History Main / EmbarrassingButEmpoweringOutfit

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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trashoutfit.png]]

* For the TournamentArc of ''Devil & Devil'', Mizuno Soujiro -- a devil-hunting exorcist -- wears a leather outfit that she describes as a holy armor passed down from generations. This gives her an enormous amount of SuperStrength; unfortunately, it also [[DressedLikeADominatrix looks a lot like a Dominatrix outfit]]. Since Mizuno usually dresses rather conservatively, she's rather embarrassed.

* ''Anime/ProjectAKo'': B-ko's battle armor, [[ChainmailBikini Akagiyama 23]] enhances her speed and reflexes to match A-ko's. However, [[{{Stripperiffic}} it's basically nothing but a skimpy bikini with boots, gauntlets, and a visor]]. Oddly, B-ko herself isn't at all bothered by wearing it.
** When A-ko and the other students first see it, they burst out laughing at her. But once the fight began, A-ko's laughter [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YtBdNrVMGA was short-lived.]] Later in the film, it's revealed that it also has a built-in jet pack which enables B-ko to fly; which she uses during her attempt to rescue C-ko from Captain Napolipolita. B-ko was able to maneuver effortlessly through [[MacrossMissileMassacre a non-stop missile barrage.]]
** However, the visor's function doesn't become clear until the fourth movie: Final. It [[spoiler: allows B-ko to breathe in outer space. Seen when she flies A-ko into space, to get C-ko back, at 11.5 G's]]! Taken UpToEleven and subverted when her '''father''' steals the design and wears one, and '''she's''' the one embarrassed by it.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'', the title character possesses a full body super-suit that gives her numerous super abilities, but it's also made of an extremely thin and fragile material. The suit [[ClothingDamage tears easily]] and even when it's fully intact, it's so [[SensualSpandex form-fitting that it leaves little to the imagination,]] and nothing can be worn over or [[GoingCommando under]] it. These are huge problems for a superheroine like Empowered who has numerous body-image issues - particularly because tearing the suit strips her (pun intended) of her powers. What makes this worse is [[spoiler:the main character suspects that the suit is only as strong or weak as the user's self-confidence (with a few memorable occasions that suggest she's ''absolutely right''). This applies both to the abilities it gives, and the fragility of the material. Given how paper-thin the title character's confidence is and how it gets more fragile after every failure...]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'' [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] commissions [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rarity]] to create a cape capable of inspiring fear. She does so... but decorates it with [[NightmareRetardant smiley bats]]. He also asks for a cape that inspires awe and gets one that's white and gold... which doesn't really mesh with his color scheme.
* In ''Fanfic/WaterAerobicsForTheAquaphobic'', Hermione's Jusenkyo curse (Spring of the Drowned Warrior Goddess) comes with a clothing transformation into a ChainmailBikini, complete with CombatStilettos. While the outfit actually does protect her (notably, it can absorb magic), it also doesn't change back. Asocial bookworm Hermione is not amused about having to wear it in public.

* Mai Tsurugino, the primary protagonist of the ''[[VideoGame/KendoRage Makeruna! Makendou]]'' trilogy,[[note]] tetralogy if you count the OAV,[[/note]] is not at all fond of the outfit she finds herself in as Makendou Ichi-go.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' if you make {{Tomboy}} Paine wear the Songstress dressphere, she will complain in battle in spite of the powers it gives her.
* The "Feastday Gifts" DLC from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' allows you to manipulate your party members' approval ratings by giving them "gifts" or "pranks" to raise or lower the approval score. The pranks usually follow this trope, being an item that grants bonuses but would be completely out of character, such as a chastity belt for [[TheCasanova Zevran]] or a greatsword that emits rainbows and butterflies for [[TheStoic Sten]].
* In ''Videogame/DarkSouls'', the Catarina armor is ridiculed in-universe for its bulbous, onion-like shape, but the armor itself is masterfully created and amazing for deflecting blows. Male characters might also need to use initially feminine outfits, like a piece of the Priestess set, to help increase other stats, like the amount of magic casts.
* ''Videogame/{{Deltarune}}'' has a mild example of this, when you pick up the White Ribbon. It gives +2 to Defense, and Kris can equip it themself, or give it to Ralsei who will ask if it makes him look pretty. Susie however, flat out refuses to wear it if you try to equip it on her, and tells you she's not in first grade anymore.

