Look and Feel

From Lovelace

Revision as of 14:41, 3 October 2025 by Bink (talk | contribs) (General)

General

The setting is a fantastical version of Victorian Era England, so take that fashion for your inspiration. Feel free to spice up Victorian fashions with clockwork, steam or electrical aesthetics.

Starting out You don’t have to splash out on costume to get playing. The society has kit that you can borrow if you want to start but don’t have anything. If at all possible, please turn up in a skirt or pair of plain trousers, and any unobtrusive shoes that aren’t white trainers. A plain shirt with no obvious logos is ideal for your top half. After that we can lend you basic layers to go over the top, as well as extra costume elements.

Bear in mind all of the looks described here are aspirational. Don’t feel you need a great costume to take part. As long as you meet the minimum, the society can handle the rest.

If you are coming to an interactive, they will be indoors with minimal combat, any footwear is appropriate here.

If you come to a linear, they are outside and will involve combat and running, often on uneven and muddy ground. Please wear something sturdy and sensible - your comfort and safety is more important than immersion!

The society has plenty of weapons to borrow - we don't recommend you splash out a larp weapon until you've definitely decided the hobby is for you.

Restrictions

  • We ask you do not include a mask in your kit, as masks are system shorthand for automata/ Analytical Intelligences.
  • Please avoid anything too high fantasy-coded. The aesthetic is Victoriana and clockpunk, with the Outcasts being low-fantasy at best.
  • White trainers should be avoided if possible, as should obvious logos.

Clothing and gender

Victorian fashion has a steep gender divide. The costume guide is in some places split into masculine and feminine for this reason. However, in setting it is not required that your clothing match your gender. Feel free to mix and match looks! That said, due to OOC biases we are well aware that subconsciously gendering a character based on their clothing is going to happen, and may be a positive or negative thing according to context. Please be sensible and if someone tells you their character’s pronouns or gender, make your best effort to remember and use the correct terms regardless of the clothes they are wearing.

Higher Class Citizen

High class citizens come from the Victorian upper classes. They have access to fine fabrics and decorated clothing. Things should be carried in your pockets or appropriate bags - belt pouches and similar are unlikely to look right.

For feminine characters, long, wide skirts with frills or flounces, fitted bodices with high collars, and decorated bonnets are all great choices to show high status. They may wear a decorated or lacy shawl, or carry a parasol.

For masculine characters, plain dark trousers, a shirt and waistcoat, especially with a cravat and tophat, will make wealth obvious.

Lower Class Citizen

These people are mostly labourers or servants. Their clothing is thus more likely to be practical and hard-wearing. Things should be carried in your pockets or appropriate bags - belt pouches and similar are unlikely to look right.

For feminine character, long skirts are still the thing, but less full and less decorated than the upper classes. May well be worn with an apron or pinnafore to protect them. Shawls or scarves worn over the shoulders for warmth are great. They might wear a bonnet, or a kerchief or scarf over their hair.

For masculine characters, plain and sturdy are they key. Straight cut jeans are perfectly fitting. Shirts are best with no collar, and not white. They might wear a flat cap, or a bowler hat. A plain waistcoat, or labourer’s apron would also be appropriate.

Outcast

These people live outside of society, with whatever they can scrounge or create. These characters are most likely to vary from the Victorian influence and incorporate more fantasy elements. These characters may carry things in bags or pockets, but belt pouches would be appropriate.

They may adopt elements of citizen fashion, but clothing should have a homespun look. They just as much may choose to use the simplest clothing they can made. Less fitted garments are most acceptable here - a tunic or smock rather than a shirt. Leather and fur as clothing or protection is very acceptable, as as the sturdy clothing worn by a landskeeper or farmer.

Vagrant

These people live on the fringes with whatever they can find, or whatever they think will help get them what they want. Draw from any of the above, or all of them at once! Mix and match. Clothing may have been begged, ‘borrowed’, or made from rags - or carefully selected to allow a criminal to pass unnoticed among their marks.

Kit Tips

  • Getting a shirt or blouse from a high street shop (or charity shop) and removing the collar is an easy way to get a cheap collarless shirt.
  • Plain straight trousers that you might wear with a suit or to work are perfect for masculine characters
  • Alternatively, straight cut jeans are great for labourers. Just avoid distressed, ornamented, flared or drainpipe cuts.
  • Fascinators make a great feminine hair ornament with the right kind of vibes.
  • A top hat will donate a high-class masculine character
  • A lower-class character might wear a bowler hat or flat cap.
  • Layer skirts to create a fuller look.