Video games have become a massive part of pop culture over the past few decades. From arcade games in the 1980s to today’s hyper-realistic console and PC games, video games have captured the attention of people across demographics and age groups. An interesting aspect of the rise of video games is their growing influence on mainstream fashion and design trends. Video game aesthetics, characters, and virtual fashion are increasingly inspiring real-world fashion collaborations, designs, and styles. As video games continue to evolve as an interactive medium, they will likely have an even greater impact on the world of fashion and design.
Video Games Fashion Trends
The aesthetics, color palettes, and stylized character designs of many popular video games have inspired identifiable fashion trends and looks. For example, the Zelda franchise has spawned an entire “Zeldacore” fashion trend characterized by neutral tones, earthy color palettes, retro-futuristic elements, and fantasy-inspired pieces. Games like Animal Crossing with its cute, pastel-hued island vibes has also inspired its own soft, playful fashion aesthetic. The signature armor and weapons of video games like Halo and Destiny have also influenced streetwear and haute couture designs. Even the neon, cyberpunk, and anime-inspired aesthetics of games like Cyberpunk 2077 have filtered into avant-garde high fashion. Overall, the fantasy worlds and stylized elements of video games provide endless inspiration for fashion designers and trends.
Video game fashion trends have also been promoted through influencer and celebrity endorsements. Gaming personalities on Twitch and YouTube have helped video game-inspired styles gain mainstream traction through merch collaborations and sponsorships. Celebrities like Ariana Grande and Lil Uzi Vert have also endorsed gaming aesthetics through wearing streetwear featuring classic games like Mario and Zelda. Through these endorsements, video game fashion has cemented itself as a major influence in the larger landscape of pop culture style and aesthetics.
Video Game Inspired Fashion
The fashion industry has fully embraced video game inspired designs through numerous high profile collaborations and capsule collections. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton created entire collections featuring iconic video game characters like League of Legends and Final Fantasy. Gucci developed in-game items and clothing for anime-style games like Genshin Impact and Roblox. Sportswear brands like Adidas and Nike have also launched sneaker collaborations inspired by classic games like Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog. Even fast fashion retailers like Uniqlo and H&M have created collections featuring licensed video game graphics and characters.
These collaborations illustrate the depth of video games’ impact on mainstream fashion. Major brands are recognizing the marketing potential and consumer demand for clothes featuring gaming IP and aesthetics. As video games continue to shape youth culture and pop culture at large, the fashion world will likely seek more synergistic partnerships and licensing deals with gaming brands and publishers. The business of video game inspired fashion still has immense room for growth.
Video Game Characters and Fashion
Iconic video game characters like Lara Croft, Solid Snake, and Cloud Strife are just as well-known for their distinctive fashion styles as they are for their in-game exploits. These characters’ signature looks, costumes, and outfits have made them style icons that influence real-world clothing designs and fashion trends.
Lara Croft is arguably the most famous example of a video game character turned fashion symbol. Her teal tank top, brown shorts, and knee-high boots epitomized 90s edge and sensuality. Elements of her adventurer style like cargo pants and tactical boots entered mainstream fashion. Even her new iterations continue to shape athletic and streetwear styles. Similarly, Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake popularized tactical, military-inspired fashions. Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife brought emo, punk-inspired styles into gaming and pop culture. Overall, these characters’ memorable and distinctive costumes solidified them as gaming fashion icons.
Video game characters also drive fashion trends through licensed apparel and cosplay. Clothing featuring gaming mascots like Mario or Sonic permeate malls and department stores. Cosplayers dressing as characters like Overwatch’s D.Va or League of Legends’ Kai’Sa replicate and spread their signature looks. In these ways, video game characters directly promote their iconic sense of fashion to the masses. Their styles will likely continue inspiring new designs and trends as video games keep evolving.
Virtual Fashion and Video Games
The rise of virtual fashion and in-game clothing in video games has also influenced real-world style trends. Games like Animal Crossing and The Sims contain extensive clothing customization systems that let players create their own hyper-stylized looks. Even multiplayer games like Fortnite and Roblox have in-game fashion economies where players can buy skins, costumes, and accessories to personalize their avatars. These modes of virtual fashion and self-expression in games have impacted real-world clothing demand and production.
Virtual fashion has opened up new revenue streams for fashion brands through video game collaborations. Luxury brands like Balenciaga and Valentino have created expensive digital-only clothing for games like Fortnite so players can dress their avatars in high fashion. More practical streetwear brands like Supreme and Nike have also leveraged virtual goods to expand their reach and sales. The digital fashion industry is projected to grow into a multibillion dollar business through these gaming partnerships.
Additionally, the boundary between virtual fashion and real fashion is blurring. Digital-only clothing collections like RTFKT and The Fabricant have sold virtual garments for thousands of dollars. Players are also increasingly replicating their in-game avatar looks with real-world clothing. As virtual worlds continue expanding, the back-and-forth inspiration between digital fashion and real-world style will likely accelerate.
Fashion Design in Video Games
Video games are now employing fashion designers for creative roles in developing character costumes and clothing options for players. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga have had their designers collaborate with gaming studios. Independent fashion designers have also joined development teams to apply their expertise in creating conceptual clothes for fantastical characters and worlds.
These collaborations demonstrate how far the video game industry has come regarding the importance of fashion design. Whereas early video game characters wore simple, repetitive costumes, contemporary games incorporate diverse high-fashion aesthetics into character appearance. For example, Final Fantasy XV hired a dedicated fashion designer to conceptualize intricately detailed outfits reflecting the characters’ personalities and story arcs. Similarly, cult hit game Sunset Overdrive hired fashion designer Drew Merriman to develop the game’s stylized streetwear aesthetic.
Fashion designers must consider functional constraints like rendering on different character models along with the conceptual goals. But their expertise in color, silhouette, texture, and material usage allows them to create incredibly nuanced wardrobes for modern gaming worlds. As games aspire to achieve greater visual fidelity and creative scope, fashion designers will likely have even more opportunities to shape groundbreaking video game styles.
Conclusion
It’s clear that video games have developed into a significant driving force in the fashion world. Gaming aesthetics and characters inspire trends adopted by mainstream retailers and luxury brands. Virtual in-game clothing generates lucrative collaborations and new avenues for designers. Video game companies are also leveraging fashion industry creative talent to develop more detailed and aesthetically pleasing costume designs. As both the gaming industry and fashion world continue to expand, their synergistic relationship will lead to even more exciting innovations in style, apparel, and virtual goods. The future looks bright for video game fashion forecasting and cross-industry creativity.
