hi! i love your art, and i especially love the way you design the character’s outfits! they always look super cool and cohesive. do u have any advice for drawing clothing? (especially design wise) whenever i try and draw outfits my brain blanks unless i have an exact reference lol
Hi anon<3<3<3
I like world building, so first, I look to see if the place where the person I´m designing is described geographically, where they live, and their lifestyle. If not much is said, I look at the lands around and go from there.
I mostly put a focus on the weather, but mostly lifestyle and wealth. Of course the fauna near the person is important too, and if they have the possibility to get transported goods.
I made three versions of Maedhros from his three times living in different climates, here they are shortly, a more detailed description are down - note; this is Noldorin fashion and I depict other groups in different styles
These notes are only about the clothing, not jewelry, hair, or cosmetics.
Maedhros!Valinor:
The underwear is made of linen and here a long skjorte with a tied inner cloth with loose breaches to accompany Valinor stable weather that can easily cool you down and keep you warm at the same time. The edges of the skjorte is embroidered as it is meant to be shown. This has been seen a lot over history that an undergarment or something "sexual" meant to be hidden is shown in a glimpse - a modern equivalent would be showing the rim of your boxers or a bra strap. The clothes are long and layered and reaches the ground, unpractical for any manual labour or any wear that doesn´t have clean floors. The colours are saturated and a lot of white is used too.
Detail notes: While not noticeable I HC that Maedhros white robe is lined with gold cloth to match the embroidery around it, which is made on top of it where his purple robe is made with brocade.
Maedhros!Himring:
The underwear is not tighter and shorter to give better modality and keep warmth rather than cold. The sleeves are sewn to look big as heavy clothes can´t be used the same way, the sleeves have therefor become a new fashion symbol as well as status, it makes the arm look bigger and therefor the wear stronger, as well as give something to look at now that heavy fabrics that reaches the hands aren´t a choice anymore. All the robes reach just below the knee to still cover and fill, but also to make it easy to move in. The clothes are now looking broader to show strength and satiety. - Beleriand is in war, food is scarce, especially in the north close to Angband, and clothes are now made to make you look fat and well fed in this part of Beleriand. Fur has become an important aspect of fashion too, especially if sewn into clothes as padding or trims. Damask is used more in Himring than brocade which is used most in Doriath and Hithlum court.
Black is used due to the symbolism, but also as it is an expensive colour to hold as black as possible, it shows that someone with so much black clothes has the money to uphold it and to constantly buy new clothes to replace the old ones, as it is one of the easiest to break. - Due to Himring´s long winter and harsh climate, flowers and other forms of fauna quickly make themselves into fashion and are depicted on almost everything from walls, to tables, to clothes, to windows, and so on.
Maedhros!Amon Ereb:
The clothes here are still made to look you well fed but not in the same way as it was in Himring, as this part of Beleriand was hit much later with scarce food and therefore has a stronger hold on thin and strong fashion.
While still black, it is more gre,y which shows a fall in wealth, due to the visibility to now keep the clothes functioning for as long as possible without the possibility to carelessly throw it away.
Genreal notes on Noldorin Clothes:
Clothing are a social marker and always has been therefore it´s the same for the Noldor. There is a difference between the classes of society in how clothes are worn and the decorations used, to quickly show rank and status to those around you. Usually, the less practical your clothes are, the richer you are.
The style of clothes is also tied to your rank, meaning someone of one rank can´t wear a certain type of clothing style as that is outside of their social class. Different textile techniques are also sometimes defined by your rank.
Notes on fabric and technics:
Brocade and damask are also used a lot due to the hardship of producing it, where a cheaper solution would be printed patterns to those outside of the elite. Brocade is usually worn to court, where damask is a more daily solution as it is mostly made on linen and doesn´t appear as three dimensional as brocade.
Linen and cotton are usually worn as under clothes due to their lightweight and breathable properties, they are also used for pants. = flax fibers and cotton plant
Silk is usually worn as some form of overwear due to it reflecting light and expensive manufacture. = Silkworms cocoon
Velvet is usually used for clothing padding, or pants. = special loom usually with silk although linen, cotton and wool can be used
Cashmere is used for thin over clothes and usually only for decoration. = cashmere goats
Wool is used rarely and if it is it is used as padding in colder climate, so something you have in between your under and over clothes. It is also and important aspect of the military later in Beleriand as it is easy to get and you stay warm even in rain. = hair of animals (sheep, goats, cows, dogs, etc)
Rayon is used a lot by the Noldor too as it is easier to get than silk and hold a more stable temorature. Rayon is usually chosen for a pieces of clothes that requires a lot of embroidery silk wouldn´t be able to hold or as a tunic. = wood pulp
Notes on dyes:
Dyed clothes can be categorised in two; cheap home dyed fabrics, with local based dyes and expensive professional dyed fabrics, coloured with imported and expensive ingredients. The more clearer a colour the wealthier. - the colour mentioned here is what I draw him in.
