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melisscaru's profile
Melissa Caruso
Melissa Caruso
Melissa Caruso
@melisscaru

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Melissa Caruso

@melisscaru

Author (THE TETHERED MAGE, etc) w/ @orbitbooks. THE QUICKSILVER COURT out now! Geek, mom, tea drinker, dog & cat herder. Swordfights in ballgowns. (She/her)

melissacaruso.net
Joined January 2014

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    1. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      OKAY I HAVE AN IMPORTANT THREAD FOR YOU about fighting in ballgowns! I will illustrate with Disney Princess gifs, because why not. First, you can absolutely swordfight in a dress. Some dresses are great to swordfight in, and some are not so great.

      266 replies . 9,845 retweets 18,622 likes
      Show this thread
    2. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      (How do I know? Uh, let's just say I've been fighting in dresses (with, admittedly, foam weapons, but range of movement issues should be pretty similar) for many many years.)

      6 replies . 66 retweets 1,612 likes
      Show this thread
    3. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      First of all, let's talk skirts! They aren't necessarily as much of a problem as you'd think. (Witness all the cultures where robes or skirts or big swooshy pants are part of the standard warrior garb.) Let's look at a classic: Cinderella's dress.pic.twitter.com/YjesRG8CtA

      10 replies . 70 retweets 1,370 likes
      Show this thread
    4. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      So the counter-intuitive thing here is that skirt volume is actually not usually a problem. It can even help you...all those petticoats could block or tangle a light slash. And the underlayers that make the skirt poofy (crinoline, etc) are also holding it away from your legs.

      10 replies . 69 retweets 1,418 likes
      Show this thread
    5. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      You have plenty of room for footwork. Getting caught up on brush or other obstacles could be an issue if you're fighting in woods with heavy underbrush, but that's also true of cloaks. The problem isn't volume...it's length.pic.twitter.com/7kxM5oZ8eq

      9 replies . 68 retweets 1,348 likes
      Show this thread
    6. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      Your chances of tripping on your skirt if you have to backpedal are high. It's also easy to step on your skirt on a lunge, which is just...embarrassing. Does not end well. I have done both of these things, and let me tell you, I did not look dashing or escape unscathed.

      3 replies . 64 retweets 1,582 likes
      Show this thread
    7. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      However, an ankle length skirt actually is pretty good! You want a light, full, ankle length skirt with lots of room to move in, ideally. Rapunzel's is very fightable.pic.twitter.com/zdw7vfVahJ

      6 replies . 125 retweets 2,042 likes
      Show this thread
    8. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      The big problem with most Disney Princess style ballgowns isn't the skirt, though. It's the sleeves.

      3 replies . 64 retweets 1,181 likes
      Show this thread
    9. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      Take a look at Aurora's fabulous color-changing dress, which may be the very worst Disney Princess gown for fightability. Seriously, that spindle is the least of your problems, girl.pic.twitter.com/qcqxZzttFX

      2 replies . 66 retweets 1,261 likes
      Show this thread
      Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

      Off the shoulder + tight at the shoulder = good luck lifting your arms higher than drink-holding level.

      6:47 am - 31 Jan 2018
      • 58 Retweets
      • 1,345 Likes
      • lilac⁷ | t!ts up Veriatas Amets, White Witch Moth In Training Khaitlyn LA Knight🐈(🧐🏳️‍🌈❤💜💙📚🧚🏼🦇🤧🥄🦕) Jennifer ✨𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓪 ✨𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓔𝓻𝓪 💃 🌸 CRAZYGAMERGIRL ♡ ˚₊· A Stad
      7 replies . 58 retweets 1,345 likes
        1. New conversation
        2. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          You don't have the range of motion or flexibility you need to fight, and the off-the-shoulder thing is going to get in the way bigtime. (This is why Jasmine's outfit sucks to fight in even though she wears pants. Good luck moving your arms in those sleeves.)pic.twitter.com/NPU422G3Ws

          2 replies . 65 retweets 1,322 likes
          Show this thread
        3. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          The top reason I love Merida is because she runs into the sleeves-too-tight problem and SOLVES IT during that archery scene near the beginning with her awesome seam-ripping flex. This is spot-on. This is what your heroine should do if she has to fight in a dress like this.pic.twitter.com/jCglE25nYf

          13 replies . 442 retweets 4,437 likes
          Show this thread
        4. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          You want sleeves that have range of motion in the shoulder. Puffy or dangly sleeves are okay so long as they don't dangle too much on your wrist or forearm, in which case circular motions can wrap them around your arm.

