History Main / ImpossiblyCoolClothes

* Likewise, cosplayers have noted that the miniskirt worn by ''Anime/{{Noir}}'''s Mireille Bouquet actually facilitates panty shots in real life, but is a rare instance in anime where the expected {{fanservice}} ''doesn't'' occur.

* Likewise, cosplayers have noted that the miniskirt worn by ''Anime/{{Noir}}'''s Mireille Bouquet actually facilitates {{panty shot}}s in real life, but is a rare instance in anime where the expected {{fanservice}} ''doesn't'' occur.

Alternately, it may be a version of a real-life style or uniform, cut in ways that would never be allowed in RealLife. [[DangerouslyShortSkirt Dramatically short dresses]] [[MagicSkirt or skirts]] are common examples.

* ''VideoGame/TargetOfDesireEpisode1'': Maia wears a tiny half-shirt with a {{Vaporwear}} bra, a suit jacket and tie, and a DangerouslyShortSkirt. Is it possible for a shirt like that to hold in breasts of that magnitude? That's a great topic for a 6th grade science fair project.

* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series has this all over the place: for instance, Fran in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', and Lulu in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', who wears clothing that's impossible on several levels. Pointing out the unrealistically eclectic character designs in recent ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games is a common joke on ImageBoards, often revolving around sticking unnecessary belts and zippers onto every article of clothing imaginable. Older games aren't exempt from odd design choices, either.
** Lulu's dress not only makes no physical sense in terms of being made out of ''belts'', but also there doesn't seem to be any way for it to stay up even if it had been made out of conventional material. Even with her assets, it rides so low on her chest it must be glued to it.
** And God help the poor fanboy who tries to imitate Wakka's hair...
** Yuna's Summoner outfit in X is a milder version of this: While it's fairly easy to make with sufficient skill, having to ''wear'' it is an entirely different matter. Her detached sleeves are notorious for causing cosplayers headaches, and her shirt in RealLife requires safety pins ''and'' lots of strategic stitching. Not even going to mention her obi, which needs to be right over her ribs for the proper effect.
*** Her wedding dress has a five-foot train trimmed and lined with hundreds of pure-white feathers.
*** Many of the summoners wear Impossibly Cool Clothes.
*** [[http://www.istad.org/aulu/characters/dona.jpg Dona]] has strips of cloth attached with a several straps showing her undies. Yuna's dad, [[http://www.ffcompendium.com/art/10-braska-a.jpg Braska]] wears a heavy robe and an elaborate headdress in all environments.
*** Yunalesca is essentially wearing a wire coconut bra and, even more confounding, a ''double'' G-string.
** Tidus wears overalls whose pant legs are different lengths. Attempts to recreate this fashionably in real life have failed.
** Every outfit [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Penelo]] has worn is at least mildly impossible. The one from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' basically requires being sewn into, and the later ones need double-sided tape to keep the pants up.
** Rinoa wears shorts with garter straps that pull upward... over tights... under a skirt. It somehow manages to be provocative ''and'' prudish at the same time.
** Lightning's miniskirt has ''curved'' zippers that zip ''down'', which is not only impossible, but also raises questions regarding her chastity.
*** Practically any garb in ''[[VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII Lightning Returns]]''. [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Lightning_Returns:_Final_Fantasy_XIII_Garbs Several of them]] appear to be panties or shorts, with garters, belts, fabric strips that are supposed to resemble actual clothes in the weirdest of places. It says something when the [[KickingAssInAllHerFinery extravagant ball dresses]] are the most plausible clothes.
** Hope is actually wearing a shawl and knickers. No one questions this.
** The default clothes in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' were okay, but everything else... WordOfGod even admitted that the clothes were [[TrollingCreator specifically designed to be incredibly difficult to replicate for cosplay]].
*** Impossible, often, but that's at least justified by the fact that all the non-default outfits are magically applied by the dressspheres. No one ever has to make the outfit or even put it on in a normal fashion. Though this doesn't explain Nooj. Actually, nothing can explain that.
** ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren Advent Children]]'' features Cloud wearing a sleeveless knit sweater and one-half a trenchcoat. Really. It's just a dismembered sleeve. Also his boots have 3 zippers each.
** The ridiculous BFG/BFS weapons are often larger than the people carrying them (but [[{{Hammerspace}} strangely invisible]] outside of battles).
*** Seriously: how the characters actually manage to use their often ridiculously-sized weapons without some serious {{wardrobe malfunction}}s happening is beyond the impossible.
** [[MemeticMutation BELTS AND ZIPPERS]] appeared only when Tetsuya Nomura became a main designer of a series. Back when the characters were still designed by Yoshitaka Amano their clothing was in general somewhat more subdued, but Amano drifted in the other direction. His designs were often so stylized that sometimes one has difficulty seeing ''people'' in them, not their clothes.
*** Or distinguishing between what parts are clothing and what parts are people.
*** Aerith's [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/3/37/Aerith-DissidiaAlt1.png/revision/latest?cb=20110224134014 Amano design]] dress. Sleeveless and a off-shoulder little jacket with puffy sleeves that somehow do not slip off and some metal workings around the hem. Unless that jacket's sleeves are glued onto her skin, it's impossible for it to not slip down.
** [[TheChick Vanille's]] and [[ActionGirl Fang's]] [[spoiler:traditional Gran Pulsian attire]]; the former's is a pink halter top, numerous belts, adornments, beads, and a skirt made of scraps of material covered by a bear pelt. The latter's is a black halter top, open-toed boot-sandle-things and a long piece of elaborately folded blue cloth, all held in place by a single belt at her waist.
** Serah's outfit in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', as well as all of the subsequent DLC bonus outfits. As well as Lightning's new silver armour and Noel's outfit (MC Hammer pants with more belts and adornments than Vanille).
*** Serah's default outfit is a headscratcher to begin with. For one, it has large circles cut out around the hips and we see quite clearly nothing but skin there. On the other hand, it's been stated (and visible with the Camera Upgrade in the game) that she wears black shorts underneath that tiny dress. How come they aren't visible around her hips?