White although not seemingly much is expensive due to the ingrediency being hard to obtain and not something you just get shipped to you, it shows wealth as the common folk of the Noldo really uses it and are more drown to easy colourful clothes instead, it also symbolises purity as it absorbs colours better than any other dyes. - Easy = sun bleaching (never really white white more like a pale yellow or brown) Expensive = chemical help
Black requires the fibres to be dyed repeatedly therefore, it is also a symbol of wealth, although it is less eye catching which also makes it the colour for humility and plainness. Black fabrics also holds the shortes amount of times if dyed with alum. - Expensive = mix of the basic dyes: (madder, weld and woad, alum), acorns, galnuts, oak apple
Yellow/gold although and easy colour to obtain is still a colour used by the elite as it can represent gold as a heraldic colour. - Easy and mild yellow = tansy, goldenrod, birch leaves and wild chervil Expensive and satured yellow = turmeric, saffron, onion skin, marigold, chamomile
Red/Scarlet is at times some of the most expensive due to the material used to get a scarlet red. Easy still expensive but cheaper = madder root (the root are harvested once a year - the leaf are harvested the whole year but gives a slightly different colour - madder can also give pink), brazilwood (can also make pink and purple) Expensive = raisin dragonsblood, kermes, scale insects
Purpel/violet is at times more expensive than gold due to the ingredients. - Easy = kermes and alum Expensive = dog whelk
i love treating elves to self-enrichment activities. the guys live theoretically forever -- time must pass so slowly for them, yet they feel every second of every day.
can you imagine how far the lines would blur if you didn't need to rush to meet any of your needs? no need to go to bed when you can spend the next few days sleeping constantly to catch up. why maintain hygeine if its more practical to dedicate all time to something else? you can just clean yourself once you're done. it's not like anyone is going to need to see you in the next month, anyway.
so they observe astrological events. they celebrate every new year, every spring. they meditate and reflect and focus on improving themselves by a self-imposed deadline. they learn new skills. they care for animals with drastically shorter lifespans. they craft things that require maintenance. they could go weeks without speaking but make an effort to sing.
they create enrichment for themselves, otherwise their captivity in the enclosure of time would dull the pursuit of their natural behaviours.
How does acceptance and prevalence of aspec identity vary over both cultures and species?
Are all elves really baseline demisexual? What’s up with one third of dwarven populations focusing on their craft instead of taking a spouse? How do soul bonds work between elven couples who don’t want to have sex? Did Númenor get aphobic when they started distancing themselves from the Elves? Do aspec hobbits feel pressure to settle down and have large families?
Alternative prompt: Coming Out
These prompts are optional, and we are open to any aspec content whether or not you stick to our suggestions!
Please tag your posts with #aspecardaweek AND @ mention this blog @aspecardaweek so they can be easily found. If you are posting your submission to AO3, you can add it to the event collection here.
elves often save the hair they brush out and use it to weave clothing for their loved ones. The feanorians are peculiar in that they make a lot of clothing for each other, and the simple gesture holds much more weight among their followers. Maedhros, for example, has made of his only cloaks for each of his brothers, himself, and for his dead father.
I think that there would be a lot of customs involving gift giving amongst the human populations of Mordor and Nurn, given the fact that the land was founded by the Lord of Gifts.
Receiving a valuable gift from a person in power would indebt you to them, effectively forging an alliance between you and the gift giver. Because of the imbalance of power, this sort of gift can be both a blessing and a curse. "Gifts are often manacles in disguise, with a chain that is attached to the hand of the giver," is a common expression in the Land of Shadow.
Becoming indebted to the gift giver only applies if they are of higher standing than you, however. If you are the person in power and someone of lower standing gives you a lavish gift, then it is seen as a form of tribute.
Because of these gift giving customs, the citizens of Mordor and Nurn would take careful thought when choosing a gift for a friend's birthday or other special occasion. Even if one is of equal standing to one's friends, there is still a degree of anxiety involved when selecting a gift. Simple gifts are best, so that the receiver will not think that they owe you, but a gift should not be so simple as to be insulting. The right amount of balance would be needed to avoid potential social blunders.
