Final Fantasy 10’s outfits represent the best and worst of 1990s fashion

Many times, the worlds of Final Fantasy fashion and fashion have crossed paths over time. Sometimes in bold mainstream collaborations. As we approach the 16th mainline entry in a franchise boasting gorgeous art, colors, and designs, though, one entry’s fashion statement stands above the rest. Final Fantasy 10 is not only filled with bold designs — it’s a time capsule mashup of ’90s flair.

Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, the 10th entry didn’t simply offer new looks based on what the developers knew of design and history, but pulled in influences from the previous decade’s pop culture. FF10’s developers chose to borrow pieces from the real world when crafting ensembles, simultaneously grounding them in ’90s subculture fashion aesthetics while making each wardrobe layered and expressive. It’s a choice that has earned the game staying power all these years later, letting players relate to not only the game’s characters but to their own history outside of the game.

These outfits are FF10They are an amalgamation of dazzle, show and tell. Some believe they’re too outrageous for the land, harder to take seriously than the more blended looks in FF7Or FF8However, FF10 differs from the dark futures we’re used to. The game’s world, Spira, is a tropical paradise, full of all types who express themselves, joyfully or through pain. In its diverse setting, giant feathered shoulder pads and pants with one leg longer than the other meet sunglasses, leather straps, and people who look more ready to open an S&M club than fight.

This blend channels the nostalgia of the Hot Topic and Spencer Gifts stores of the ’90s. The layout of this mall staple may be familiar to millennials. There were racks full of large, buttoned-up anime shirts alongside fingerless gloves, black lipstick and webbed chokers. Zelda wristbands could also be found at the counter. Japanese culture and clothing prominently influenced the game’s fashion as well, but many of the main characters were given a more Americanized look.

The overall styles aren’t difficult to pick apart, but I recently spoke with Samantha Duncan — a self-proclaimed Hot Topic addict and poet who wrote You can play one on television, a chapbook about ’90s television characters — to dissect them in detail.

Square Enix

Tidus is FF10’s protagonist, and his amalgamation of ’90s punk and hip-hop culture is prominent. Wearing sports gear, a medallion, overalls with uneven pant legs, and knockoff Timberlands, he looks like a child adorned in his father’s hand-me-downs. According to Duncan, his old-school boy band hairstyle fits the ’90s perfectly, and he could pass for LL Cool J guesting in a TLC video: “He’s definitely an inspiration for young Justin Bieber, right?”

Yuna is tradition covered in a pretty bow. She embodies femininity, kindness and vulnerability. “I see the spiritual flower child here, but she also plays sad songs on the guitar at Lilith Fair,” said Duncan. This seems to be relevant given her transformation in the sequel. FF10-2She was a rebellious and sexy adventurer who wore twin pistols as a staff instead of using a staff. “The detached sleeves and long dark skirt give off that magical witchy mood,” Duncan continued, “and the chunky bob haircut has a pop-goth vibe, for when you want to be more of a chick than a woman.” Like our protagonist, Yuna was on a path of adulthood and discovery.

Wakka believes that fashion can be comforting, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of being stylish. He’s chaotic and colorful, wearing clothes that seem impractical in water-based sports, but what he took from the wild side of the ’90s is that hair. “His hair looks like he lost a bet,” Duncan said of the fire-red faux-hawk. Wakka is clueless and often hard to like, and his outfit reflects that after only a few interactions, “like if Jim Carrey made a culturally insensitive movie about a native islander, dumb as rocks but really good at volleyball.”

Square Enix

Auron on the contrary is both a mixture of mystery and practicality. His ridiculous collar and double belt make him seem normal. However, he is still trying to be bold by wearing a single glove and his spiky, dark hair. Lulu and Auron are stylistically opposite to each other, preferring to keep their style subdued. They’re the only two who seem to be making less of a statement with their clothing choices and are focused more on representing their true selves.

Lulu is a Goth Mommy in belts and braids. The look looks great, however it’s not practical for most situations. “Be still my Hot Topic heart! This is what the female characters would’ve looked like if Game of Thrones was done in the ’90s, or if Disney went dark and made a goth princess,” Duncan said, admiring the web of belts and leggings. “This is bog witch meets boss bitch before either of those were a thing.”

Compare them to Rikku and her people, the Al Bhed, who embrace hard work, steampunk, and Spencer’s-esque bondage-lite fashions. Rikku is that typical ’90s girl, with bland boots, a cropped tank top, and an outfit patched together from several different closets. Rikku’s hair is a bit chunky and the bangs help it frame the young girl’s face, according to Duncan, but more importantly, “Love the band on the upper arm, totally a thing I rocked then.” It’s another outfit that isn’t practical, but expresses her free spirit and eagerness. “I get bubbly Tomb Raider vibes,” Duncan said, evoking another icon. “Her outfit reminds me of Laura Dern in Jurassic Park, with unnecessarily short shorts.”

Square Enix

Many men who play the game, like Brother, Cid and Jecht, have tattoos and muscles to earn machismo. Whereas Cid’s head tattoo evokes someone who has been through some shit, Jecht and Brother’s ink is there to project and look intimidating. Tattoos felt edgy in the ’90s. Duncan couldn’t get over Brother’s look: “This dude could have been an extra in The Fifth Element, back when bleach-blond hair and shades indicated futurism.”

Then there’s Dona, a woman who acknowledges her sexual confidence and role as a Summoner. “This gives ’90s female rapper vibes,” Duncan said. “Lil’ Kim would wear very little, but add badass accessories that symbolized her self-worth.” The skirt is long but open, and the extra items she wears are strategic, along with boots that look powerful, made for stomping. She also has two bodyguards, buff and shirtless, “putting her in a position of power over men, subverting traditional patriarchal narratives,” Duncan said. Dona, in a world full of extras, is Yunalesca’s down-to Earth version.

One could imagine these characters on a Paris runway, even if they’re only sporting a magnificent cloak and underwear. Not everyone in the game looks like they flow together, however, with Lord Braska’s contrasting patterns and gaudy forehead accessory; “Did he steal that jewel from a Troll doll?” Duncan said, pointing out that Maechen looks like a pirate who took the Pope’s hat “or a maniacal jester rejected from the Medieval Times [restaurant].”

Although we joke about it, we still love. Over the years, FF10’s release, these characters have struck a chord in large part because of how they bring back these sorts of memories. Cloud will always fit wherever you put him, but seeing Tidus instantly takes you to a time and place in a way few game characters can match, thanks to Square’s unique approach to in-game fashion.