* ''Webcomic/MagickChicks'': The mysterious wand grants Melissa Hellrune unimaginable power, enough to trigger a level 9 magical event. Said wand also comes with an outlandish CuteWitch MagicalGirl costume. [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/feeling_froggy_are_we Melissa is not pleased.]]
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Haley has a pair of magical [[SprintShoes Boots of Speed]], but considers them a fashion disaster because they're lime green, and refuses to wear them until she can get them dyed brown to match her armor.

* In one strip of ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'', a man asks an apparently really misogynist blacksmith to commission him some armor. The blacksmith, disgusted by the man's lack of facial hair, begins haranguing him for his supposed lack of masculinity. The man ends up getting a breastplate [[BreastPlate with an enormous bust]] and the word "SLUT" embossed on the front in big block letters. The man concedes, though, that "it's really good armor".
* In the ''Webcomic/{{Xkcd}}'' strip titled [[http://www.xkcd.com/1065/ shoes]] a character is rewarded with shoes that make their wearer immortal. He can't decide whether or not to wear the shoes since they have "[[http://tinyurl.com/zoqeo8j those creepy individual toes]]".
* In ''Webcomic/SlimyThief'' a male warrior goes to Azamat's store and asks for the most powerful armor. Azamat pulls out some magical armor that [[http://slimythief.com/?p=56 He initially refuses to wear it]] because "[[BreastPlate It has boobs]]".

* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' Gilgamesh Wulfenbach acquires a hat so impressive that no one who sees it can doubt who he is (well, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120113 except that one guy]]). It's [[BiggerIsBetter huge]], [[PurpleIsPowerful purple]], [[IncendiaryExponent on fire]], and has "[[FunetikAksent Gilgemesh Wulfenbash: Schmott Guy]]!" written on it. The moment he's done using it to establish his identity, he [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120116 orders it taken away]] and [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain never spoken of again]].
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Elliot's SuperGenderBender spell involves transforming his clothes into [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1149 an outfit]] that makes him resemble a cheerleader. The one time he uses the spell [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2132 while thinking about a different outfit]], he ends up with [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2133 an even more embarrassing skin-tight outfit]] instead.

* This is the entire premise of ''WesternAnimation/SheZow'', which involves a kid by the name of Guy who is destined to become a superhero through a costume that unfortunately was made for a girl.

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The outfits the Phantom Thieves wear in the [[MentalWorld Metaverse]] are supposed to be reflections of their rebellious souls and yet some of them are ashamed to be seen wearing them: Ann is by far the most vocal at how embarrassed she is at her SpyCatsuit with both Makoto and Yusuke also chipping in to voice their discomfort at their spiky biker getup and fox-themed samurai jumpsuit respectively. This is brought back with a vengeance in ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2'' where both Ann and Makoto are clearly uncomfortable trying to explain their outfits to both [[VideoGame/Persona3 SEES]] and the [[VideoGame/Persona4 Investigation Team]].

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The outfits the Phantom Thieves wear in the [[MetalWorld Metaverse]] are supposed to be reflections of their rebellious souls and yet some of them are ashamed to be seen wearing them: Ann is by far the most vocal at how embarrassed she is at her SpyCatsuit with both Makoto and Yusuke also chipping in to voice their discomfort at their spiky biker suit and fox-themed samurai jumsuit respectively.