Gifts made by one's own hands - even if the gift is an ordinary loaf of bread - are considered of higher value than goods purchased from a marketplace. This is because it is believed that the maker imbues their creations with both their intentions and the essence of their being. Naturally, the level of indebtedness that one feels for such a gift increases with the complexity of the gift and the time that was involved in its making.
In the more fertile regions of Nurn, flowers might be popular casual gifts to give when visiting friends. Many cultures have flower languages, and Nurn might be no exception, with different plants or plant colors assigned various meanings. Bouquets of nine flowers would be seen as auspicious, due to the association with the Nine Nazgul.
One should never forget the Lord of Gifts either, He Who Is the Lawful Ruler of Middle-earth! It is customary to give frequent sacrifices gifts to the Great One in gratitude for His blessings. One does not wish to anger the Great Eye, after all...
Among the Ñoldor, particularly those in Aman but still commonly adhered to among their descendants in Middle-Earth, there are a multitude of customs regarding the care and styling of one’s hair. Some of these customs are practical, others aesthetic, and still others represent cultural values.
Hair as Identity
In Ñoldorin culture, identity consists of two parts— individual identity, and familial identity. Both are equally prized, and highlighting each part of one’s identity is vital in how one presents oneself.
In terms of hair, there is no part of how a Ñoldo styles and keeps their hair that does not in some way link back to identity, and one’s individual, unique style can tell quite a bit about them. Because of this, at least in formal settings, all Ñoldor that are of age will have a “signature” hairstyle, that, though there may be some minor changes and alterations, remains the same and becomes an identifying feature.
Caring for Hair
As the Ñoldor take great pride in their hair, they are meticulous in the way they care for it. It is considered very socially unacceptable to have hair that is unkempt— unwashed, uncombed, falling out of its styling to the point where it is clearly not an aesthetic choice. A Ñoldo will frequently own a set of several brushes and combs with which to care for and style their hair, and they will often condition it with scented oils after washing. They spend much of their adolescence learning how best to care for their individual hair type.
When sleeping, most Ñoldor will tie their hair back in a loose braid, or up in a top knot, to keep it from becoming too tangled. Some will apply oils and wrap their hair as well to protect it.
After washing, they will finger-comb out any tangles, careful not to pull too hard, and leave it loose to air-dry.
The Fettering of Hair
While there is great variety among the styles worn by the Ñoldor, and while casual and formal styles vary greatly, there is one common thread throughout all of the varying methods of styling. This is the “fettering” of the hair.
It is thought that the practice began due to the nature of the Ñoldor as crafters, often necessitating their long hair to be pulled back from their faces to keep it out of the way. As their culture and society developed, becoming focused around their artisans, those who wore their hair pulled back from their face were seen with some prestige as those who were seriously focused on their craft. This would give rise to the custom of hair-fettering.
According to the custom, the entirety of a Ñoldo’s hair is never left loose while in any public setting, or while around any of those they don’t consider to be close kin or very comfortable with. All hair from the top of the ears upward is always pulled back or tied in some fashion, be that in a plait, top-knot, or ponytail. Frequently more hair than that will be tied back, but this is not required to be considered socially acceptable, nor is it considered “better” in any way, rather just a difference in style.
In addition, along with the lower portion of the hair, the front-most section also doesn’t fall under the fettering custom, and may be left free as a decorative fringe if cut to chin-length or shorter (this is, as discussed more completely further down, also the only portion of a Ñoldo’s hair that they will typically cut). If not trimmed, however, this portion of hair is pulled back with the rest of the fettered portion.
Hair is typically only worn loose while at home and at leisure, and it is common to only wear one’s hair down around their immediate family— parents, siblings, children, or spouse. If a visitor comes by while one is relaxing, they will typically quickly tie up their hair before inviting them in. For this purpose, many Ñoldor will wear their hair ties around their wrists while at leisure.
The unfettering of hair around anyone who is not immediate family is a significant matter. This means that the other individual is considered to be at the same level of intimacy as family, and highly trusted. In fact, though not always romantic in nature, taking one’s hair down is a part of the betrothal and marriage customs unique to the Ñoldor. Typically, after moving into their shared residence after the betrothal feast, a couple will take down their own hair in front of one another, a symbol of trust, intimacy, and a willingness to get to know the other in their complete selves before being married. After marriage, a similar custom can be found, but this time, the couple will untie one another’s hair instead of their own, further increasing the intimacy and trust between them.
The custom also gives rise to the term “avalanyefindë,” which translates literally to “unbound hair” and is used to indicate complete trust in another individual.
