Fashion

**Fashion** is a cultural phenomenon that involves personal aesthetic expression, generally in the form of clothing and similar accessories. Afbarkeean fashion first emerged during the economic prosperity of the Great Build, as many wealthy people attempted to assert their social status through elaborate dress. However, most commoners during the Age of Kadee could not afford to participate in the fashion of the upper classes and wore basic tunics. Fashion was often informed by sexist attitudes, as males and females were typically required to conform to different conventions.

## Types of fashion

### Headgear

It was a taboo throughout Afbarkeean to wear a hat or headgear in the presence of a Glaan, though this was much less strict in the Lantoo as headgear was much less common and the Glaan were not considered inherently holy.

### Codpieces

The codpiece first emerged in the Kadeean Empire in 6th century and started to become a somewhat popular male fashion trend towards the end of the century, especially among the younger generation. Because of the implicit association with male sexuality, the codpiece was controversial, and fell out of fashion during the Second Spiritual Revival. There was a modest resurgence of the codpiece during the Great Doubt, which also spread to the Balooun Empire.

The codpiece became a very popular fashion accessory during the Masculinity Crisis.

## In different cultures

### Kamakan

Afbarkeean fashion can be traced back to the Draabuleen textile industry set up by the San-Kamakan in 526. This industry produced high-quality tunics and robes that were sold throughout Afbarkeean. The so-called *Kamakan robe* was a whitish, body-length garment that became associated with the upper class and high social status. While it went out of fashion following the defeat of the Kamakan, the Kamakan robe continued to be widely used by the Glaan-San Church.

### Lantoo

During the Kamakan Civil War, Kadee assumed control of Draabul and its textile industry. Over the course of the subsequent century, the traditional Kamakan robe gradually evolved into the *Kadeean toga*. This transition was heavily influenced by each consecutive Galin. They each wore progressively more elaborate and decorative dresses to assert their superiority. These dresses typically had multiple layers and additional decorative accessories to convey importance. During the Great Build, many wealthy Kadeeans emulated the style of the Galin to assert their own social status.

Hairstyles also became more important in Kadeean society during the Great Build. Long hair had always been associated with beauty and femininity, and many women attempted to grow their hair as long as possible to express these qualities. For the sake of practicality, women started to braid their hair together, and this became the standard hairstyle for the majority of the 6th and 7th centuries.

The elaborate fashion of the 6th century was effectively brought to an end by the Second Spiritual Revival, as most people felt the need to distance themselves from the decadence of the previous era. The big, multi-layered dresses were replaced by modest togas.

During the Great Doubt, many young people rejected the social conventions of the time, including the pre-established fashion trends of the previous generations. Over the latter half of the 7th century, the Akranon wreath became a popular symbol of intelligence.

### Balooun

One of the most common materials used in early Balooun fashion was wool. This led to the pejorative term *sheep* being applied to Baloouns, implying that their woolen clothing made them look more like sheep than humans. Woolen clothing was a staple of the Balooun middle class.

Keeg I is credited with popularising Kadeean fashion among the Balooun upper class. This trend continued into the 7th century, though it started to die down with the rise of the Jregan movement. Instead, wealthy Baloouns started to turn to Oozin for fashion trends.