Creating Fashion

[Tundra]

I've got a fantasy world. Which is actually 700 or so years in our future. Though some elements are medievalish, not everything is, and it's weird if i make them dress in medieval clothes for no reason, since I doubt that would happen.

And, since I can now see the characters, i'm trying to work out what the styles of clothing would be. I've worked out a sort of system of what colours are allowed to be worn by what ranks of people, for two countries. It's based on how expensive the fabrics/dyes are, and/or what it symbolises.

Other than that, I guess I'm sort of seeing what they wear as a mix between medieval, regency and modern!

I'm trying to figure out why it is that the girls seem to be wearing dresses most of the time, but it's okay for them to wear pants sometimes, and it's not all that shocking for them to show a leg or whatever.

I can sort of see why the noblepeople in my world would have modesty rules like that though, plus corsetry.

Anyway. Any ideas on how to create clothing styles? Since it's set in the future? People have said to me 'pick an era' but, since it's in the future, that doesn't seem right.

[limegreen19]

Whenever I think of futuristic clothing, I tend to think of someone in a birght silver jumpsuit and moonboots :?

Then again, people have always re-done certain fashions over time. Like nowadays guys turn up their shirt collars, which I heard happened alot in the seventies. So maybe you should take small aspects from one or two close eras and use combine them with some of your own creativity. I don't know if this helps, but I figured I'd say it anyways :?

[Tundra]

no, not that sort of future. Not 'futuristic' sci fi stuff.

[vindemiatrix]

It's possible that long dresses and skirts are the current fashion at the moment, but pants still need to be worn for certain strenuous activities, or even just for comfort when one doesn't feel like being fashionable. A bit like the difference between getting dressed up for going out and just lazing around the house?

Think climate, too. What sort of clothing would make sense in the climate? Additionally, the nobility may wear extra-fancy, rather inconvenient clothing just to show that they can, because they don't have to work. Themes, also. Is there an extra-frilly, ornate theme on? Is embroidery in, or lace? Or straight, plain lines? Many layers or none? Lots of jewellery, or simple pieces? Bright colours or subdued? You know, that kind of thing. :)

[Tundra]

the climate is like, well, Adelaide climate lol. So, no snow. Hot dry summers, that sort of 'leak' into Spring and Autumn, and colder and rainy winters with maybe a bit of frost at night.

yes, that is possible with the dresses... not sure though.

[girlunquestioned]

My immediate thought is -- well, dresses are fashionable. In this world, it could be very fashionable to wear whatever sort of dresses you please, ESPECIALLY among the upper class. But let's face it, no one LIKES to wear that sort of dress every day. It's dang uncomfortable and hot and stuffy. Therefore, pants happen. Leg-showing happen. It could be considered unfashionable and slightly "common", but acceptable.

You could play this up or down by manipulating the temperature and humidity of the climate.


As for corsets, they either have bras or corsets. Having both makes no sense. Or they could go au natural, I suppose, but that leads towards a saggy sort of trend, doesn't it?

[Tundra]

I can see the 'ordinary girls' having bras. and the rich people having corsets.

[Aimless]

Nah, rich people have tight, wide bands to make them look more androgynous :o gender is for schmucks :o

[girlunquestioned]

Well, it could be that corsets are worn with fancy dress (thus, by the rich), and something like an odd type of sports bra (ie simple) would be worn with other things. A chest wrap or some such, just for something different.

[Jenevieve]

But let's face it, no one LIKES to wear that sort of dress every day. It's dang uncomfortable and hot and stuffy. I actually disagree with this. I vastly prefer wearing long skirts and dresses to wearing pants, because my legs feel more open and free, and I feel elegant and pretty. Also, they're actually cooler temperature-wise than pants because you get air movement within them. I'd wear skirts every day if it weren't for the fact that I have to bicycle to school and they get caught in the gears and the brakes.

[girlunquestioned]

No, no, I meant more Victorian-type dresses. With petticoats and such. THAT'S what makes them hot.

[Jenevieve]

True, but Tundra never specified exactly what style of dresses she wants people in her books to be wearing. Large and stuffy petticoats don't automatically go with long dresses of medieval/regency/modern style, which is the only qualifier Tundra put on the dresses she imagines. And even then, large petticoats are rather fun to wear provided the house isn't really messy with things for it to get caught in. It would only get a bit on the warm side in the summertime, and people have done much worse things for fashion.

[girlunquestioned]

Hmm ... valid points. Well, anyway, I was just offering an idea. I'm not much of a fashionista.

[Tundra]

I also really love my long dresses. they're fun to wear. But yes, they can be inconvenient sometimes.