Class Fashions
From FiranMUX
If you are an Outcast
You likely don't own much at all. You have only one or two sets of clothing, and your best clothes are the ones with fewest holes. You likely own one set of shoes, and you wear them until they fall off your feet. You're likely to turn up your nose at jewelry and artwork, or treasure the single piece you can afford to own. Togas and pallas are for waller snobs, and are a waste of clothing; mourning is frivolous, and your winter clothing consists of a cloak atop your usual wear. Your children play with sticks and rocks, your table settings consist of a clay or wood bowl and a knife at most, and you likely keep chickens in your apartment if you can afford it. Your possessions (minus the chickens) likely fit in a battered backpack with space left over. You will try to squeeze the whole family into as few rooms as possible. Seven people in one bedroom? It's normal, you insist! You'd get lonely in a room by yourself. Many outcasts only do seasonal or very poor-paying work, and may supplement their income by receiving charity or thievery. Or both. Extra children are usually dumped somewhere. Whether it's in an orphanage, with a childless friend, or on the streets depends on the character.[Note: Since 'outcast' can cover a diverse range of people, this does not cover everyone. Whores are a notable exception.]
If you are a Commoner
You own two sets of clothing, a winter and a summer set. If you are particularly wealthy, you may have an extra set for mourning. Practicality usually trumps beauty, because you don't have the extra stenis to spend on looking pretty. You may buy your clothing either new or second hand, but either way you mend it religiously and wear it until it falls apart. When it finally does fall apart, it'll probably be recycled to make children's clothing. You are more likely to 'dress up' an outfit for special occasions by adding a nice palla/toga and a little jewelry than have a complete separate 'good outfit.' You may own some jewelry, but it will likely be bone or copper. As a commoner, whatever work you do is likely going to be labour-intensive, so you are unlikely to wear a toga or palla day-to-day, although you may have them for special occasions. (Unless you have an employer who insists on your wearing such, but you might ask them to pay for it, then.) New clothing is always a big deal and considered a substantial expense. Your children may own one or two toys between the lot of them, like a much-mended doll, and hand-me-downs are the order of the day for them. Your table settings are more elaborate than an outcast's, but still made of either wood or clay. Your possessions likely fit in a small trunk. You may also keep chickens in your apartment, and if you can beg the room for them somewhere, you might own a goat or a sheep (not in your apartment, though!). Given your employment and family situation, you may have to live on charity for part of the year; it's a normal situation for most in your class and you see no shame in it. If you have too many mouths to feed, you may make the reluctant decision to give one child up for adoption, or pawn him or her off on a relation/friend/neighbour who can afford to support the child and raise them to a worthy trade. You live crowded together in a small set of rooms, and if you can find employment that gives you room and board, you're ecstatic.
If you are a middle-class citizen
You likely own winter and summer clothes, a nice outfit for festival/parties/meeting your sponsor, and a set of mourning ready when necessary, as well as a couple sets of footwear. You're proud of your status and want to show it off, so your clothing likely has pretty embroidery, and although you may not wear pallas/togas when working, you certainly will when out in public. You will try to decorate your house tastefully, as you, in theory, should actually have the money to buy a few decorative accents and if you don't have the money, you'll be faking it. Most middle-classers own some jewelry, although not a great deal, usually in silver and gold and sometimes with precious stones. Jewelry is a family treasure and is passed down through the generations. Likewise, some wealthy or lucky families may have an heirloom set of silk clothing which is brought out for special occasions like weddings. Your clothing is generally bought new, and if you're well off, you may give away clothing that is not yet worn out as a sign of generosity. If you have few children, they likely have their own toys and clothing; if you have many, they'll be wearing hand-me-downs and sharing toys. Your table settings may include metal; your belongings might take up a couple of trunks, and your family will likely be sleeping 2-4 to a room. If you have the space for it, you may own a cow for milk or an ox for transport and labour. If you're really well off, you might have that very rare and expensive creature -- a horse. You're more likely to give to charity than live off it, although if the latter becomes necessary, as it does for many middle class families, it will be kept quiet to save face. Unlike the other classes, you will probably be literate, and may keep a few scrolls and written records about. You will likely have at least one or two servants, to clean house and mind the children.
If you are a noble
You will own silk clothing for summer and wool for winter. You are likely to have two or three sets for each season, multiple sets of footwear, and a set of mourning as well. You will always wear togas and pallas unless fighting, riding or hunting. White (which requires a lot of labour to keep clean!), embroidery and rare dye colours will figure in your wardrobe. You are likely the only class to own an actual wardrobe. You commonly wear jewelry, in platinum for best occasions, but you also may own silver or gold, and always with precious stones. Your estate is tastefully (or garishly, depending on taste and clan) decorated with tapestries, paintings, and vases. You likely have a library with scrolls. You may fuss about fashion. The family likely owns at least one or two horses; there may be more practical livestock as well in the stables, but only the servants touch it. Speaking of servants, you will have several -- to clean house, cook the food, answer the door, manage the household, take care of clothes, and do hair, among other tasks. Noble children will likely have summer and winter clothing as least each, as well as their own toys, although they may be wearing hand-me-downs if the family is large. Noble families who cannot afford these things will scrimp and pinch to afford at least the visible signs of wealth, as otherwise they would be publicly embarrassed. Individual members of the family should look to their HoH to distribute land money to them. Clothing that is wearing out will be distributed to servants or (in the case of the precious silk) remade, as nobles have a horror of looking shabby. Although children generally share rooms, unmarried adults may or may not, depending on the estate and family, and married couples generally have rooms to themselves.
If you are a royal (Republic or clan)
Like above, only more so. Note that elianosite is considered by many to be a royal-only stone.
