Clothing!

[himiko]

OK, so Merlin's clothing standing out compared to other non-wizards was mentioned, thought it might be fun to have a thread to discuss about how people feel the character's clothes reflect them as people, and how they change.

I mean, there's some obvious ones:

- Frik and Morgan le Fey playing the glamorous couple, complete with clothes, compared to the plainer, uglier clothes, of their "natural" selves.

- The Lady of the Lake's fish necklace grows sparser as she grows weaker.

- Nimue's noblewoman dresses are exchanged for the nun's outfit and veil, until Mab removes her scars.

But I imagine there's others, too. Mab, for example, has many outfits, which tend to correspond to specific places/ situations- Tintagel is really the only place where we see her wear more than one outfit- and we were discussing in the Nimue thread how Merlin's clothes become more "wizardy" as his fame and political role increase.

Have fun!

[Arwen17]

Frik and Morgan =obsessed with appearances. Why is Frik so ugly? Is that just the way gnomes look? Are gnomes considered faeries in this story? I kinda understood it as they are all part of faeryland, but there are different sub-species. Mab is a faery and Frik is a gnome?

Nimue runs to her religion in an attempt to protect herself from Mab's power. She makes us think nuns become nuns because they're too timid to face the world.

Nimue's dresses suck compared to Mab's dresses. If Merlin had become king as Mab wanted him to, I'm sure he would have taken Nimue as his queen. dum dum dum then what kind of interactions would Mab and Nimue have? Especially if Nimue refused to convert to paganism or something. I can't see Merlin executing her for any reason. He loves her too much.
Would Nimue have prettier dresses as queen?


Mab has awesome dresses. She wears them so her fangirls can properly oggle her.
1) shiny-black-corset = "her traveling, business clothes"
2) land of magic dress = "relaxation clothes" - notice there is no corset aka she is relaxing.
3) war-corset = "intimidate vortigern uniform"
4) tintagel-blue-dress = "casual but stately visitation?"
5) tintagel-sexy-sleeves-dress = "?" -I can't see enough of it to really know.
6) death dress = "obviously fading"

Did I miss any?

fishy-dress = "I'm a fish. I don't need clothes. I just put this dress on when I go to visit my sister because she complained having me naked is a distraction."

Where does Merlin get money to live? Like clothes, food, and stuff? Does it make it/find it all himself? Or does Arthur and co. pay him or something? As long as he's staying at their castle, I'm sure he has food and shelter, but what about when he's roaming around?

[himiko]

Nimue- I think with Nimue, the more shapeless and plain nun-clothes, not to mention her veil, hide her appearance pretty well. Bear in mind she's gone from a confident, pretty young woman, to someone who is ashamed of her appearance, and is hiding from the world to avoid people "peering, whispering and pointing" at her. Before that she wears richer looking clothes, and yes, if she were queen (bearing in mind this would probably have happened only if this were in a world where Merlin and Mab hadn't started warring, and thus, no dragonfire, no scars for Nimue), then yeah, she'd probably have worn more "glamorous" stuff.

Merlin- Good question... obviously he doesn't have lands and people to make money from as most of the knights would. Its not really an issue until Uther and Arthur. I remember that he had a room in Camelot castle when he wanted to stay there, but he also had a small house in the city itself, so he must have had money coming from somewhere. Either he received income from the court, or he was acting as a healer or something on the side, which is a possibility.

Mab- Indeed, relaxing in a corset is HARD. Especially steel boned ones >< But yeah, her outfits definitely have a purpose in a lot of cases- her "relaxing" dress is a lot softer looking- lighter colours, long flowy sleeves, less tight fitting- than her typical dress when she's out in the mortal world, presumably dressing to inspire fear and worship a little more. The second Tintagel dress is quite similar to her Land of Magic one, so perhaps she wears it because she feels more comfortable and at home at Tintagel by this stage- I think she and Frik were pretty much living there by the time she wore it, with her taking breaks to go and cause havoc? And, of course, her Vortigern dress was probably the most different from all her other outfits, and had much more of a warrior look to it. I mean, still impractical in battle, but its got the look of armour on it, her hair is fixed up, more out of the way than her other outfits. Vortigern is a warrior, and doesn't really believe in magic, so she, probably correctly, dresses like a warrior to make a more favourable impression?

