History Main / WardrobeFlawOfCharacterization

It could establish them as a minor [[SlobsVersusSnobs slob]], illustrate that they're a [[CasanovaWannabe wannabe]] or NouveauRiche dressing in a manner they're unused to, that they're trying too hard, or that they suffer [[TheDitz a lack of attention to detail]]. Sometimes used to contrast one half of an OddCouple with his [[SharpDressedMan better-dressed counterpart]]. Compare SeriouslyScruffy, where a character is entirely unkempt because [[TheyJustDidntCare they just don't care]], and TackyTuxedo and ImpossiblyTackyClothing, in which it's not just the details that are wrong. If the character's wardrobe is supposedly cool in-universe, it's WhatTheHellCostumingDepartment.

* ''Film/JurassicWorld'': In the very first scene with Hoskins and Owen, we see that both characters carry hunting knives at their backs. The difference, however, is that Hoskins has his strapped perpendicular to his belt, with the handle pointed upward. It would be rather difficult to draw the weapon effectively this way (and downright impossible if, say, his back were to a wall). By contrast, Owen has his strapped parallel to his belt, where he can draw the blade quickly from a myriad of positions. This illustrates the contrast between the two: Hoskins is an "armchair" badass, pretending to have a warrior's understanding, while Owen is the one with actual, practical experience.

* In ''Series/Supernatural'', Castiel almost exclusively wears the same trench coat-and-tie combo, with the tie always loosened or even on backwards, demonstrating that he is unconcerned with (or completely clueless about, DependingOnTheWriter) human customs.

** The Master, when given any choice in the matter, is colour-coordinated and downright dapper. Even managing this in the usually-ridiculous, Time Lord ceremonial robes. Granted, it's easy to coordinate if you like to wear predominantly the darker, neutral parts of the spectrum, but this is beyond ''weird'' by the normal Time Lord "clashing is a thing" standards. Heck, he/ she can even match a fully outfit ''temporally'', let alone culturally. Oh, and yup: considered madder than a bag full of hammers.

** The Fifth Doctor dresses in a sharp UsefulNotes/{{Cricket}} outfit... with the exception of a celery stalk attached to his left lapel.

** The Fifth Doctor dresses in a sharp {{Cricket}} outfit... with the exception of a celery stalk attached to his left lapel.

* In ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra'', Mako wears an old scarf at all times, even when dressing to the nines for a fancy date, because it's one of the few mementos he has of his parents. Something of an InformedFlaw; although some characters react to it as though it clashes horribly with his fine clothes, to the audience it looks perfectly normal, [[http://thetalesofbasingse.tumblr.com/post/22171118244 even stylish]].

** It's hard to tell due to the PS1-era polygons, but Rufus Shinra appears to be wearing an incredibly large and baggy white business suit immediately after his promotion to President, like [[BigShoesToFill a boy trying on his father's clothes]]. In later appearances he is more of a ManOfWealthAndTaste.

* ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' inverts this twice where Sherlock sees through a characters attempt to appear lower class by there shoes.

** In "A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs", Sherlock evades a [[ProfessionalKiller hit squad]] disguising as painters, because there shoes do not have paint stains.

* In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', Findthee Swing is impeccably dressed ''except'' that his shoes are in bad repair. Sam Vimes notices this, along with his mother's advice to not trust anyone who doesn't take care of their shoes. Findthee Swing is the head of the SecretPolice. While Swing ''looks'' like a clerk, he's as much of a bastard as any scruffy criminal (like Carcer), and he's also a surprisingly dangerous fighter.

* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' episodes "You Do It To Yourself" and "A Giant Gun, Filled With Drugs". In both episodes Sherlock deduces that a janitor and a group of painters are the owner of the establishment and a [[ProfessionalKiller hit squad]] respectively, because their shoes are expensive and well maintained.

* When Remus Lupin is first introduced in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', it's mentioned that his clothes and luggage bear signs of frequent repair, establishing him as a somewhat shabby and hard-used character.

* In ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra'', Mako wears an old scarf at all times, even when dressing to the nines for a fancy date, because it's one of the few mementos he has of his parents. Something of an InformedFlaw; although some characters react to it as though it clashes horribly with his fine clothes, to the audience it looks perfectly normal, even stylish.

** Cloud's SOLDIER uniform is about half-accurate - the clothes are right, but unlike the symmetrical, sleek armour favoured by most members, it uses quirky, industrial-looking asymmetrical light armour apparently modelled after motorcycle parts, bandages and mismatched accessories. It oozes a very 90s manga kind of cool and suits an out-of-work mercenary living in a {{Cyberpunk}} slum, but the effect is to make him look a bit scruffy and crazy, as if he'd desperately cobbled together something that looks a bit like a SOLDIER uniform out of bits and pieces that other people have thrown away. [[BecomingTheMask This is a pretty]] [[ADarkerMe straightforward metaphor for]] [[DeadPersonImpersonation what is going on in his head]].

* In {{Film/XXX}}, the title character makes a point of commenting on Milon Sova's bad suit, described as "motel drapes". Later on, we see Sova wearing a better suit, because he's sold information on Xander to the BigBad - "My government doesn't pay as well as Yorgi."

* It's hard to tell due to the PS1-era polygons, but Rufus Shinra of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' appears to be wearing an incredibly large and baggy white business suit immediately after his promotion to President, like [[BigShoesToFill a boy trying on his father's clothes]]. In later appearances he is more of a ManOfWealthAndTaste.

** The Fourth Doctor dresses in obviously very expensive AwesomeAnachronisticApparel with a [[ByronicHero Byronic]] or [[PerkyGoth gothic]] vibe topped with a designer hat, but coordinates it with a scarf that is far, far longer than necessary. And never does the buttons up right. And CantTieHisTie. And doesn't iron anything. And the hat's visibly crumpled because he tends to just shove it into his pocket. And [[MessyHair he rarely even brushes his hair]]...

** The Fourth Doctor dresses in obviously very expensive AwesomeAnachronisticApparel with a [[ByronicHero Byronic]] or [[PerkyGoth gothic]] vibe and classic designer hats, but coordinates it with a scarf that is far, far longer than necessary. And never does the buttons up right. And CanNotTieHisTie. And doesn't iron anything. And [[MessyHair rarely does anything with his hair]].

* ''Series/{{Mash}}''. Radar often wears over-sized and wrinkled fatigues, as well as boots one size too large for his feet. Watsonian: Radar doesn't really dress right for his lack of height. Doylist: [[WordOfGod Gary Burghoff wanted to distinguish Radar in appearance as well as behavior, and felt such wardrobe would emphasize the character's youthfulness]].

* In ''Anime/AttackOnTitan'', Mikasa constantly wears a red scarf that doesn't quite go with her uniform, because Eren gave it to her to keep her warm on the night that she lost her parents.