30+ Character Clothing Styles
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Western (cowboy) – boots, jeans, plaid, cowboy hat, spurs, chapsRocker (traditional motorcycle) – black leather, band shirts, spike studs, skullsPunk – spiked colorful hair, black outfits Anarco-punk – militaristic styleSteampunk – brass gears, buckles, latches, mechanical hardware, gogglesCyberpunk – futuristic tech, pleather, goggles, colorful cable/dread hair Biopunk includes more of the tech+body integration Celtic punk – kilts and leather jacketsGlamorous punk – sparkles and spikesSka-punk – suspenders, black and white stripes/checkers, skinny jeansRockabilly – retro hair curls/greaser, white T-shirt, jeans, short A-line dresses, polka dots Gothic – black fishnet/lace, spikes, skulls, pale skin Vampire – brocade, corsets, cape, black leather, blood, sheer fabricsVoodoo/witch – long dresses, long hair, dark eyes, long necklaces, lots of rings Post-apocalyptic – thick, often torn canvas clothing, hoods, gas masks, knee boots, bucklesClassy – simple suits, jackets, solid colors – neutral tone with a single color Chic – classy mixed with a lace or floral patternSophisticated – typically one color, a single form fit dress or suit, often with a single expensive accessory, a Coach/Prada purse Bohemian (boho) – tassels, lace, natural colors, sheer fabrics Gypsy – richer color, corsets, more adornments, hip scarf Casual – jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, sneakers Loungewear – sweats, hoodies, T-shirts, slippers, nighties Hippie – long flowing fabrics, flowers, bell-bottoms, bright colors Romantic – pastel colors, flowers, skirts Tomboy (for girls) – dresses like a manEffeminate (for guys) – dresses like a womanNational (ethnic) – dress based on cultural history and traditionPreppy – sweaters and slacks or skirtsSexy – torn/minimal clothing, showing a lot of skinMetrosexual (men) – skinny jeans, form-fitting tops, vests, manicured, long bangsLumbersexual (men) – boots, skinny jeans, red and black plaid flannel, beard, long bangs, pipe/cigarFormal – suits for males and females Glamorous – silk, fur, diamonds, floor-length form fit dress, expensive suits Active – stretch fabrics, tennis shoes, armband/waistband for mp3 player and keysRetro – 1980’s neon triangles/circles parachute clothing, and 70’s muted colors in t-shirts, high-waist jeans, and swimsuits, big hair/puffy-brushed out curlsVintage Early 1900s – full-length corset dresses, casual suits, floral patterns, lace trim Medieval/renaissance – tunics, under-bust trim, silk, gold thread, accentuated sleeve openings for women, puffy sleeves and pants for menSkater – large flat-soled shoes, beanies, hoodies, torn baggy pants or skinny jeansNautical – navy and white colors, often stripes and solidsVibrant/Flamboyant – boldly colorful, patterned, and shapedExotic – rich colors, trimmed with gold/silver, gems (Stylized with ethnic elements)Seasonal – self-explanatory, depends on where you are.Artistic (Arty) – this can go two ways: The creator – casual with effects of work present, paint, wood dust, inkThe professional – clean jeans/slacks, suit jacket/sweater, camera bag/satchel, and a beret or other well-known symbol of art appreciation Minimalist – simple clean lines with few to no adornments, no pockets, nothing in excess.Eclectic – a mix of tastes, plaid and paint splatter, breaks fashion rules, what most of us normies are.Street/Urban – a trendy casual, follows pop culture fads in everyday styleFunctional – work-wear, jumpsuits, overalls, gloves, grounding straps, harnessesCostume/Character inspired (Cosplay) – over 20 sub-categories.(Wikimedia Reference) here’s a few: Fantasy armorSuperheroesCyborgsMachinesLegend and creaturesSpiesMartial artistsAnimeMaids PiratesAncient Egyptian – typically long white tunic adorned with gold and turquois, headdressesMayan/Aztec/Inca – loin cloth & tunics for men, skirts and scarves for women, body piercingsViking – long canvas dresses, furs, cloaksNomad – thick pants and tops, full overdress, trimmed with geometric patternsBarbarian – stud-trimmed leather, furs, skulls/teeth/round-stamped metal adornmentsGreek – Chiton, men no sleeves, women had sleevesRoman – Tunica and toga combinationMinoan/Cretan – layered skirt, jacket, brooches and daggers for women. loincloth and pants that folded into a triangle shape at the waist for men, no shirtIsraelite – animal skin apron with a long shawl-like tunicIndia – a single piece of fabric wrapped around the entire body, bright colors, trimmed with gold threadChinese – darker colors, loose and wide sleeves, Hanfu tunic, sashAfrican – bark cloth, animal skins, paint, scars, beadwork
I haven’t found many straight forward lists available online that cover different styles of dress. I studied this some in college but really wanted to lay it all out in a way that I could compare them in a condensed form. Occasionally, I’ll get an idea for a plot, but won’t know which style, setting, or era is best until I sit down and scan through this list for ideas.
