I am using the world of Carya for this segment: some info can be found in my story 'Aloria', though the nations found there are currently undergoing updates so stuff might not be too reliable. Information found here will be the most accurate.

WEEK ONE - FASHION

1. What fab.rics are often used to make clothing? What fab.rics are rare?

Wool fabrics, rough or fine depending on the class are the most commonly found fabric, though furs are often found, particularly on winter clothing and cloaks. Cotton fabrics are fairly common among more wealthy civilians, though is rare among commoner's clothing. Velvet is also quite popular among wealthier classes. Silk is extremely rare, and only found in the clothing of the richest of nobles (and even then remains uncommon due to it not being the warmest of fabrics, as Carya's winters are cold and even the summers are cool). Lace is also quite rare, both because it is difficult to find and because it is unpopular for use.

2. How does fashion vary between classes?

 Noble classes tend to have cotton or velvet fabrics, as listed above and their clothing tends to be longer in length: women's dresses will fall to the floor/ground and men's coats or tunics will fall closer to the knee (though rarely/never past). Their clothing is generally rich in tone and often darker in colourm and generally in shades of blue, purple and red. However, their clothing is never extremely elaborate as it could be percieved as vain, which is very undesirable in Caryan culture. Commoners tend to wear woolen, tougher fabrics and dresses tend to fall closer to just past the knee or to the ankle. Shirts will generally be worn in place of tunics for men. Clothing tends to be paler in colour and more in shades of brown, tan or green. Hats are worn in almost all weather, especially by commoners, and gloves are worn in all seasons regardless of heat.

3. How does male and female fashion vary? What type of dress is considered androgynous?

Females tend to wear dresses or robes, though if fighting, hunting or assisting with harvests they may wear a tunic that falls to just shy of the knee, or sometimes even a shirt and trousers will be worn. Males of noble class tend to wear tunics, while commoners tend to wear a shirt and vest over loose fitting pants. Young children will generally wear tunics, and gravitate to the style of dress more closely associated with their own gender. Soldiers, regardless of sex wear a tunic and as a result this is the style of dress closest to androgynous in their culture, since both males and females are permitted to fight. 

4. How does the fashion vary between winter and summer? How about fall and spring?

Summer clothes are generally light in fabric and colour. A shirt and vest are generally worn over either a skirt or pants depending on the gender of the wearer. Nobles tend to wear similar clothes in all seasons, but in summer a cotton fabric is generally used in garments. A coat or shawl is usually added as the weather grows colder, as well as a thicker hat. In spring, clothing is the same as fall save the addition of green embroidery on vests on clothing that is usually plain otherwise. In winter, heavy cloaks and coats are worn to keep people warmer, and several layers of clothing are generally worn. Fur and velvet grow mroe common, and clothing darkens in shade.

5. How has fashion evolved to show of a part (or parts) of the body considered beautiful?

Fashion and beauty are both viewed as meaningless in Carya, and those who spend time on their apperance are generally considered vain or foolish. However, though hands are not considered beautiful, gloves are generally the most elaborate and are ususally covered in public since it is seen as unhygenic or spreading germs. It is seen as in poor taste to show hands in public, and as a result gloves are generally quite fancy.

6. What accessories complete an outfit? How do they vary between classes? Sexes?

Gloves are considered a vital accessory regardless of the season. Cloaks, coats and shawls are generally worn in colder seasons (sometimes even summer, depending on the region), and are considered an important part of an outfit. They are generally more elaborate and longer in noble classes, but remain a component of an outfit all the same. Hats and hair covering are very common, especially among common classes, though nobles rarely leave the house without a hair covering in the winter. Both males and females wear similar types of hats.

7. Is any part of fashion reserved for royalty?

Blue, red and purple fabrics are more common among nobility, though they are not reserved for them. Likewise, silk and other fabrics are more commonly worn by nobles due to their expensive nature, but they are not explicitly reserved for the noble classes.

[food to come]