Frik- Yeah, I guess that's how gnomes look- though Frik does say they come in all shapes and sizes, so it might be that this "look" is reasonably unique to him. He doesn't seem so bothered by his ugliness before he has Morgan to impress, though. Whilst he changes appearance frequently, none of them are particularly pretty until he appears to Morgan.

And yeah, I always assumed that whilst both Mab and Frik are "magical folk", if you will, they are two separate species- Frik is a gnome, and Mab is... well, I think she's referred to as faery, or at least her followers in the Land of Magic are, but it could be that faeries are just one species of magical creature that follow her. She and the rest of the elemental kings are gods, in a sense, so I don't know if that makes them members of different species that they've just ascended from, or whether the four of them, along with other gods, constitute their own species...

[spellboundinfinity]

fishy-dress = "I'm a fish. I don't need clothes. I just put this dress on when I go to visit my sister because she complained having me naked is a distraction."
ROFL!

Of course I love all of Mab's dresses and Morgan's dresses are pretty too, but Nimue and Guinevere seriously need fashion advice.

[Arwen17]

I think she and Frik were pretty much living there by the time she wore it, with her taking breaks to go and cause havoc?
hahaha
"what are we going to do today, Brain?"
"The same thing we do every night, Try to take over the world!!!"

He doesn't seem so bothered by his ugliness before he has Morgan to impress,
probably because Mab doesn't give a flip if he's ugly or not. Though I do remember her saying "But it is only an illusion, particularly in his case."
So she was scornful of his real appearance.

She and the rest of the elemental kings are gods, in a sense, so I don't know if that makes them members of different species that they've just ascended from, or whether the four of them, along with other gods, constitute their own species...
very interesting point. yeah she's seems kinda "species-less".

Whilst he changes appearance frequently, none of them are particularly pretty until he appears to Morgan.
why does he change his appearance so much? and why does he usually choose ugly forms instead of better looking ones? all the magic in the world and he still chooses ugly forms.

[Mabforever]

Frik and Morgan =obsessed with appearances. Why is Frik so ugly? Is that just the way gnomes look? Are gnomes considered faeries in this story? I kinda understood it as they are all part of faeryland, but there are different sub-species. Mab is a faery and Frik is a gnome?
I always considered them the Dobbie of the fae world.

Nimue runs to her religion in an attempt to protect herself from Mab's power. She makes us think nuns become nuns because they're too timid to face the world.
Yeah Nimue was confident had her noble woman gowns but then runs to her nun outfit to hide.

Nimue's dresses suck compared to Mab's dresses.
And Morgan's.

If Merlin had become king as Mab wanted him to, I'm sure he would have taken Nimue as his queen. dum dum dum then what kind of interactions would Mab and Nimue have? Especially if Nimue refused to convert to paganism or something. I can't see Merlin executing her for any reason. He loves her too much.
lol awkward ones.
Would Nimue have prettier dresses as queen?
Probably not. She doesn't seem to care for fashion.

Mab has awesome dresses. She wears them so her fangirls can properly oggle her.
*purrs and nods*
1) shiny-black-corset = "her traveling, business clothes"
Which I love she looks awesome in it. Those sleeves too are also verry awesome
2) land of magic dress = "relaxation clothes" - notice there is no corset aka she is relaxing.
Yeah that dress looks very comfortable. Plus it looks very easy to slip off *whistles randomly*
3) war-corset = "intimidate vortigern uniform"
Very hot, loves her hair in that scene.
4) tintagel-blue-dress = "casual but stately visitation?"
If thats the one at the far right of you r banner that is my favourite ever Mab dress.
5) tintagel-sexy-sleeves-dress = "?" -I can't see enough of it to really know.
Cant think which one that is.
6) death dress = "obviously fading"
Makes me so sad

fishy-dress = "I'm a fish. I don't need clothes. I just put this dress on when I go to visit my sister because she complained having me naked is a distraction."
PMSL! I dunno if Mab would bother, but it's a funny idea all the same.

