Killjoy design masterpost (see reblogs for more)
I've been thinking for a while that it may be hard to come up with ideas for your Killjoy and you might need some inspiration! So I've been compiling a long list of designers and people to look at for help with you designs. Before you continue reading, THIS IS A LONG POST. It's also PART 1 because I can only have 30 images on one post. (If you want alt text on the images, reblog and I'll add it later, it been a Long Week)
Part 2
11) New wave
New Wave is categorised by a mix of punk and colour - it's meant to be shocking. Whilst a lot of what you'll find is impractical for the desert, it's certainly a form of inspiration that I'm sure many of your OCs would eat up like crickets.
12) Punk (circa 1980s)
Yeah, yeah, I've already talked about punk in this post, but not as a general culture. First, let's look at the hair. Killjoys love their hair dyed and styled and there's literally no one better to look to for hair than the punk community. See the mohawks? The spikes? Your new best friend is going to be hairspray. Next, the jackets - punks are regularly seen covered in pins and patches on their jackets. I recommend looking closely at the jackets of punks (and metalheads). Now focus on the general clothes: See the more mis-matched, tattered vibe? It's not for everyone, or everyjoy, but it can really work and many joys can really pull it off. Also, something you'll notice in all 3 of these images is tartan - "the bright red Royal Stuart tartan was a symbol of upper crust, genteel England" and "Punks wanted to incite a reaction from those members of society, so they took that fabric and cut it, shredded it, ruined it". On the one hand, you can give your 'joy tartan. On the other hand, find common images of BLI and shred them, dirty them, do ANYTHING to create that disorder.
13) Jimi Hendrix
I'm gonna be honest, I don't know all too much about Jimi Hendrix, but DAMN did that guy have style. Look at that guy GO. But yeah, I haven't seen anyone take after him with their OCs but I'd really like to see them!
14) Star Trek civilian clothes
Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. "Crypty, other than that BADASS leather cape that Sulu is wearing, these are so ugly!" and yes. That's the point. I love how fugly these outfits are and you can pry them from my cold dead hands. That being said, if you want to see a whole number of outfits that are weirdly cut and just off looking fabrics, look to none other than Jake Sisko (pictured above 3 times). He got the worst of it partly due to being one of the most regular civilians on DS9 and you can find some great ideas on there. Seriously though, check out Sulu's cape, it's so cool. I believe you see it in Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, and Voyage Home, but it is not talked about enough. (Also, fun fact! A lot of pop culture is influenced by Star Trek! Please check the shows out, the messages shown even in TOS are groundbreaking)
TALK BREAK
Honestly, I want people to use this post to challenge themselves. I'm a horrible artist myself so I normally just write down my ideas on a doc and imagine how ugly it is in my head instead of putting in all that effort and seeing the ugly on paper. If you do use this post, please tag me. I love seeing your work. Use this to challenge yourself. Make a killjoy based off of a diner worker or a hippie. Hell, make David Bowie as a Killjoy! The world is in your hands. Art is the weapon.
My absolute top tip on looking into fashion is go to a library. You don't have to check any books out, just sit in there and pick up some books on fashion. I am extremely lucky in the sense that I have a lot of libraries near me and that my college has a huge section on fashion, but if you can please have a look. They're so incredibly useful. WARNING: If you open up ANY book on fashion, be prepared to look at things you might not want to see. There are boobs in every single book on fashion. Literally. You will also likely see (in some of the listed books) scarring, sexual imagery, slurs/offensive language, body modifications, and more. Read any fashion book literally at your own risk. That being said, here are some books I have looked through to help on this list (I didn't look extensively at all of them, but they may come in useful):
The T-Shirt Book by Charlotte Brunel
Hot Bodies, Cool Styles: New Techniques in Self-Adornment by Ted Polhemus
Xtreme Fashion by Courtenay Smith and Sean Topham
Excess: Fashion and the Underground in the 80s by Maria Luisa Frisa and Stefano Tonchi
The 'Fashion Now' books
The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion by Paul Gorman
The 'Fifty Fashion Looks that Changed the ---' books by Paula Reed. Each covers a different decade in fashion from the 50's to the 90's.
I used more but unfortunately I cannot remember! I'm going back to one of the libraries soon though I think so I'll have a quick look and edit the post if I find them.
