Book Bout Discussion - Fictional Fashion

[Prof. Sky Alton]

Ever dreamed about snuggling up in a house scarf? Or maybe you always fancied getting dolled up in one of Katniss Everdeen’s fiery outfits from the Hunger Games?
For this discussion, we’d love to hear about an item of clothing from a book that you’d like to borrow. It could be because it’s magically useful or powerful (invisibility cloak or seven league boots, anyone?), because you think it sounds beautiful or because you think it would be just plain comfy. Providing it’s HOL appropriate, it’s entirely your call.
Please tell us about your choice in 80 words or more. You’ll earn 10 beans and 5 team points for the Book Bout competition.
Post your response below by 11:59 PM HOL-time on the 31st of August.

[Emily Spencer]

Over the years I’ve come across many outfits that I found intriguing in novels. But for the purpose of this discussion, I’ll go with one that I keep coming back to time and time again. The piece of clothing I would love to borrow is Scarlett Dragna’s enchanted dress from Caraval by Stephanie Garbal.

The dress, also known as Her Majesty’s Gown, has the unique ability to change appearances, based on the wearer’s emotions or feelings. On its own, the dress is actually very plain, with no embellishments whatsoever and an unfinished hem. Drab is one word that comes to mind. Wearing it, however, is a whole different story. It can be vivid red, darkest black, and every hue and style in between. How cool is that?!

That isn’t to say that it’s perfect, and I think that is one thing I like the most. Even though the color and cut may be true to what the wearer is feeling inside, the fashion isn’t always one that wearer would have chosen. Even when Dragna tries to force a change, the dress refuses.

Why would I like it? Well, fashion aside (I admit, that’s a big part of it), I think it may be quite useful. Sometimes, for instance, that stark black, hard-edged dress could communicate “Don’t mess with me” even better than words. That is just one example, but you get the point. Clothes can speak volumes, and this dress would not be shy about doing just that. I am, admittedly, not always the best with words, so I would definitely appreciate this aspect of the dress. Besides, it can keep you honest with your own feelings, which again, I would find most useful. Now where is that dress?!

[River Fenwick]

One article of clothing that has interested me since I read the book is the coat worn by Kell in A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab.

The coat has several sides, depending on how many times you turn it inside out, which is highly convenient for storage purposes. In the book, the different coat sides are primarily used for blending in or standing out, though it's noted that some sides have absolutely no purpose at all and are just favored by Kell. It explicitly states that many of the coats are considered fashionable.

Now, why would I personally like this piece of clothing? It makes it so fast to change into something more inconspicuous, like switching from a bright red jacket to a black one if you spot someone you'd rather not catch the eye of. Plus, as mentioned, they're known to be more or less fashionable and to condense multiple coats into one, which I'm certainly not going to pass up on for my bursting-at-the-seams wardrobe's sake. It's the perfect coat as far as I am concerned!

[Janne Halla]

If I could borrow a magical clothing item from a book, I think I’d choose one of the cloaks gifted to the Fellowship by the elves of Lothlórien in The Lord of the Rings.

The cloaks are amazing to wear. They’re light, but somehow always the perfect temperature, warm when you need warmth and cool when the air turns sharp. They actually help you stay out of sight if someone unfriendly is around, which can be quite handy.

I’d probably wear it anytime I wanted to escape for a while, to wander and explore, or just to feel a little protected.