Looking for clothes...

MUCH EASIER solution:

Don't describe what they're wearing. Who cares?

Only describe when absolutely necessary.

You might try Pinterest. Do a keyword search... it's a great place to get ideas...

http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=futuristic+clothes

What sort of things are you looking for?  Is it more costume history on what clothing has been used in science fiction of yore (like, the different uniforms used on each of the seasons of Star Trek) or more information on real world materials (like what NASA builds space suits out of to keep astronauts from being sucked into the blackness)?

Patty Jansen said:

MUCH EASIER solution:

Don't describe what they're wearing. Who cares?

Only describe when absolutely necessary.

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Normally, that's my approach. But sometimes I want to throw in a few interesting details, either to ground the scene or to flesh out the world. The problem is, it's probably not a good idea to have everyone in my universe running around in jumpsuits and utility belts all the time.

KateDanley said:

What sort of things are you looking for? Is it more costume history on what clothing has been used in science fiction of yore (like, the different uniforms used on each of the seasons of Star Trek) or more information on real world materials (like what NASA builds space suits out of to keep astronauts from being sucked into the blackness)?

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Both!

Although what I'm really looking for is to understand a little better how clothing works in general, so I can eventually come up with my own ideas to fit my own universe. It would be really awesome to get a rundown on the kinds of challenges that clothes designers can expect to run into in the next few centuries, and some of their ideas for what we'll be wearing.

I guess what I'm really looking for is a blog like Rocketpunk Manifesto, except for clothes. Heck, maybe I should shoot that guy an email and see what he comes up with.

Do a google search for "avant garde fashion". I'm sure you'll run across things you could use. And the great thing about doing things like this is you can have the top of this outfit and the bottom of that one, change the color and add a jacket or whatever.

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AivWkA.3ULs1ZuM5EV4aSoybvZx4?p=avant+garde+fashion&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AivWkA.3ULs1ZuM5EV4aSoybvZx4?p=avant+garde+fashion&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701

I don't know much about far-future settings--maybe you could do something fresh with scarves.

From what I can see in the present and near future, (video below) astronauts pretty much wear shorts and have great legs.

http://www.wimp.com/orbitaltour/

P.S. I didn't know what a challenge it is to use the bathroom in space. If you don't get it right--it can go very, very wrong.

Joe Vasicek said:

The problem is, it's probably not a good idea to have everyone in my universe running around in jumpsuits and utility belts all the time.

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Why not? I'd wear that everyday if it was socially acceptable. And a cape!

Pull a bladerunner- pick a fashion era and have it come back in the future. (I always thought rick deckards 40s style clothes were a clever ida)

You know what your answer is, don't you

NAKED ALIENS!!! 

.

EC Sheedy said:

maybe you could do something fresh with scarves.

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tkkenyon got there before I did. Her post pretty much nails it, I reckon.

Clothing tends to be culturally and politically symbolic. Stern authoritarian societies wear clothes that represent their philosophies, just as more free-wheeling cultures often have loose, casual clothing. Its not a strict rule of thumb, but look at African clothing choices compared to the developed West. Militarists have a particular fondness for certain kinds of looks...Fascism tends to tuck its shirts in and shine its shoes a little too much...  Add to this the climate your story takes place in, which will also help determine the prevailing kinds of clothing. (If its bitterly cold, for instance, you aren't going to see much skimpy spandex Or if there's perpetual rain, you aren't likely to have much furs or their equivalents being used - instead it'll be non-absorbent materials...
/geek mode off

tkkenyon said:

I also went to Paris last year. The prostitutes were wearing lace bras with no shirts and tights with very high-heeled pumps or boots. Also, shirt cuffs and collars, but no shirt.

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Not at George the Cinq!

Fascinating stuff to consider.  Thanks for all the comments.

A blog or message board where people talk about this kind of stuff would be fascinating, but I don't know much about clothing so it would be tough for me to find one.  I guess I'll have to brush up on my google fu and figure it out.  But in the meantime, this discussion has been really helpful.

Rob Smith said:

Why not? I'd wear that everyday if it was socially acceptable. And a cape!

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Depends on your definition of socially acceptable.

Steve Vernon said:

You know what your answer is, don't you

NAKED ALIENS!!!

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Hey! My books might resemble that remark.

Although when my girls do wear clothes, I took my ideas mostly from this- http://www.kellecompany.com/catalog.aspx?CatalogSectionID=33&PagingIndex=7&ProductID=1769

I don't know much about clothing so it would be tough for me to find one. I guess I'll have to brush up on my google fu and figure it out.

So, yeah, I am a big fan of finding a picture of something that I go on to describe in my books, even if I change it up. I've also got the houses that my contemporary characters live in (although I move them to a different location), clothing that those girls wear, etc. As a matter of fact, when my beta reader writes stuff, he has me hunt up clothing for him. He'll tell me age, mood, etc. and I'll give him some suggestions. So, what you need is a "personal shopper".

Oh man, I was hoping that by then, humans would have evolved to where they have fur again and don't need clothes.