tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post915164023425092672..comments2024-03-13T15:25:14.628-04:00Comments on ThrillWriting: What NOT to Wear: Clothing Choices to Save Your HeroineFiona Quinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-50501478627227374382017-02-28T09:18:19.670-05:002017-02-28T09:18:19.670-05:00Jeans and shoes you can run in are safest. I'v...Jeans and shoes you can run in are safest. I've read of a girl whose attacker had to let her go because she curled up tight on the ground and he could not get her trousers off. He kicked at her head but she shielded it with her arms. <br />In any kind of dressed up situation, still try to wear shoes you can run in, and clothes that let you move, because the fire alarm might go off and you might need to help others. <br />Scream 'Fire!' rather than 'help' if attacked. <br />Most importantly when you disable or break away from the attacker, run. Just run.Clare O'Bearahttp://www.clareobeara.ienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-51384640784506919842016-08-03T10:35:36.184-04:002016-08-03T10:35:36.184-04:00You've given me a lot to think about for my wr...You've given me a lot to think about for my writing, and for that I'm thankful. I'm sure my female characters will be thankful too. ;-)James Paillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213113363979079375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-14505358480675663122016-07-24T08:44:53.133-04:002016-07-24T08:44:53.133-04:00Good helpful article, Fiona. I take care over my h...Good helpful article, Fiona. I take care over my heroine's and hero's clothing, as there's always that 'snag law' at play in the real world. Love the title links - I've got something similar going, CATALYST, CATACOMB and CATACLYSM so far!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08436051632507504534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-4684434135038218922016-03-19T08:28:56.965-04:002016-03-19T08:28:56.965-04:00Bra holsters are the heroine's friend when it ...Bra holsters are the heroine's friend when it comes to yoga pants but also belly holsters and also clothing specifically designed for concealed carry like tank tops with a cross draw and conceal carry hoodies. Fiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-41781094716492608772016-03-19T03:53:53.638-04:002016-03-19T03:53:53.638-04:00My experience is that yoga pants also suck for con...My experience is that yoga pants also suck for concealed carry. They look, well, odd combined with a jacket other than a hoodie and most concealed carry holsters that are designed to work with pants just will not work with yoga pants. This commits you to a jacket, which again, looks odd with yoga pants. Lela Markhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623625891488179861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-48083778477799896752015-06-24T12:44:30.238-04:002015-06-24T12:44:30.238-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Fiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-17255013321370491642015-06-24T12:26:22.260-04:002015-06-24T12:26:22.260-04:00This is a incredible article. To continue the dis...This is a incredible article. To continue the discussion, is it possible that a bra could be a liability and a danger? I'm using them as a metaphor in several books I'm writing. Also, my characters use large handbags, with everything in them including extra cosmetics, pepper spray, GPS, phone charger, but no guns. My two main characters don't like them - then again I am trying to be a bit light and humorous at times. Never thought about ponytails. <br /><br />I know rings can be used as a weapon. Many years ago, at my first out of college job, there had been several rapes at the mall where I was working in a department store. The store brought in a cop, who had a class for female employees. He told us about rings, hoop earrings, and how to hold car keys like brass knuckles. He also taught us situational awareness. SJ Reidheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009929983462161529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-85873276363291087232015-06-24T12:20:29.918-04:002015-06-24T12:20:29.918-04:00My characters tied theirs up at their waist one da...My characters tied theirs up at their waist one day. They were told it looked silly, but they were safer. SJ Reidheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009929983462161529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-78367818766311501282015-05-24T00:50:46.016-04:002015-05-24T00:50:46.016-04:00Well-trained, you shouldn't have to, but don&#...Well-trained, you shouldn't have to, but don't kick above your waist. Too unbalancing to risk in real combat. If you want to kick an upper body target, put your opponent down to the right level first ;)Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06321573725442513288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-89256151080416721252014-06-08T10:52:02.273-04:002014-06-08T10:52:02.273-04:00Hi there,
Thank you for your kind words.
As to ...Hi there,<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. <br /><br />As to the hair, long hair is always a liability. <br /><br />PONY TAIL - It is easier to grab and can the be used for leverage in moving the heroine's head. Where the head goes, so goes the body. Pulling the pony tail back will shift her balance and make her go down, holding the pony tail and pushing forward and down will make her drop to her knees. But pulling a pony tail does not hurt badly. <br /><br />LOOSE HAIR - Grabbing long hair by the handful will hurt, but the assailant will not have the same control as with a pony tail. If I were the victim, I would prefer to have my hair pulled than to give the villain steering control. A tight bun is probably the safest way to wear long hair. Also if the villain does this he will leave anagen phase (http://thrillwriting.blogspot.com/2014/03/forensic-trace-evidence-hair-and-fur.html) trace evidence on the scene. Would this help your plot?<br /><br />Also, in a fight hair can just get in the way, it can curtain the eyes, get caught in buttons and other closures. So think about the scene and how you want it to play out - hair can add an exciting dynamic but if it clutter and slows your scene, have her wear a bun that day.<br /><br />Hope this helps!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />FionaFiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-51157145685747655342014-06-08T08:57:17.178-04:002014-06-08T08:57:17.178-04:00This is such a useful article. I had never really ...This is such a useful article. I had never really considered the depth you need to think about when dressing your characters for particular scenes. I'll definitely be re-evaluating some of my character's clothing choices. Any thoughts of how to wear hair? Long hair better tried up? Or would that make it easier to grab onto?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-29935089106067992462014-04-23T12:43:51.557-04:002014-04-23T12:43:51.557-04:00Interesting... I usually wear long, full skirts be...Interesting... I usually wear long, full skirts because I find them easier to move in, but (thank goodness!) have never had to fight in one. I've done live-action roleplaying battles in skirts, but we weren't actually trying to hurt our opponents! (Got pretty good at dodging and running away, though, as well as getting up quickly after falling down.)<br />One of my heroines ended up in a fight wearing flannel PJs with sock monkeys on them. Luckily she had ranged attacks (magic and a gun), because I can't imagine that would work well for hand to hand. No stretch, too much loose fabric.TeresaNoelleRobertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542291750786128688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-86729425229168166342014-04-14T11:25:54.204-04:002014-04-14T11:25:54.204-04:00Thanks, Heather!
