an arrow shape, with the longest pieces dragging a bit on the ground. I originally was going to add some jewels and gold ornaments at the end of each piece, but then she’ll make a lot of inelegant noise dragging those on the floor when she walks, and they’ll scratch and break too easily.
The boots are pretty short-heeled, and the three armour plate pieces flare out towards the back on the outside (so that she doesn’t stab her own legs with them unless she decides to cross them or something). Creased frills extend outwards toward the back and a second layer drag a little on the floor like the batch of hair that are sometime present behind horse hoofs. I might get rid of the dragging layer because it can get into the way of walking (backwards? LOL)
The top and bottom of her dress has some ornaments embedded on it, but she wears a very elaborate necklace on top of her dress. It comes from underneagh the collar so the most it can do is slap her in the face. The draped ornament on her forehead hangs from an extension of her hair piece that wraps around the back of her skull. the hair piece tops her ponytail like a mini bonnet and wraps slightly on the sash she uses to tie her hair. Her ears basically has a crown on it , with string drapes that attaches to the hair piece as well as a hook that grows into her windchime earrings so that she doesn’t need any piercings.
The long gloves/sleeve is basically the same as the red outfit I have for her. I have no idea what most of the colours are going to be except that it’ll be more varied instead of monotonic like the red outfit. I also tied her hair backup because I want her to differ from blackbird for once. Although I like it much better when she has her hair down, it doesn’t match this outfit much and it gives her a feeling of age. Despite all the characteristics I gave her, deep down she is really best described as immature and juvenile, with the temper, ego and insecurity of a youth (at least until she eventually grows the hell up), and somehow I feel like preserving the ponytail helps show that.
As far as practicality goes, obviously this is not even remotely close, but you may notice that I consider that pretty often from what I had written above. The reason why I show this seeming double-standard is because while fighting can be choreographed and turned into a form of beautiful dance, everyday movement cannot without looking strange. Large movements during fights where the flow of her clothing becomes part of the art looks fine (albeit unrealistic), where her trying to move her feet awkwardly in such a way that she doesn’t step on her own heels seem like a weird perk that she can’t get over.
Hopefully this explains my thought process and is somewhat helpful in your own designs!
{ Shilin }
reafu: hahahah that's what art book illustrations are for! lololol never have to worry about it being practical enough or simple enough to draw redraw 500 times from all angles in a manga
{ R e a f u }
With all that you've said in the post about practicality, design influences and outfit ideas, I'm really tempted to come up with some costume designs…sadly it's almost 2 am DX.
"As far as practicality goes, obviously this is not even remotely close, but you may notice that I consider that pretty often from what I had written above. The reason why I show this seeming double-standard is because while fighting can be choreographed and turned into a form of beautiful dance, everyday movement cannot without looking strange."
Very true, but sometimes it's just too much fun coming up with an elaborate outfit for its own sake ;D!
{ Shilin }
vayga: depends on people; I will change up outfits for people when it's logical to do so. Keri and Weirin will change outfits regularly because it's assumed that they'd probably bring some along, and/or be able to obtain new outfits from the places they get to. Veloce keeps the same clothes cus she doesn't have any to spare (until she wrecks them again LOL) and blackbird keeps the same look but small details of her clothing set changes every time based on what she feels like because she actually lives somewhere and has stuff to change around
{ Vayga }
Ohhh awesome~ This is really cool. ovo
Ah I love armor on hips, though it is hard to figure out how to make it connect without making it awkward to move. I really like the long part in back, it reminds me of some kind of the bird with it's tail feathers brushing on the ground (peacock-ish?).
In Blackbird, is everyone going to wear the same outfit most of the time like in some manga/animes, or is there going to be new clothes often/everyday?
{ Beryl }
She does indeed have this noble and high character trait. >w> In any case, I can't wait to see her walking around in this. If you ever get to that part of the story. Which I highly hope you do. :)
{ Shilin }
Beryl: If I do use this, it would be one of her main outfits further down the road where she obtains a higher rank/position to justify the over elaborate design. I was thinking it might be a spoiler but her family's status is already somewhat noticeable because of how certain people treat her and how she treats them back XD
{ Beryl }
I always love your designs. They are so detailed and you always over think everything. Anyway, I'd like to know, if this is a warrior design, Veloce would use it to fight, right? Or would it become at some point her main clothing or such? It looks way to bad ass to walk with on the street though. xD