* Kvothe, hero of ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicles'' famously has a cloak of darkness, which a fairy woman sewed him from the night sky.

* Violet's outfit in ''Film/{{Ultraviolet}}'' is hot action girl attire that changes colors to fit the current scene. Her hair often changes to match, too.

** And then there's the [[Characters/DoctorWhoSixthDoctor Sixth Doctor]]. All Doctor's have an odd sense of fashion, but Six went to town on tackiness with the infamous yellow pants, floral vest and rainbow coat.

* In ''Film/GreenLantern'', the title character's entire costume is done through CG, which gives it the appearance of him wearing a glowing, organic extension of his body--a literal second skin (and muscles) made of pure green energy.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' has THE best stripperiffic armors in the form of female Raider outfits. [[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Raider_Armor#Gallery Here]], take a look. Or if you want something spandex-y, the [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090128195300/fallout/images/6/6f/Crimson_Dragoon.png Chinese stealth suit]].

* The girls of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', most noticeably during the SchoolFestival arc, can be found wearing outfits so beyond plausible function--or possibility for that matter--that their design may very well have been based on the question "How many [[FanService Fan-Service-y]] features can I cram into a single outfit per girl?".

* In ''{{Manga/Pokemon Adventures}}'', Lack-two has a great protective tights. When he was attacked by Genesect's Techno Blast, his coat and pants are completely shattered, but because of his magical tights, he was safe and sound.

** In ''Comicbook/EarthX'', Peter Parker gave up being Spider-Man when his secret identity was revealed. When he goes back into action to rescue his daughter, he steals a store costume which has holes in the yellow eye-patches for vision and a rectangle with his name on it on the chest. It also fails to conceal his hefty stomach. His daughter has no such problem, as she's "wearing" the Venom symbiote.