Mab- Indeed, relaxing in a corset is HARD. Especially steel boned ones >< . The second Tintagel dress is quite similar to her Land of Magic one, so perhaps she wears it because she feels more comfortable and at home at Tintagel by this stage- I think she and Frik were pretty much living there by the time she wore it,
were they interesting
Gods dont bloody go there, I love corsets but they are the most uncomfortable things.

with her taking breaks to go and cause havoc?
muhahaha

And, of course, her Vortigern dress was probably the most different from all her other outfits, and had much more of a warrior look to it. I mean, still impractical in battle, but its got the look of armour on it, her hair is fixed up, more out of the way than her other outfits.
Oh Im totally not really contributing to the rest I can feel myself pulling from Merlin so the most interest I have at all is Mab so I prefer to just read along with what you all say about the others
I love the warrior dress cos it's different, it shows more skins, and it's really hot and also puts me in mind of the tent scene.

And yeah, I always assumed that whilst both Mab and Frik are "magical folk", if you will, they are two separate species- Frik is a gnome, and Mab is... well, I think she's referred to as faery, or at least her followers in the Land of Magic are, but it could be that faeries are just one species of magical creature that follow her.
Well in Lost Girl there are lots of different kind of fae on either side of light and dark, from Furies to Succubus.

She and the rest of the elemental kings are gods, in a sense, so I don't know if that makes them members of different species that they've just ascended from, or whether the four of them, along with other gods, constitute their own species...
That's the way I've always seen Mab despite being called fae or faery I see her Goddess status deeply differentiating her from the other creatures which she rules over. And with that it seems from the four elemental king's she has the most titles under her belt.

I think she and Frik were pretty much living there by the time she wore it, with her taking breaks to go and cause havoc?
hahaha
"what are we going to do today, Brain?"
"The same thing we do every night, Try to take over the world!!!"
NARF! Muhahaha I love that show, I spent a whole day screaming narf at people once....I think I see how I may annoy people :L

"But it is only an illusion, particularly in his case."
So she was scornful of his real appearance.
*Flash back!!*
I may be wrong but I think I remember reading in the book that Mab was utterly disgusted with Frik or something that she truly despised him.

why does he change his appearance so much?
Bored?

and why does he usually choose ugly forms instead of better looking ones?
Everyone to there own. He likes them, I like to dress up like Lady Gaga

all the magic in the world and he still chooses ugly forms.
Personally I dont find Martin Short attractive at all no offence to him.

[Arwen17]

favourite ever Mab dress.
I have a hard time choosing a favorite. I like each of them for different reasons.

Cant think which one that is.
The dress she is wearing when she is standing in front of the fire with Mordred.

And with that it seems from the four elemental king's she has the most titles under her belt.
she's a busy girl.

I may be wrong but I think I remember reading in the book that Mab was utterly disgusted with Frik or something that she truly despised him.
I think I remember something like that too and also that Mab only kept him around because he already knew how to do the job, hiring someone else would be a pain.
But I remember Frik saying that he and Mab used to plot as equals so either he's delusional or she didn't used to despise him.

Personally I dont find Martin Short attractive at all no offence to him.
I agree 100%

[sleepyqueenie]

fishy-dress = "I'm a fish. I don't need clothes. I just put this dress on when I go to visit my sister because she complained having me naked is a distraction." lol
No offence to her but Puddles doesn't have many social contacts. She wouldn't see much point in owning more than one dress.

