Halston Heritage Attire Inspiration for Fantasy Adventure Character Garb
I was rewarded for my trip to the Apple store at the Beverly Center mall near Beverly Hills by spotting an outfit that could be the basis for the garb of my female sword-wielding protagonist Leeze am Holden in my work-in-progress fantasy adventure ROAD TO ZANZICA.
Leeze lives in a non-specified time period similar to the Middle Ages, and until her father is murdered on the road to Zanzica she is stuck with to-the-floor female dress garb.
Yet when her father can no longer deliver to Zanzica the annual tax allotment for the family’s landholding, Leeze must don male garb for safety on the road to Zanzica. Fortunately, her father has been teaching her sword fighting since she reached five star cycles, so she is prepared to wield a sword on her journey.
My interest in coming up with appropriate garb that fantasy fans might like to wear was inspired by reading about Ashley Eckstein and her fan-inspired clothing line Her Universe as well as her new venture Her Universe Press.
In ROAD TO ZANZICA when dressed in male garb Leeze starts off with plain wool pants and an unadorned wool tunic over which she wears a hooded wool cloak. Later her new acquaintance — Jordan, Lord am Wagreth — gives her a leather tunic for better protection when wielding her sword.
And voila! Walking past the Halston Heritage store window in Beverly Center I saw a two-piece garment that matched my ideal garb for Leeze (with a few adjustments).
Replacing the Halston Heritage garment material with leather, adding long sleeves for protection, and changing the belt to a sword belt, I have the basic inspiration for Leeze am Holden’s sword-wielding garb. (There will be slits under the arms for ease of sword handling.)
As Leeze rides horses, hence the slits on the side of the long garment (the length is needed for protection in sword fighting) and the overlapping fabric in front — held in place by the necessary sword belt — allows easier on and off access of the tunic than would buttons, ties or toggles of any kind.
Leeze’s leggings could be wool with reinforced leather on the inside of her thighs, or all leather. And of course her short blade is stashed in one of her boots. Her father’s belt, which plays an integral part in the mystery Leeze must solve, is worn under her sword belt.
© 2017 Miller Mosaic LLC