Common Styles and Styling Traditions
Though all Ñoldor wear their hair at least partially tied back, there is a great variety in how that is accomplished. It is this portion of styling that is entirely up to individual tastes, and through their childhood and adolescence, most Ñoldor will develop a signature style or two involving various braids, twists, and ties. While hair jewelry is common (even integral in some cases), a “signature” style will often be able to be worn with or without the jewelry, in some semblance, and be able to stand on its own. The intricacy only truly matters in formal settings, however, with a simple ponytail, braid, or topknot, either partly or fully tied, being frequently used in casual or work settings. Precisely how one styles their hair, and what technique or combination of techniques are used, depends greatly on hair texture, thickness, and personal preference.
Favored forms of styling are often passed down through families, with parents styling their children’s hair, and their children taking it up when they are older. In addition, close friends, siblings, or partners will often help to style one another’s hair. While the variation is great even among family groups, there will frequently be some resemblance between the hairstyles worn by family members.
In addition, formal styles typically start out fairly simple as children, and become increasingly more elaborate as they get older, and can take quite some time and help to put up, thus the most elaborate versions of a Ñoldo’s typical style are reserved only for the most important occasions, such as their coming-of-age.
Hair Jewelry, Ties, and Adornments
In addition to styles, the Ñoldor make use of a great many adornments to their hair. From special, personal hair ties that can double as bracelets (every Ñoldo has at least one) to elaborate, crafted headpieces worn to formal functions, some form of adornment is almost always used.
The hair ties, the most universal adornments, are often simple and unassuming, usually made of soft leather, cloth, or string, and are in the individual’s personal or family colors, if any are used. They are used to tie up the hair casually, and are sometimes incorporated into elaborate styles by tying off the ends of braids or other such means. One will typically have several, in case they are lost.
The second most common accessories are ribbons, pins, beads, or other decorative pieces worn in the lower sections of the hair. These are worn by all ages, and the particulars are entirely up to personal taste, though they will typically use their house’s colors and materials.
Elaborate combs, clips, pins, crowns, circlets, and other headpieces worn on the upper part of the head, rather than in the hair beneath, are worn only by adults. One’s first piece of hair jewelry, typically a comb, circlet, or another accessory that can be added to an existing hairstyle, is gifted to them by their parents and placed during the coming-of-age ceremony. Following that, one will typically have several different hairpieces, ranging from simple to elaborate, meant to be worn on top of the head. They will typically be variations on a main theme, and in all but the most casual setting, adult Ñoldor will typically wear some form of upper hairpiece.
Hair Cutting among the Ñoldor
Among the Eldar, one’s hair and the way it is presented is considered to be one of the most defining traits of one’s appearance, and the Eldar value beautiful hair above any other quality. So too are the Ñoldor. However, they take it further than many kindreds, save for the Vanyar, in that they do not cut their hair, ever, save for the decorative fringe in the front or under very specific circumstances. There are two separate reasons for this, which at times clash in principle, but are reconciled by the cutting of the fringe.
By the Ñoldor, one’s body is considered to be the craftsmanship of their parents, and is to be afforded respect as such. An individual and their parents share a sort of claim to the physical body, however, in the way that a completed house belongs to the owner rather than the architect who designed it or the contractor who built it, so does the hröa belong to the fëa that inhabits it. Nonetheless, one’s hair is considered to be part of the craftsmanship of the parents, and as it is a strong taboo and disrespect in Ñoldorin culture to tamper with the craft of another, so the Ñoldor do not cut their hair or permanently alter their bodies in any way, save such small things as piercings that, when removed, are not particularly noticeable. Such things fall under the individual’s right to the craft of their own hröa, but larger modifications, particularly those so noticeable and drastic as the cutting of one’s hair, do not.
The second reason, contrasting somewhat with the first, has to do with the importance of hairstyling as self-expression and bonding activity. One’s hair, while the craft of the parents, is a vital tool for self-expression, and the way it is styled frequently defines an individual. Thus, to cut it would be seen as depriving oneself of that individuality and the ability to use it in appearance-crafting.
There is one widely used exception to the custom, and that is the front most section of hair. If desired, it can be cut into a short fringe (not reaching below the chin) or layered somewhat, and that would not be considered taboo. This hair, framing the face, is considered an individual’s own to do with what they please and a part of self expression, provided it can still be pulled back as is customary if any portions are longer than the chin. It is this portion of hair that may be cut, should an individual desire strongly to cut their hair.