Part 3
15)
Cowboys have a unique style that, as you can see from the middle picture, is easy to glam up. I don’t think I’ve seen any cowboy OCs but PLEASE. I need to see one. They’re an especially perfect addition to a desert and their outfits are well designed to be so.
16) Rockers
Alright. I’ll admit. This one was hard to find pictures for. The best ones I found (2 of the above) are from a book I’ve listed (Surfers Soulies Skinheads & Skaters) so I’d recommend giving that book a look if you’re especially interested in subcultural fashion (honestly, one of the best I’ve seen so far for the styles you’ll want to see). This is probably one of the styles to look for when you’re stuck on how to bedazzle your jackets, with studs and chains and painted designs, there’s a decent amount of information if you know where to look. (I don’t. Other than that book. There are so few pictures of what I’m looking for it’s astounding). See also: Greaser and Ton-up boy.
17) Glam/hair metal
Do I even need to say anything? I mean look at them. Utterly impractical, utterly insane, but utterly perfect.
18) Fetish fashionNot giving pictures, of course (I fear the Tumblr overlords), but this type of fashion has been seen in the comics - specifically with the androids. I imagine that Killjoys, especially city-raised, would wear these whether they’re into those, ahem, things or not. It’s a style you might not see much outside clubs, or even just books on fashion, but it’s part of queer history and it’s wrong to ignore that. Killjoys may incorporate more subtle nods to this in everyday clothes and can switch to much more overt looks during nightlife (or, if your ‘joy is more open to being hot and sweaty in leather all day, that’s their call).
19) Ravers
It’s horrific and colourful. That’s all I really have to say. Okay, okay, maybe not the best form of inspiration (in the UK and the US), but if you do some digging then you’ll find some damn good things. I’ve even seen rave outfits inspired by cultural attire! I really wish I could find the account that does those but, alas, they’ve been lost to the hellhole that is my Instagram fyp.
20) Cultural clothing
Speaking of other cultures, I would ADORE to see Killjoys with outfits inspired from cultures across the world. If I was any good at drawing I’d show you my visions, but what about an Indian Killjoy with a sari stitched with their colours and symbol? Or maybe a Palestinian Killjoy sewing colours and other things important to Killjoys and their liberation into their keffiyeh? I don’t know. It could be culturally insensitive and I’d like more people to discuss it.
21) Cyberpunk/futuristic
It’s a slight stretch, but some people might be into that cyberpunk shit and honestly, go for it. Give us the shiny outfits.
22) Reversible outfits
This one's more for the Juvie Halls, but reversible outfits would be so cool! They'd need to blend in during the day sometimes, wouldn't they? So a business jacket that you switch inside out to some bedazzled colourful mess would be awesome! Same with any aspect of their outfit. They would, wouldn't they?
Things to keep in mind
When creating your OC, there are a bunch of things to keep in mind for how they look. I'll probably make a separate post surrounding the actual character creation, but here are the things you also need:
1) Coverage
They will be in the sun quite a lot. They need the option for a decent amount of coverage on their skin. Whilst we know the Sun works a little differently in this universe (i.e., people seemingly getting high off it??), Killjoys are often shown with long trousers and jackets. You can have a few different options, and you don't have to constantly keep them covered, but please consider it. Hats and masks are going to be key.
2) Tanning
Bouncing off the first point: the likelihood is, they'll be tanned. Unless you've got some ultra pale kid or someone fresh out of the city, *they are in a desert under constant Sun - that means tan*. If all your OCs are pasty without any freckles or even sun damage, then you may need to revise them. I'd love to see some tan lines too! Especially fishnet tanlines.
3) Guns
They always have a BLASTA on them. They'll need some type of holster (bonus points if it's makeshift) or a bag or something else to keep it and it will have to be colourful. Try matching it to their mask.
4) Masks
Most of you guys have got this down, but a lot of Killjoys are going to cover their face. Bandanas, Halloween store rubber masks, helmets, and domino masks are all the rage from zones 1-6. Keeps you out of the sun and your identity at least a little safe.
5) Consider: colour
You don't want to cook your Killjoy in the hot desert sun. If I see one more damn collage OC design which is all black tight leather-
6) Footwear
You can go about this two ways: practical footwear because it'll last long and keep your OC safe, *or* whatever your Killjoy found on the side of the road and "at least kind of fits, I guess".
