Form-Fitting Wardrobe: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

In comics, and some other drawn and animated media, clothing is often drawn fitting around the body far better than it reasonably should in [[Real Life]].

Another reason, particularly where superhero comics are concerned, is that artists are trained to draw human figures. It is faster and easier to add colors that imply spandex clothing than to actually draw the folds and wrinkles that come with wearing realistic clothing.

 

 

A [[Sub-Trope]] of [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]].

Compare [[Most Common Superpower]], [[Sensual Spandex]] (which shows some skin as well as conforming to the skin it covers), [[Sweater Girl]] (although the sweater is designed to be form-fitting), [[Painted-On Pants]], [[Superheroes Wear Tights]].

 

 

== Anime and Manga ==

* The armor worn in ''[[Saint Seiya]]''

* The [[Latex Space Suit|plug suits]] in ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', justified as necessary for synchronization and as a life-support system for the pilots. We're also shown how they get so tight: a vacuum-sealing button at the wrist to make them skintight.

** Vegeta's Saiyan armor is somewhat justified. While it's kind of unclear who exactly made the armor (it's called Saiyan armor, but it's mainly seen worn by Frieza's forces, even in flashbacks) the obvious intent was for it to match the form of whoever was wearing it (in the case of Saiyans, it is so that they can transform into their gargantuan Ozaru forms without destroying their wardrobe, while Frieza's men come in all shapes and sizes, in addition to being able to transform as well, so producing one type of armor that conformed to everyone's shape makes manufacturing them easier).

** It must be a Fuurinji family trait. Grandpa Fuurinji wears thick robes that somehow manage to show off all his abs and arm muscles.

** That, or that he's so damn ''ripped!''

* In ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'', whenever Yusuke is shown wearing blue jeans, they always look far too tight to be comfortable. This combines with some serious [[Clothing Damage]] to create a sizable female fanbase (with a little help from [[Bishonen|Kurama]]). His other clothes aren't nearly as bad, though.

** [[Lampshaded]] in Volume 15, between Missions 2 & 3. A single-panel image of Excel and Elgala being held prisoner, where, among other comments, the guard asks: "Purple-haired prisoner! Have you been tailoring your uniform again?" Elgala's prison uniform is unusually form-fitting. Even Excel's is needlessly tight around the bust and midsection.

* ''[[Gantz]]'' deserves special mention here. Not only do the full-body suits hug every curve so tightly that they're impossible to put on while wearing any undergarments whatsoever, the breasts actually seem to ''grow'' when the suits are put on. It's equal-gender-opportunity, though, and partially subverted when some characters (mostly men) insist on wearing street clothes outside their suits.

* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' frequently has bad guys wearing what appears to be 19th Century spandex, even to the point of having vacuum-fitting bandages.

* Any of [[Bleach|Orihime's]] shirts or outfits seem to be tailored to her large bust.

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* It would be easier to list superheroes with outfits that ''don't'' follow this trope.

** In the Golden and Silver ages spandex usually wasn't so tight, and fit much more realistically. As time went on clothes got tight, to the point where a hero in spandex was essentially naked save for a few choice areas. Then it got even crazier and muscles just started appearing everywhere, reaching an apex with [[Rob Liefeld]] and his followers. Nowadays things tend to be more subdued, thanks to colouring techniques having enough depth to render all those muscles through subtle shading rather than hard lines.

** In many renditions of muscular males, you could even see their ''veins'' through the material of their sleeves.

* Almost continually averted for female pilots in the [[X Wing Series|Rogue Squadron]] comics; the outfits pilots and other characters wore sometimes hinted a little, but were seldom overt, and their pilot jumpsuits were all baggy and heavily pocketed. The most notable exception was the one time a character got into a formal gown which clung tight enough to reveal her abs - and rather than being an [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight]], the pilot she was dating saw it and said "Wow!"

* In ''[[Twenty Two Brides]]'', it showed two of the heroines dressed in bath towels that managed to shrink around their bodies to the point that their nipples show.

* The comic book adaptation to ''[[Splinter of the Minds Eye]]'' puts Luke and Leia into "miner's uniforms". On Leia this outfit actually avert this trope, being tight but not apparently painted on. On ''[http://images.plurk.com/bcc9afd0b93629d7204ba1c42837eba9.jpg Luke]''...

 

== Film ==

* In ''[[Anastasia]]'', Anya changes into a flapper dress, which still hugs her waist and breasts, even though the point of that style was ''not'' to do that.

 

* Various episodes of ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'' have Vince in skin tight latex jumpsuits.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

* Some Eldar armor in ''Warhammer40000'' molds to the user absurdly well in the regions not covered by the stiffened overplates, especially noticeable with the Guardian model's easily visible abs.

** Justified in that it's Psycho-sensitive plastic, so it conforms to the form for maximum protection while simultaniously affording maximum mobility.

 

== Video Games ==

* ''[[City of Heroes]]'': While both justified or averted for a lot of costume choices (such as spandex and hoodies), some materials can be surprisingly formfitting.

* In the ''[[Soul Series]]'', Taki usually has at least one costume that's so tight as to look like body paint.

* In the ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' spin off ''[[Dirge of Cerberus]]'' one of the [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|Tsviets]] named [[Emotionless Girl|Shelke]] wears a suit that fits this trope.

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* In ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]],'' Jean's outfits are all extremely form-fitting; once in a blue moon, she does wear a skirt, though. Voluptua's costume is basically a one-piece swimsuit. Thanks to her fur, Molly revels in nudity.

* ''[[Doctor Voluptua]]'' (no relation) has a similar situation with her suit.

 

== Western Animation ==

* Many adaptations of comic books actually avert this trope to save the animation budget.

* In an episode of ''[[Justice League]]'' where [[Batman]], [[Wonder Woman]] and [[Green Lantern]] chased a [[Mad Scientist]] back in time, they decided to blend in by stealing clothes from some bandits they beat up. The clothes Wonder Woman stole fit her curves perfectly, despite the bandit having a figure similar to that of Batman.

** To further highlight this problem, Wonder Woman's taller than the rest of the team. She might be able to wear the thug's socks comfortably; everything else couldn't possibly fit.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Costume Tropes]]

[[Category:Improbable Appearance Tropes]]