There are two other exceptions, which are not seen so benign as fringe-trimming (though only one is by choice). The first is to signify a break with one’s family. As the deliberate cutting of one’s hair is a disrespect to their parents’ craft, it is also a sign of disrespect to the parents’ themselves. This action is drastic— no mere disagreement must prompt this, but a total and complete division with one’s parents. As the Ñoldor hold their family lines dear and frequently introduce themselves with their ancestry, cutting one’s hair short indicates a break from their house— a desire to not be associated with their parents, and for their parents’ actions not to reflect upon them. Typically to accomplish this statement, the hair is cut to the shoulders or higher. A lesser cut, perhaps just taking off the first few inches or so, could indicate a lack of approval, rather than a total disownment and disassociation. Fëanáro cut off a few inches of his hair as a protest against Finwë’s marriage to Indis, but retained his relationship with his father nonetheless. However, Celebrimbor cut his hair completely short, all the way to his chin, after his father was exiled from Nargothrond, to disassociate himself from Curufin’s deeds, and from the House of Fëanáro entirely.
The second exception is when one’s hair is cut by force. This did not occur in Aman, as it was seen as an egregious harm there, but many Ñoldor who were captured had their hair shorn off when they entered captivity. Though many of these captives did not return, those who did were not held at fault. Because of this tendency, the taboo against short-cut hair lifted somewhat, though it remained fully in some realms, such as Gondolin. Nonetheless, the forced cutting of hair was demoralising for all of the Quendi, but particularly for the Ñoldor, who saw it as taking from them more than just their beauty, but also a connection to their kin and their individuality and agency.
[Image description: A picture of Lee Pace as Thranduil in the Hobbit films. He is wearing dark armor and has his elbow-length, blonde hair loose over his shoulders. /End description.]
(Because I don't think this ^^^ is gonna cut it, as attractive as Lee Pace is here.)
Anyone with long hair knows it’s a royal pain to keep untangled, loose, and neat. Goes double if you have curly or fine hair that’s prone to tangling. I used to have waist-length hair that I had to braid at night to keep it tamed in the morning.
Ironically, I kind of know what this might be like. I used to swim competitively, and that required creative measures to fit all that hair underneath the tight swim cap. A tight bun in the middle back of the head, sometimes helped along by braids, was usually best. Hairpins were a no-go. Besides ripping the silicone cap, they would stab into the scalp with the slightest pressure. Ouch.
So, if you’re an elf with long hair who has to wear a helmet when you go to war, for example, what options does that leave you?
Loose hair clearly isn’t an option—sorry, Glorfindel. Braided or partially braided hair that hangs down like Legolas’ here is a small improvement. The pieces of hair that are closest to the face won’t fall into it in the middle of battle. But if an enemy gets close enough or sneaks up from behind, this kind of hair is quite easy to grab and pull. And if your head gets yanked on, the rest of the body follows.
And still none of this solves the helmet issue. There’s zero room for loose ends when you’re in a high-stakes battle filled with pointy bits, so that means the hair has to disappear up under the helmet, and it has to stay gone where it won’t fatally distract you.
But there’s a bit of an upside to this. Medieval helmets aren’t just a steel bucket plopped on the head. They need padding—for comfort and stability and also to soften any blows to the delicate organ inside your skull. Usually, you get something called a padded coif, whose non-armor variant was also a standard lower-class wear for both men and women in medieval Europe. There’s actually a lot of good reproductions of padded coifs for sale here at an armorer store, based in Kyiv. But they generally looked like this, to give you an idea.
So where does the hair go? Under the coif, obviously—and you get some bonus padding in the bargain! The trick, actually, is to distribute the hair mass well enough that it doesn’t form a thick lump that makes excessive pressure on the skull. It’s uncomfortable as hell even when you’re wearing something thin and flexible, like a swim cap.
Basically, you want the hair’s braided shape to match the contours of the head as much as possible. I think you’d probably want the hair braided into something like crown braids:
I suspect that especially long hair could be tucked into another layer of the same spiral. Alternatively, Elves might choose to braid their hair back tightly and tuck the trailing end of the braid under their armor in the back.
As for securing the braids, my guess is that you’d want to go for wires and ribbons to lace together the braids rather than hair pins. Think about it—a hairpin squished under a helmet is uncomfortable to begin with, yes, but a hairpin at the wrong angle might actually drive into the skull if your helmet is hit with an enemy’s blow.
I think there’d be a well-accepted convention of “this is how you do hair for battle” by the time the Long Peace settled in for Elves in Beleriand. I’m also speculating the Noldor adapted these conventions from the Sindar, who knew enough to say that long, loose hair is Bad even if they probably weren't exactly accustomed to wearing full plate armor into open battle. One of the hair styles was called a nardh vithren ("grey knot”) after Lake Mithrim, where it probably first became relevant.
(Feel free to tell me if I messed up any of my details! I did my best to research and just apply a bit of common sense where it mattered.)