Only general descriptions are provided to help sort the styles because so many overlap. If you find something missing, please leave a comment!
Western (cowboy) – boots, jeans, plaid, cowboy hat, spurs, chapsRocker (traditional motorcycle) – black leather, band shirts, spike studs, skullsPunk – spiked colorful hair, black outfits Anarco-punk – militaristic styleSteampunk – brass gears, buckles, latches, mechanical hardware, gogglesCyberpunk – futuristic tech, pleather, goggles, colorful cable/dread hair Biopunk includes more of the tech+body integration Celtic punk – kilts and leather jacketsGlamorous punk – sparkles and spikesSka-punk – suspenders, black and white stripes/checkers, skinny jeansRockabilly – retro hair curls/greaser, white T-shirt, jeans, short A-line dresses, polka dots Gothic – black fishnet/lace, spikes, skulls, pale skin Vampire – brocade, corsets, cape, black leather, blood, sheer fabricsVoodoo/witch – long dresses, long hair, dark eyes, long necklaces, lots of rings Post-apocalyptic – thick, often torn canvas clothing, hoods, gas masks, knee boots, bucklesClassy – simple suits, jackets, solid colors – neutral tone with a single color Chic – classy mixed with a lace or floral patternSophisticated – typically one color, a single form fit dress or suit, often with a single expensive accessory, a Coach/Prada purse Bohemian (boho) – tassels, lace, natural colors, sheer fabrics Gypsy – richer color, corsets, more adornments, hip scarf Casual – jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, sneakers Loungewear – sweats, hoodies, T-shirts, slippers, nighties Hippie – long flowing fabrics, flowers, bell-bottoms, bright colors Romantic – pastel colors, flowers, skirts Tomboy (for girls) – dresses like a manEffeminate (for guys) – dresses like a womanNational (ethnic) – dress based on cultural history and traditionPreppy – sweaters and slacks or skirtsSexy – torn/minimal clothing, showing a lot of skinMetrosexual (men) – skinny jeans, form-fitting tops, vests, manicured, long bangsLumbersexual (men) – boots, skinny jeans, red and black plaid flannel, beard, long bangs, pipe/cigarFormal – suits for males and females Glamorous – silk, fur, diamonds, floor-length form fit dress, expensive suits Active – stretch fabrics, tennis shoes, armband/waistband for mp3 player and keysRetro – 1980’s neon triangles/circles parachute clothing, and 70’s muted colors in t-shirts, high-waist jeans, and swimsuits, big hair/puffy-brushed out curlsVintage Early 1900s – full-length corset dresses, casual suits, floral patterns, lace trim Medieval/renaissance – tunics, under-bust trim, silk, gold thread, accentuated sleeve openings for women, puffy sleeves and pants for menSkater – large flat-soled shoes, beanies, hoodies, torn baggy pants or skinny jeansNautical – navy and white colors, often stripes and solidsVibrant/Flamboyant – boldly colorful, patterned, and shapedExotic – rich colors, trimmed with gold/silver, gems (Stylized with ethnic elements)Seasonal – self-explanatory, depends on where you are.Artistic (Arty) – this can go two ways: The creator – casual with effects of work present, paint, wood dust, inkThe professional – clean jeans/slacks, suit jacket/sweater, camera bag/satchel, and a beret or other well-known symbol of art appreciation Minimalist – simple clean lines with few to no adornments, no pockets, nothing in excess.Eclectic – a mix of tastes, plaid and paint splatter, breaks fashion rules, what most of us normies are.Street/Urban – a trendy casual, follows pop culture fads in everyday styleFunctional – work-wear, jumpsuits, overalls, gloves, grounding straps, harnessesCostume/Character inspired (Cosplay) – over 20 sub-categories.(Wikimedia Reference) here’s a few: Fantasy armorSuperheroesCyborgsMachinesLegend and creaturesSpiesMartial artistsAnimeMaids PiratesAncient Egyptian – typically long white tunic adorned with gold and turquois, headdressesMayan/Aztec/Inca – loin cloth & tunics for men, skirts and scarves for women, body piercingsViking – long canvas dresses, furs, cloaksNomad – thick pants and tops, full overdress, trimmed with geometric patternsBarbarian – stud-trimmed leather, furs, skulls/teeth/round-stamped metal adornmentsGreek – Chiton, men no sleeves, women had sleevesRoman – Tunica and toga combinationMinoan/Cretan – layered skirt, jacket, brooches and daggers for women. loincloth and pants that folded into a triangle shape at the waist for men, no shirtIsraelite – animal skin apron with a long shawl-like tunicIndia – a single piece of fabric wrapped around the entire body, bright colors, trimmed with gold threadChinese – darker colors, loose and wide sleeves, Hanfu tunic, sashAfrican – bark cloth, animal skins, paint, scars, beadwork
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