** In ''[[VideoGameRemake Persona 3 FES]]''you can actually see [[http://imgur.com/0uRG04y what it looks like]]. Meanwhile, in ''Persona 3 Portable'', the item was renamed to "Battle Panties". Hilariously, the female main character can also wear it, with pride too! This additionally gives amusing reactions from male team members.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' offers an indirect example, where Matoi concludes ''regular panties'' can strengthen Matsuri--not immediately, but as [[WaxOnWaxOff a form of training]]. Since [[GenderBender Matsuri wasn't originally female]], wearing girly underwear causes him mental stress, which his mother claims [[MiseryBuildsCharacter will enhance his]] [[SoulPower spiritual power]]. [[RightForTheWrongReasons Ironically]], it works, but [[PlayingWithATrope Matsuri doesn't find quite find his new underwear embarrassing]]--he was just [[SecurityBlanket very attached]] to the specific kind he was wearing before.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' offers an indirect example, where Matoi concludes ''regular panties'' can strengthen Matsuri--not immediately, but as [[WaxOnWaxOff a form of training]]. Since [[GenderBender Matsuri wasn't originally female]], wearing girly underwear causes him mental stress, which his mother claims will enhance his [[SoulPower spiritual power]]. [[RightForTheWrongReasons Ironically]], it works, but [[PlayingWithATrope Matsuri doesn't find quite find his new underwear embarrassing]]--he was just [[SecurityBlanket very attached]] to the specific kind he was wearing before.

* ''Videogame/{{Deltarune}}'' has a mild example of this, when you pick up the White Ribbon. It gives +2 to Defense, and Kris can equip it themselves, or give it to Ralsei who will ask if it makes him look pretty. Susie however, flat out refuses to wear it if you try to equip it on her, and tells you she's not in first grade anymore.

* In ''LightNovel/KumaKumaKumaBear'', the main character Yuna is gifted a powerful amor set that grants her massive stat boosts and magical powers, but it looks like a onesie pajama costume with a bear's head for the hood, bear paws on the feet, and a pair of bear hand-puppets. She's quite embarrassed about being seen in public while dressed like that and other characters have a tendency to not take her seriously when they first meet her but she quickly earns a fearsome reputation for the sheer amount of damage, destruction, and death she can cause singlehandedly. The adventurers of the Guild don't say the name "Bloody Bear" ''lightly''.

* Mai Tsurugino, the primary protagonist of the ''[[VideoGame/KendoRage Makeruna! Makendou]]'' trilogy,[[note]]quadrilogy if you count the OAV,[[/note]] is not at all fond of the outfit she finds herself in as Makendou Ichi-go.

* Mai Tsurugino, the primary protagonist of the ''[[VideoGame/KendoRage Makeruna! Makendou]]'' trilogy[[note]]quadrilogy if you count the OAV[[/note]], is not at all fond of the outfit she finds herself in as Makendou Ichi-go.

[[folder:Tabletop Game]]

'''Squidward:''' [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar I can think of three good reasons.]]

* From ''Manga/SumomoMoMomoMo'', Sanae's Uma Kamen outfit. It's an outfit from her tribe that increases its wearer power but it looks like a bondage costume. Sanae hates wearing it and most characters, even the ones she saved, are taken aback to how ridiculous the outfit looks.
* ''Anime/ProjectAKo'': B-ko's battle armor, [[ChainmailBikini Akagiyama 23]] enhances her speed and reflexes to match A-ko's. However, [[{{Stripperiffic}} it's basically nothing but a skimpy bikini with boots, gauntlets, and a visor]]. Oddly, B-ko herself isn't at all bothered by wearing it.
** When A-ko and the other students first see it, they burst out laughing at her. But once the fight began, A-ko's laughter [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YtBdNrVMGA was short-lived.]] Later in the film, it's revealed that it also has a built-in jet pack which enables B-ko to fly; which she uses during her attempt to rescue C-ko from Captain Napolipolita. B-ko was able to maneuver effortlessly through [[MacrossMissileMassacre a non-stop missile barrage.]]
** However, the visor's function doesn't become clear until the fourth movie: Final. It [[spoiler: allows B-ko to breathe in outer space. Seen when she flies A-ko into space, to get C-ko back, at 11.5 G's]]! Taken UpToEleven and subverted when her '''father''' steals the design and wears one, and '''she's''' the one embarrassed by it.

