Fashion Advice from Mistress Crystal

Menswear tends toward tapered slacks and collared pullover shirts with short-to-medium v-necks.  Buttons and fastenings are currently considered ‘fussy’ or ‘busy’ and are only common among those overly enamored with outdated fashion.  At most, a single stay for the pants is hidden beneath a sash or vest, and long shirt sleeves are lightly tied at the wrist.  Undergarments usually consist of a sleeveless shift falling to the top of the thigh, split front and back to be folded comfortably into pants.

As far as colors go, commoners can wear whatever they see fit that is within their budget, although most will stick to the inexpensive and practical cream and brown.  Upper class folk, however, have traditional schemes that they tend to stick to.  Those with strong ties to Whitetower traditionally wear green and cream, while those whose first loyalty is to Easterlee wear the goldenrod and purple of the city’s Myrmidons.  Proud mages will dress in the colors of their Guilds; Earth in black and brown (usually accented with some metal or primary color), Fire in red and gold, Water in blue and green, and Air in white and soft silver.  Beyond those social issues, the primary styles currently in favor are separated into Civic and Mercantile, each with their own political connotations.

Civic styles are prevalent among the political, military, and civil service folk.  The Civic look is tightly tailored, with very close fitting shirts, stiff wrist bands over cuff ties, and close-fitted slacks tucked sharply into boots.  Formal occasions will add short jackets held closed at the neck with a short cord or a single hidden stay.

Mercantile styles are favored by tradesmen, crafters, financiers, and labor leaders.  The Mercantile movement advocates the loose and flowing – in strong contrast to the Civic – with blousy shirts, gemstone or plain jewelry stays for cuff ties, and single pleat slacks over low shoes.  Formal occasions will add short to medium length jackets with long tails, laced up from the bottom or closed with a fancy kilt pin or broach.

Women’s clothes in the city favor the high ‘empire’ waist, named for the style of the prehistoric Elven Empire Period that this supposedly imitates.  Day-to-day wear is usually simple, high-sash dresses over a lightly fragranced shift and bloomers (or camisole and panties for the young with a bit of money or very active).  Formalwear introduces a middle layer of (usually minimal) foundation garments to enhance the appearance of a firm, healthy figure.  Most dresses expose a healthy but modest spread of neck and shoulder, but some (young and daring) ladies go significantly lower, even deleting all but strategically placed jewelry pieces above the sash.  Bare bellies, exposed navels, and fully open backs are traditionally reserved for swimwear, and even then only for teenagers and the bravest would-be scandal-starters.

A lady in formal attire who has chosen to focus on home and husband will often wear a jacket in her husband’s style, but in a pastel version of his colors, while a woman presenting in her own right will wear a primary color jacket over her dress, adopt the male style retailored to a female figure, or affect something in between.  A man who has chosen to focus on the support of his wife’s career may also choose to sport a pastel jacket, symbolic of her role and his choice, and marking him as a noncombatant in the event of magical challenge.

Druid fashion makes no pretense of following style, and remains largely unchanged from the time of the Great Treaty of Man.  A loose, three-quarter sleeved top, falling to mid thigh is paired with either hakama (blousy pants / divided skirt) or a lavalava (simple rectangular wrap skirt) for wear by either gender.  Druids also favor going sky-clad in some circumstances, but rarely do so outside Whitetower or the forest depths.

Rangers will wear whatever the environment requires in the field, but the default field uniform is green tunic over tan shirt and close-fitting brown pants.  Ranger formalwear is a matter of personal choice, but most wear either a clean field uniform or something in ranger colors and Civic style.