Happy writing,
Cheers,
FionaThanks, Heather!<br /><br />Happy writing,<br />Cheers,<br />FionaFiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-36764590195809865892014-04-14T10:05:15.443-04:002014-04-14T10:05:15.443-04:00Interesting things to think about. I'm writing...Interesting things to think about. I'm writing a thriller right now and hadn't yet thought much about how her clothing would affect an attack. This is a great post, and your whole website is a fabulous wealth of information!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180048355518579006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-53665961748239811072014-03-22T15:20:28.939-04:002014-03-22T15:20:28.939-04:00Clothing is an important issue in self protection....Clothing is an important issue in self protection. We cannot always choose what to wear, uniforms, functions that require a dress code and the weather for instance can all dictate what we have to wear. Of course we also have our own choices of clothing during our daily lives.<br />The main thing to remember is that if you are going to wear something, whatever it is, then learn how to defend yourself in it, run in it, move around comfortably in it.<br />More often than not you do not choose the time or location of combat. Rocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-45393939882486980242013-10-15T21:39:12.235-04:002013-10-15T21:39:12.235-04:00I don't know if my friend ever got cut up by t...I don't know if my friend ever got cut up by the rings. He got some nasty bruises and talked about it hurting a lot. <br /><br />I would guess using a scarf or belt as a weapon wouldn't be a good idea for most people. I did see a video of it being demonstrated before, and with practice it might be a good way to fight, but it would be more of a hindrance than a help. I doubt I'd try it in real life but it might work for a fictional character to be able to use it. But I don't know much about scarves anyway, as it's not often cold enough to need to wear them around here and I don't like them anyway. <br /><br />It sounds like the less clothes the better. History Rebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297589278252230815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-75946778583411053602013-10-14T19:11:56.510-04:002013-10-14T19:11:56.510-04:00Hi Randall,
About the long skirts, If I wore one,...Hi Randall,<br /><br />About the long skirts, If I wore one, It would be a straight skirt that had a very high slit up the middle. And there are occasions when society dictates your clothing choices. The problem with extra material is that it can be grabbed and jerked; since it's attached to your body you go where the fabric goes. A full skirt slows the speed and diminishes the force on a kick. Also, if the heroine goes down, it's an issue to get back up without becoming entangled. Yup, those pesky long skirts can get you into lots of trouble.<br /><br />I'm sorry for your friend. I know how damaging prongs can be. I used to fight with my engagement ring turned inward, but it would twist, and if I caught my sparing partner, it drew blood. <br /><br />Scarves and belts are weapons that I leave to the professionals. I wouldn't fight with them myself unless, of course, push came to shove, then I'd use anything and everything to make sure I won. <br /><br />But you're right this whole article is about common sense when and if you slow down and think about it. I get ticked off when I read articles about girls getting into trouble because they were wearing short skirts. The reality is if a predator is after her, that girl is safest in a short skirt. An attack is not a sexual response it's a dominance/anger response of a sick brain. <br /><br />I love it when you stop by and comment!<br />Cheers,<br />FionaFiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-69658243526995433242013-10-14T19:11:20.934-04:002013-10-14T19:11:20.934-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Fiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-79110553391858181912013-10-14T14:40:19.489-04:002013-10-14T14:40:19.489-04:00A few random thoughts:
-Suddenly the tight skimpy...A few random thoughts:<br /><br />-Suddenly the tight skimpy outfits of superheroines make a lot more sense. <br /><br />-Wouldn't a long skirt that's very loose still allow for decent movement? Though it would still be a hindrance for running, especially running into the wind, and probably cushion knee strikes just a bit. I don't exactly wear skirts, long or short, being male, but <br /><br />-Kind of a dark example to find evidence to support something you wrote with, but I had a friend back in school who dated a girl who used to hit him when she'd get mad, and she sometimes wore rings on her hands...it wasn't good for him (luckily she never caused any serious damage). But it does prove the point about rings being useful weapons, just hopefully in self-defense, and not abuse.<br /><br />-Scarves would seem to be both good and bad, bad for being useful things for bad guys to grab, but they can also be used by someone who's trained to stop strikes, and either that or a belt could be used to bind an attacker's limbs after the fight. Assuming the heroine wins...<br /><br />A lot of what you wrote is common sense, but I guess I never really thought much about how clothes affect self-defense ability. Now when it gets cold and I put on my hoodie for the first time this year I'm probably going to think back to this article. History Rebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297589278252230815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-88094506986910559032013-10-14T11:58:31.741-04:002013-10-14T11:58:31.741-04:00Thanks Eden, and Happy Thanksgiving.
For those of...Thanks Eden, and Happy Thanksgiving. <br />For those of you who don't know Eden, she is a Canadian author www.edenbaylee.comFiona Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446624235636372505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014794345851547607.post-76399951671452032932013-10-14T09:05:17.182-04:002013-10-14T09:05:17.182-04:00Good one, Fiona,
and I love the shoulder length h...Good one, Fiona, <br />and I love the shoulder length hair on you too, <br />edenEden Bayleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043540142363106345noreply@blogger.com