* Yuzuka of ''Manga/MahouShoujoNanteMouIiDesukara'' transforms into the MagicalGirl version of herself wearing... a swimsuit. It doesn't particularly reveal much, but she '''hates''' it.
* For the TournamentArc of ''Devil & Devil'', Mizuno Soujiro -- a devil-hunting exorcist -- wears a leather outfit that she describes as a holy armor passed down from generations. This gives her an enormous amount of SuperStrength; unfortunately, it also [[DressedLikeADominatrix looks a lot like a Dominatrix outfit]]. Since Mizuno usually dresses rather conservatively, she's rather embarrassed.
* In ''Manga/TheDemonGirlNextDoor'', Yuko's Crisis Management form is {{Stripperiffic}} to embarrass her to no end, but it does raise her normally pitiful physical abilities as a former IllGirl.
* In ''LightNovel/KumaKumaKumaBear'', the main character Yuna is gifted a powerful amor set that grants her massive stat boosts and magical powers, but it looks like a onesie pajama costume with a bear's head for the hood, bear paws on the feet, and a pair of bear hand-puppets. She's quite embarrassed about being seen in public while dressed like that and other characters have a tendency to not take her seriously when they first meet her but she quickly earns a fearsome reputation for the sheer amount of damage, destruction, and death she can cause singlehandedly. The adventurers of the Guild don't say the name "Bloody Bear" ''lightly''.

* In ''FanFic/WaterAreobicsForTheAquaphobic'', Hermione's Jusenkyo curse (Spring of the Drowned Warrior Goddess) comes with a clothing transformation into a ChainmailBikini, complete with CombatStilettos. While the outfit actually does protect her (notably, it can absorb magic), it also doesn't change back. Asocial bookworm Hermione is not amused about having to wear it in public.

* In ''LightNovel/KumaKumaKumaBear'', the main character is gifted a powerful suit that grants her massive stat boosts and magical powers, but it looks like a onesy pajama costume with a bear's head, bear paws on the feet, and a pair of bear hand puppets. She's quite embarrassed about being seen in public while dressed like that and other characters have a tendency to not take her seriously when they first meet her.

* In ''Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear'', the main character is gifted a powerful suit that grants her massive stat boosts and magical powers, but it looks like a onesy pajama costume with a bear's head, bear paws on the feet, and a pair of bear hand puppets. She's quite embarrassed about being seen in public while dressed like that and other characters have a tendency to not take her seriously when they first meet her.

* In the ''Webcomic/{{Xkcd}}'' strip titled [[http://www.xkcd.com/1065/ shoes]] a character is rewarded shoes that make their wearer immortal. He can't decide whether or not to wear the shoes since they have "[[http://tinyurl.com/zoqeo8j those creepy individual toes]]".

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'':

* ''LightNovel/IsThisAZombie'': The costume worn by MagicalGirl Haruna contains lots of ruffles and bows. This isn't so embarrassing for her, but when she accidentally passes on her powers, costume included, to the zombie Ayumu (pictured above), he is not so amused by the outfit. Unfortunately, in order to activate his powers, the pink bow-covered costume is included. Also when he uses his own LimitBreak abilities while wearing it, ''the costume proceeds to get even girlier''. Complete with commentary on his rising cuteness from whoever's on the sidelines.

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[[quoteright:241:[[LightNovel/IsThisAZombie https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/44491325625519df_8108.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:241:It looks like [[WholesomeCrossdresser he]] doesn't think much of his [[PinkIsForSissies new battle attire]]...]]

* In ''Fanfic/ImaginarySeas'', Percy gets his father's divine armor, which renders him completely immune to all but the most powerful attacks so long as he's by the sea. Neat right? Too bad it's [[BlingOfWar terribly gaudy]] and [[CleavageWindow leaves his chest and midriff]] exposed like a metal bra. He puts on a shirt the first chance he gets because of this..

* On ''Anime/KillLaKill'', this is a plot point: the Kamui that both Ryuko and Satsuki are ''extremely'' [[{{Stripperiffic}} skimpy]] and reveal most of the user's torso (although they do still explicitly protect non-covered areas of the skin). The embarrassment of wearing it causes Ryoko problems early on because you have to wear Kamui without shame or rejection in order to access their full power. The revealing nature of Kamui later gets some justification when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Kamui are sentient aliens and in order to get as much power as possible from them without them overwhelming the wearer's mind they need to be touching as little skin as possible.]]