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The Rise Of Videogame Fashion
Thanks to the San Antonio Express-News for their article charting the rise of videogame fashion. The article suggests: "Who would have thought the video game industry would issue a fashion statement? Increasingly, clothing based on game characters, icons and lingo, is calling a nation of game players", and references the wacky (the Dead Or Alive-inspired bikinis), and the less wacky (innumberable retro-styled T-shirts) in its search for a connection. Can retro clothing even help popularize forgotten characters? Wataru Maruyama of GamePro thinks so, saying "With Nintendo stretching their classic characters, those things create a continuity for gamers of all ages. Sometimes there can't be a regular game, but awareness of a title or imagery can be sustained through fashion."
And Gchan recently modelled a DOAX swimsuit.
I'm not sure if its video game fashion catching on, or just Cosplay in general is catching on, and Video Games have cool costumes. My ex-roommate was an avid cosplayer, and she drew from video games, Japanese and American movies, as well as actual anime for her costumes.
All that said, video game characters sport some very cool clothing, some of which you can buy official versions of, like Tidus' pants.
skye
Well for the most part, fashion this is not.
It's one thing for some (geek?) guy to wear an Atari shirt- although that one is so OVER due to over-exposure, by The Ataris no less. Also, we have other things like Homestar Runner clothing (I'm wearing The Cheat right now!).
But dressing up as characters? That goes a little too far.
The DOAX Volleyball bikinis are cool- because the chicks (the real ones) are hot. And if you have a girlfriend who looks like those, then damn- pay the $150 for the bikini.
But, I shudder when imagining the pasty/fat/greasy chicks trying to dress up as Lara Croft. Damn bitch- put your Sonic The Hedgehog costume back on!!
I see this as a good thing for Halloween. "Who are you?" "Dude...I'm Max Payne/Masterchief/J.C. Denton" Okay, that will fly.
So- put on some tee-shirt with that fake-retro Old Navy look.
Dress up as a Barbarian for Halloween.
But for god sakes, don't wear your stupid tassle boots to the arcade, and play Gauntlet all day. It makes all of us video game players look bad.
And on a serious note- if you are that dude that walks around UC Davis all the time, wearing your purple cape (and tassle boots) you really need to stop. You'll end up some day in the back of the library, bitter, because none of the humans will talk to you. No, it's not because you are an elf/troll/hobbit/whatever, and the rest of us are biased...it's because you are wearing a freakin' cape (and tassle boots) even when it is 100+ degrees outside.
No reason to lie.
A t-shirt with a space invader on the front. Most of my geek clothes are webcomic related (Sheriff Pony rules). If I found myself in a position where I could ditch all my business casual clothes in favor of whatever I wanted, I'd probably pick up a few shirts from Gameskins. The 'Roots' and '8-Bit' ones are cool.
As for buying clothes based on what game characters wear... no. I have the same model watch worn by Christian Bale in the movie Equilibrium, but I travel a lot and dual time deal is extremely functional. But you won't see me in Kirby's booties any time soon.
I'd wear power armor, though. And you'd definitely hear about it on the news.