Mab- Indeed, relaxing in a corset is HARD. Especially steel boned ones yes but I love wearing corsets none the less.
Random: We once discussed a poem in literature class about a woman undressing herself. She had already taking off her corset and was standing in her underwear when she took off her shoes. Someone didn't find this logical. She should have taken off the shoes first. I almost giggled, remembering that time when I'd put on my corset before tying my shoelaces. It was near impossible.

Nimue and Guinevere seriously need fashion advice. I agree.
One thing about Nimue, I've mentioned this before but it keeps bothering me: the forhead necklace thingy she wears.
Why doesn't it remind Merlin of Mab? You'd think he'd forbid Nimue from wearing any type of jewellery resembling Mab's.
Would Nimue have prettier dresses as queen? Probably not. She doesn't seem to care for fashion. we can only hope...

she's seems kinda "species-less". I see her as goddess, of course, and bean-sidhe (I believe the book said that).

I always considered them the Dobbie of the fae world. yup that is Frik's jobdescription ;D luckily not his outside appearance.

"what are we going to do today, Brain?"
"The same thing we do every night, Try to take over the world!!!"
NARF! Muhahaha I love that show uh what show is that?

Mab was utterly disgusted with Frik or something that she truly despised him. ooh interesting. Wouldn't any goddes be disgusted by her servant if the best she could get was a gnome?
According to me his presence reminds her of how weak she's become. Add his hobby of making sarcastic comments to that and no wonder he gets hit all the time.
I don't think she despises him though. He is useful, good at what he does and loyal (for most of the film).

why does he change his appearance so much?
Bored? or desperately trying to impress

Cant think which one that is.
The dress she is wearing when she is standing in front of the fire with Mordred.Purple with wide neck. I would love a picture where you can see the full dress.

he and Mab used to plot as equals that's... strange. A mere gnome .. my vote goes to delusional

Personally I dont find Martin Short attractive at all no offence to him. I agree 100% Not attractive, but fun. I always cheer when he's in a film. And scream Frik! He is in a filmfragment in Disney land Paris. You should have seen my grin when he appeared on screen. Part of Merlin had infiltrated Disney muahahaha

[Arwen17]

She wouldn't see much point in owning more than one dress.
Is that why people own dresses? I thought it was because of our own vanity. XD

the forhead necklace thingy she wears.
The circlet Nimue sometimes wears? That's just a nobility thing. Anyone with rank often has some kind of circlet they wear.

bean-sidhe
that means 'faery-woman' lol so is she a faery or a goddess?

ugh no not me I hate frik! Maybe no one's noticed, but there is a supreme lack of Frik in my fanfics. I hate writing him.

[sleepyqueenie]

lol That is why I own dresses. But I seriously doubt if Puddles feels the same way.
Now before someone brings up the necklace: that's not vanity. That is cruelty towards her subjects er can we consider her followers to be fish only?

Bean-sidhe means more than 'faery-woman'. It indicates her darkness, fondness of screaming and how closely linked she is to battle and death.
She is both faery, goddess and more

[Mabforever]

favourite ever Mab dress.
I have a hard time choosing a favorite. I like each of them for different reasons.
Oh dont get me wrong of course I love them all my fave was the black corset purple skirt then the one when she's of to see Vortigern, but I settled on the one she wears when spinning.

Cant think which one that is.
The dress she is wearing when she is standing in front of the fire with Mordred.
gotcha

And with that it seems from the four elemental king's she has the most titles under her belt.
she's a busy girl.
And we used to wonder what her highness did in her spare time.

I may be wrong but I think I remember reading in the book that Mab was utterly disgusted with Frik or something that she truly despised him.
I think I remember something like that too and also that Mab only kept him around because he already knew how to do the job, hiring someone else would be a pain.
But I remember Frik saying that he and Mab used to plot as equals so either he's delusional or she didn't used to despise him.