          5 replies . 62 retweets 1,290 likes
          Show this thread
        5. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          My girl Maleficent 😍 has too much fabric hanging off her arms, but whatever, she can zap you with magic or turn into a dragon, she can wear whatever she wants.pic.twitter.com/wOH33IOrCV

          3 replies . 172 retweets 2,394 likes
          Show this thread
        6. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          Corsets are less of a problem than you'd think, so long as you don't lace them too crazy tight. (Like, Ariel, you'd better still have gills, because your waist is only slightly larger than your neck, here.)pic.twitter.com/WrRqbnwPej

          6 replies . 67 retweets 1,599 likes
          Show this thread
        7. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          I have fought a LOT in a corset. You can't bend much in the middle, but that's not a huge issue (and will be even more true in, say, a metal breastplate). So long as you've got it laced so it's breathable, you're okay.

          9 replies . 77 retweets 1,501 likes
          Show this thread
        8. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          The big thing that sucks in a corset is actually getting up and down off the ground (because you have to bend to do that). Doable, but you might be a little slower. (Again, just like a cuirass, I imagine.)

          10 replies . 53 retweets 1,156 likes
          Show this thread
        9. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          Steel boning might even protect you somewhat, depending on how hardcore your corset is and what kind of strike, etc. (You are probably out of luck against a thrust.)

          14 replies . 53 retweets 1,072 likes
          Show this thread
        10. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          One thing that will throw you off way more than you think is any kind of purse. Anything asymmetrical or dangly that's not close to your body throws off your balance. (This goes for all the guys you see fighting with all kinds of crazy gear hanging off them, too.)pic.twitter.com/ucfiyYpAjf

          14 replies . 87 retweets 1,519 likes
          Show this thread
        11. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          I have overall found cloaks harder to fight in than many dresses. They tend to foul your arms, cool though they look.pic.twitter.com/SfgnbTWnJJ

          41 replies . 67 retweets 1,306 likes
          Show this thread
        12. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          So! If you're attending a ball and you suspect you may be a novel heroine, remember: Full mobility sleeves without too much dangly stuff No floor-length skirts (or train, ugh) No cloak (doff it for effect!) Poofy skirts fine (but not in heavy underbrush) Corsets fine

          31 replies . 801 retweets 4,153 likes
          Show this thread
        13. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          (And if it's a masked ball, make sure you have good peripheral vision! SO IMPORTANT.)

          3 replies . 118 retweets 1,898 likes
          Show this thread
        14. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          Remember all this, and be ready to rip your seams if you have to, and you'll be able to dance with the villain AND duel him later.pic.twitter.com/iiZvL5JK2n

          42 replies . 139 retweets 2,367 likes
          Show this thread
        15. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 31 Jan 2018

          (...So, wow, I had NO IDEA this would go viral! I APPROVE OF YOUR PRIORITIES, INTERNET.) ((And, uh, hey, if you like fabulously dressed women having adventures, you might also like my book https://www.amazon.com/Tethered-Mage-Swords-Fire/dp/0316466875/ …))

          70 replies . 227 retweets 3,029 likes
          Show this thread
        16. Melissa Caruso‏ @melisscaru 1 Feb 2018

          (Oh, hey, and here's a link to the first few chapters free because I LOVE ALL YOU AWESOME PEOPLE: https://www.orbitbooks.net/excerpt/the-tethered-mage/ …)

          16 replies . 27 retweets 356 likes
          Show this thread
        17. End of conversation

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