History Main / PauperPatches

[[quoteright:224:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_1maggie.png]]]]

* Loskutik's dress in ''Literature/LoskutikInTheCloud'' is nothing but patches sewn together, and she gets her name from it (''loskut'' meaning ''patch'' in Russian). She is an orphan with no roof over her head.

What's one of the easiest ways to show that a character doesn't have much money? Have their clothing, often grey or especially brown in color (though not always), worn out to the point where patches, often rags, needed to be sewn-on. The patches are usually placed on the sections of clothing that face the most friction, such as the elbow area for shirts and knee area for pants. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't need to be. Some examples take this UpToEleven and have the clothes ''entirely'' be covered in patched rags.

** [[Disney/ThePrinceAndThePauper In a version of The Prince and the Pauper]] starring Disney/MickeyMouse, Pauper! Mickey wore this.

What's the easiest way to show that a character doesn't have much money? Have their clothing, often grey or especially brown in color (though not always), worn out to the point where patches, often rags, needed to be sewn-on. The patches are usually placed on the sections of clothing that face the most friction, such as the elbow area for shirts and knee area for pants. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't need to be. Some examples take this UpToEleven and have the clothes ''entirely'' be covered in patched rags.

-->''"These patches, what are we trying to say? Beggar? No!"''

What's the easiest way to show that a character doesn't have much money? Have them be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes are worn out to the point where they needed to have patches sewn-on, usually on parts of the clothes that face a lot of friction, such as the elbow area for shirts and knee area for pants. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Some examples take it UpToEleven and have the clothes ''entirely'' be covered in patches.

Note that for this trope to apply, the character ''must'' be poor; if they're wearing patched-up clothes only because they like that style, that's NotAnExample.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', [[spoiler: after the rich girl ends up poor because of her father losing all his money]], she is shown from then on wearing a patched-up and ugly dress.

** ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''. The title character has a patch on his pants. The Genie points out this trope when he's turning him into Prince Ali.
-->''"These patches, what are we trying to say? Beggar? No!"''

* [[Disney/ThePrinceAndThePauper In a version of The Prince and the Pauper]] starring Disney/MickeyMouse, Pauper! Mickey wore this.
* In Disney's ''A Symposium on Popular Songs'', Ludwig Von Drake describes how his clothes were in rags at the turn of the century. As he speaks, his tuxedo briefly changes into a tattered one with patches.
* Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''. The title character has a patch on his pants. The Genie points out this trope when he's turning him into Prince Ali.

What's the easiest way to show that a character doesn't have much money? Have them be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes are worn to the point where they needed patches sewn-on, usually on parts of the clothes that face friction, such as the elbow area for shirts and knee area for pants. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Some examples take it UpToEleven and have the clothes ''entirely'' be covered in patches.

What's the easiest way to show that a character doesn't have much money? Have them be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes have spottily applied sewn-on patches, usually on parts of the clothes that face the most friction, such as the elbow and knee areas. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Some examples take it UpToEleven and have the clothes ''entirely'' be covered in patches.

A character is poor. Not poor as in they are just a bit low on cash, but poor as in homeless, rummaging through trash cans for food, and squealing with joy upon finding a penny. Even without knowing about or seeing any of that, you can tell they're poor just by merely looking at them.

A very poor character will usually be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes will either be covered in or have just spottily applied sewn-on patches. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Note that for this trope to apply, the character must be poor; if they're wearing patched up clothes only because they like that style, that's NotAnExample.

* Ideal's Little Miss No Name doll from 1965 wore a ragged, patched brown dress.

!!Examples

[[AC:Film - Animated]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Live Action TV]]

[[AC:Theater]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Trial Captain Acerola wears a dress that is almost entirely made of patches. Something that fits her status as an homeless child and also the fact that she is a Ghost-type Pokémon user.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* There are a couple of orphan characters on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' like this who show up from time to time. One of them is even [[{{OnlyKnownByTheirNickname}} named Patches.]] One of them has the IncurableCoughOfDeath.
* In a flashback in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode, "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS5E1FriendOrFoe Friend or Foe?]]", it is revealed that when Mr. Krabs was a kid, he and his Mom were going through some rough financial times, so Mama Krabs had to fashion Mr. Krabs' clothes from rags.

A very poor character will usually be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes will either be covered in or have just spottily applied sewen-on patches. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Note that for this trope to apply, the character must be poor; if they're wearing patched up clothes only because they like that style, that's NotAnExample.

* Tack's clothes in ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' have many patches.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter:'' While his clothes aren't patched, Lupin's introduction notes that his suitcase has been repeatedly repaired, as proof he can't afford a new one. (Two books later, we learn Umbridge made it near-impossible for werewolves to get jobs.)

A very poor character will usually be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes will either be covered in or have just spottily applied sewen-on patches. The patches are almost always square in shape, but they don't have to be. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Note that for this trope to apply, the character must be poor; if they're wearing patched up clothes because they like that style, this trope doen't apply.

* Emmett Kelly created the "Weary Willie" character for the circus, modeled after alcoholic railroad hoboes of the day. Willie's ragged, patchy outfit was meant to convey that these were the only clothes he's had for years.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Trial Captain Acerola wears a dress that is almost entirely made of patches. Something that fits her status as an homeless child and also the fact that she is a Ghost-type Pokémon user.

* In a flashback in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode, "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS5E1FriendOrFoe Friend or Foe?]]", it is revealed that when Mr. Krabs was a kid, he and his Mom were going through some rough financial times, and Mama Krabs had to fashion Mr. Krabs' clothes from rags.

A very poor character will usually be dressed in regular clothes, but the clothes will either be covered in or have just spottily applied sewen-on patches. The patches are almost always square in shape. Bonus points if the clothes are brown or gray. Note that for this trope to apply, the character must be poor; if they're wearing patched up clothes because they like that style, this trope doen't apply.

Often combined with the related trope BarefootPoverty, and/or the poverty variant of FingerlessGloves to complete the StockCostumeTraits of a poor character. Compare BankruptcyBarrel.

* Creator/EmmettKelly created the "Weary Willie" character for the circus, modeled after alcoholic railroad hoboes of the day. Willie's ragged, patchy outfit was meant to convey that these were the only clothes he's had for years.

Often combined with the related trope BarefootPoverty, and/or the poverty variant of FingerlessGloves. Compare BankruptcyBarrel.