Oh yay I wasn't sure if I had remembered correctly. Yes I also remember reading that Frik and Mab used to plot like equals. So yeah he may be delusional or truthful here. I wonder what they used to plot then when they had nothing to plot.

fishy-dress = "I'm a fish. I don't need clothes. I just put this dress on when I go to visit my sister because she complained having me naked is a distraction." lol
No offence to her but Puddles doesn't have many social contacts. She wouldn't see much point in owning more than one dress.
Oh yeah for a split second I forgot no one likes her.

Random: We once discussed a poem in literature class about a woman undressing herself. She had already taking off her corset and was standing in her underwear when she took off her shoes. Someone didn't find this logical. She should have taken off the shoes first. I almost giggled, remembering that time when I'd put on my corset before tying my shoelaces. It was near impossible.
Oh Im probably inclined to take of a corset before my shoes. And putting on my shoes before a corset. It's bloody difficult to breath especially while crumpling.

Would Nimue have prettier dresses as queen? Probably not. She doesn't seem to care for fashion. we can only hope...
Doesnt matter anyway we gots no Mab the movie we're certainly not having Nimue the movie.

I always considered them the Dobbie of the fae world. yup that is Frik's jobdescription luckily not his outside appearance.
LoL yesh he be Dobbie.

"what are we going to do today, Brain?"
"The same thing we do every night, Try to take over the world!!!"
NARF! Muhahaha I love that show uh what show is that?
It's the pinky and the brain a cartoon about lab rats.

ooh interesting. Wouldn't any goddes be disgusted by her servant if the best she could get was a gnome?
Gnomes may not necessarily be bad servants I mean she did turn Frik into a nervous wreck.
According to me his presence reminds her of how weak she's become. Add his hobby of making sarcastic comments to that and no wonder he gets hit all the time.
Ooooh never thought of that yeah that must sting.

Part of Merlin had infiltrated Disney muahahaha
Mab *whistles*

Is that why people own dresses? I thought it was because of our own vanity. XD
I own clothes I prefer jammies.

ugh no not me I hate frik! Maybe no one's noticed, but there is a supreme lack of Frik in my fanfics. I hate writing him.

Now you mention it I have never noticed that

lol That is why I own dresses. But I seriously doubt if Puddles feels the same way.
Nah I by lingerie for that reason :L my wardrobes are mostly filled with lingerie and jammies so no Im not out much.
Note: must by more clothes.

Now before someone brings up the necklace: that's not vanity. That is cruelty towards her subjects er can we consider her followers to be fish only?
Actually not to defend Puddles but are those real those fish? Or are they like fake fish like fake fur :L

Bean-sidhemeans more than 'faery-woman'. It indicates her darkness, fondness of screaming and how closely linked she is to battle and death.
She is both faery, goddess and more
Mab is nature and magick rolled into one that's all I have left to say on the matter :L She is also meant to be a Banshee.

[Arwen17]

That is cruelty towards her subjects er can we consider her followers to be fish only?
I believe I remember mermaids and giant seahorses in the book.

I wonder what they used to plot then when they had nothing to plot.
oh there were probably rebellious upstarts from time to time. And they may have enjoyed toying with human politics, favouring certain people over others and then changing sides.

I own clothes
I'm glad you own some clothes. We can't have you running around naked my dear.

Now you mention it I have never noticed that
He's easy to overlook and I deliberately write my stories in a way that his character is unnecessary to the plot. He has appeared a couple times but very very briefly.
Why would any of you noticed Frik is absent if I keep dazzling you with Mab and her many daughters? It's all part of the plan haha

[Mabforever]

That is cruelty towards her subjects er can we consider her followers to be fish only?
I believe I remember mermaids and giant seahorses in the book.
*nods* yup

I wonder what they used to plot then when they had nothing to plot.
oh there were probably rebellious upstarts from time to time. And they may have enjoyed toying with human politics, favouring certain people over others and then changing sides.
Oh they sound awesome!!!!!

I own clothes
I'm glad you own some clothes. We can't have you running around naked my dear.
Hehe I prefer to run around in jammies......or just wrap myself in this purple silky bed spread I have I love the feel of it.

Now you mention it I have never noticed that
He's easy to overlook and I deliberately write my stories in a way that his character is unnecessary to the plot. He has appeared a couple times but very very briefly.
Im surprised I never noticed before your very shneaky

Why would any of you noticed Frik is absent if I keep dazzling you with Mab and her many daughters? It's all part of the plan haha
Conspiracy!!! But I have to admit it's an awesome conspiracy.

[himiko]

Oct 2, 2011 3:03:07 GMT Arwen17 said:

Whilst he changes appearance frequently, none of them are particularly pretty until he appears to Morgan.
why does he change his appearance so much? and why does he usually choose ugly forms instead of better looking ones? all the magic in the world and he still chooses ugly forms.

Maybe because he doesn't need to? When he's in the Land of Magic, all he sees are Mab, Merlin, and faeries, in the film (presumably this hasn't always been the case) none of whom are likely to be interested in whether he's pretty or not? Whereas with Morgan, he knows she is likely to be impressed by his handsome, dashing self, and so "dresses" accordingly, and when he gets the attention from Morgan, finds it pleasant and keeps the form. Perhaps it takes more effort to change his look so drastically (most of the others don't, really- they age him slightly, give him more/ less hair, etc), so he doesn't bother making himself "pretty" unless there's a point to it?

On the subject of Frik... I don't really mind him as a character, nor do I find him especially hard to write (comparatively, anyway- I think Merlin was the hardest character to write for me), but its very easy for him to simply slip into the background and become a bit of a caricature, especially when you're writing Mab-centric fics, because around her he is nervous and servile, and that's pretty much it, at least until Morgan enters (and, more substantially, then exits) the picture.

Blue Tintagel dress has long been my favourite. The others kind of change around. I was never a huge fan of her warrior outfit, but its grown on me a bit over the years. Her death outfit is saddening, but I think its put together very well- the whole look of a faded, dusty, aged reflection of how she has looked throughout the film, from the clothes themselves, to the streaks in her hair, to her makeup, its all very well done.

It occurs to me that the blue Tintagel dress is probably the most "human" of all her costumes. Compared to all the other female characters, most of her outfits look massively out of place, but whilst this one retains the blacks and blue/purple colour scheme she has throughout the film, it probably wouldn't look quite so out of place on one of the other characters. I don't know if that's significant. Like I say, the last scene in Tintagel has her wearing the other outfit, and when she leaves, she's back in her business clothes. I wonder whether she attempted to dress more "human" when she first met Morgan, and then as Mordred grows up and becomes more aware of his destiny, she changes back to her more out-of-place clothing... Saying that, she's wearing the blue dress on two occasions several years apart, by which point I'm sure they're all used to each other, so I don't know how much merit that idea has...

[Arwen17]

I run around in my pajamas all the time at home. They are much more comfortable that day-clothes.

Perhaps it takes more effort to change his look so drastically
That's a very interesting idea. That makes me think about why Mab looks the way she does. Is it self-image or the way people imagine her? If you can look like anything because you were not born but imagined into existence, what would your true form be?

Frik is very easy to write, I just don't like him. He's annoying and ugly. Merlin is very difficult and Mab can be difficult.

hmmm....she was wearing her sexy-sleeves-dress right after she came back from causing trouble with Lancelot and Igraine etc. Maybe she was feeling feisty?
She was standing in front of the flames and gazing into them. Maybe watching Lancelot and Guinevere having sex?
Do you think Mab watches people have sex? She certainly gloats in the candle wax about it.
Perhaps watching real sex isn't as sexy as the sex you see in movies lol. But I know Romans 'n such did it.

The blue dress is when she is just hanging out at Tintagel. She hasn't returned from recent-mayhem-business.