** The "Iron-Spider" suit. The suit itself was made by [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] to supplement his powers, so had a bunch of sub-systems built in (to what looks like a completely spandex red suit with oddly flexible gold metal). And then there's the Waldoes, 3 robot arms resembling spider legs that pop out of his back to help him fight.

* ''Franchise/TheFlash''

* Comicbook/DoctorStrange's [[BadassCape Cloak of Levitation]] has two hornlike projections on the collar which stand up by themselves (and of course the whole thing billows artistically as required). Without magic, it simply hangs on him, which looks as pathetic as it sounds.

* In "{{Literature/Donkeyskin}}" and its variants, the heroine tries to discourage the affections of [[ParentalIncest her father]] or some other undesirable suitor by saying that she will marry only after he makes her a dress that shines like the sun, another like the moon, and a third one like the sky or stars--and her suitor somehow manages to give her all of them. The French film adaptation ''Peau d'Ane'' in particular uses special effects to make her dresses truly dazzling, especially the "sky" one that looks as if real-life skies and clouds are actually passing over the fabric. Many variants also have her ask for a cloak made of animals' furs and skins which is much less glamorous than the dresses but much more fit for a disguise.

* ''FanFic/TheImmortalGame'' has Twilight Sparkle's "God Slayer" uniform, a piece of the night sky turned into a uniform and fused with her body when she steps up fully into her role as RebelLeader [[spoiler: (Spike thinks it looks silly)]]. It's designed to never come off, which brings some FridgeLogic with it, but that becomes a moot point when [[spoiler: the uniform is incinerated by Twilight's transformation into an alicorn]].
* In ''FanFic/TheInfiniteLoops'', Twilight attempts to orchestrate Rarity's alicorn ascension by having Sapphire Shores commission fifty-two dresses from her, each unique and from a different material. After having exhausted the run of conventional and mundane materials, she gets... inventive, managing to stabilise water into a thin film and sewing it into a ballgown, then following up with a dress made from ''fire'', then moving on to extruded sapphire, gold foil, diamond, condensed moonlight, solid magic... she is considering making the fifty-sixth out of alicorn wing feathers when Twilight points out that she's filled the order already, and--as she was about to use her own feathers--accomplished the ascension as well.
* In the first of the ''FanFic/TheDresdenFillies'' series of ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' / ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' crossover fanfics, Rarity notes that she has had to use her skill with [[MasterOfIllusion illusion magic]] to make client-commissioned Impossibly Cool Clothes that actually were impossible to make with just her skills as a fashion designer.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''.

* Not exactly a costume, but has anyone tried to consider what a body would hide under that [[PoweredArmor Impossibly Cool Armor]] of a ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' Space Marine? Cosplayers never get the look right, because they ''couldn't'': Astartes simply have [[SuperSoldier different body proportions]] than normal humans. Fluff frequently lampshades this, describing marines out of armor not simply as giants, but as being positively ''deformed'' with their barrel chests, narrow waists, impossibly broad shoulders and longer limbs.

* ''Franchise/StreetFighter''

* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has THE best stripperiffic armors in the form of female Raider outfits. [[http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Raider_Armor#Gallery Here]], take a look. Or if you want something spandex-y, the [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090128195300/fallout/images/6/6f/Crimson_Dragoon.png Chinese stealth suit]].

* At least somewhat averted in ''VideoGame/{{StarCraft II}}''--Space Marine suits are constructed around the marine. They also consciously break away from just scaling up everything around the marine to achieve bigger body height: A marine's hands are actually in the forearms of his armour and move the suit's hands by feedback. They still seem to work pretty fine with regards to manual dexterity as experienced users like Tychus can for example hold a cigar for smoking without either dropping or crushing it. An interesting analysis [[http://sclegacy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4607&page=2 here]]. tl;dr: Torso too narrow, arms too long, thighs too small, hips too wide. But it's not as bad as most fiction mech suits, like the one in the article picture above for instance.
* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear.'' '''''Guilty Gear.''''' {{Cosplay}}ing characters from ''Guilty Gear'' requires either a lot of time and sewing skill, or [[CrackIsCheaper a lot of money]]. Of course, since its made by the same people as ''Guilty Gear'', ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' is equally frustrating to properly do cosplay for.

* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2'' features [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOOy3EMiIoI& protective suits]] that you need a 'magical' changing cupboard to get in and out of and helmets that assemble/reassemble at the touch of a button .
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' manage to turn ''school uniforms'' into Impossibly Cool Clothes. ''3'' in [[http://images.wikia.com/megamitensei/images/5/51/GekkoukanUniform.jpg particular]]. Everyone in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}: Eternal Punishment'' is like this, especially compared to other games in the series where everyone just wears school uniforms. Ulala and Katsuya's outfits are modified versions of normal outfits, Tatsuya and Baofu's are normal outfits in bright colours, and Maya's outfit is particularly nice.
* The girls of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. Only a few of the outfits can be considered practical--and they tend to be part of the occupation (For example, [[{{Miko}} Reimu, Sanae]], and [[NinjaMaid Sakuya]]. And even then they're not the most practical in a series where almost everyone flies.) The most impossibly cool must be Iku's shawl... thing that she can use as a {{whip|ItGood}} or [[ThisIsADrill drill]]; Utsuho's and Miko's capes which, in the fighting games, have ''[[UnmovingPlaid individually scrolling]]'' galaxy and dragon patterns on them individually, as well as Tenshi's skirt, which looks like it was actually made from a strip of the sky itself. There's even a Pixiv meme about drawing what artists think how the clothes work [[http://safebooru.donmai.us/pools/1765 here]]. The amount of thought given into these is really impressive.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** {{Ninja}}-esque Sango wears an incredibly intricate costume and makeup for WalkingTheEarth in feudal Japan. While [[TimeTravel time traveler]] Kagome can just pop up back to the 21st century for supplies, bathing, and clothing maintenance (and this has been commented on), Sango has no such resources.

* In ''LightNovel/OokamiSan'' some characters wear clothes that would'nt be seen anywhere in a normal HighSchool. Otogi Academy is a ElaborateUniversityHigh where the students are given large freedom and encouraged in self-expression, and most of them wear personalised outfits. Thoses include a character in a [[{{Meido}} Maid]] outfit, one with a bunny-eared which hat, and Momo-chan-senpai {{Stripperiffic}} [[IhaveBoobsYouMustObey outfit]]. The Shy and average-looking Ryôshi is the only one of the main characters to wear the normal school-uniform whithout any modification.

[[folder:Theater]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Just outside Whateley Academy, in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, Cecilia Rogers has a clothing boutique where she makes supersuits for the students... and also for big-name superheroes. She uses special fabrics and has a superpower over fabric, so the outfits she makes can be (mostly) bulletproof, acid- and stain-resistant, knife-resistant, etc. And she repairs them too. She also tailors school uniforms for the impossibly cool who have to meet school rules. Alternately, for people with special needs. Such as werewolves. Who can't change back.

* The uniforms worn by schoolgirls in many anime--''Manga/KareKano'' comes specifically to mind--would be manifestly unsuitable for school in the real world, and some might even qualify as fetish wear.

Clothing in animated series also shows near-indestructibility in terms of almost never ripping, fraying, staining or wrinkling, no matter what kind of stresses are placed on it or substances flung at it. Sometimes this is given an explanation (the material is some experimental or magically enhanced substance), but most times it isn't. Not only is it indestructible, it's almost never a hindrance (unless the story [[ActionDressRip explicitly states so]]), like an ImpracticallyFancyOutfit and RequisiteRoyalRegalia.

* Deconstructed in ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'', despite using an actual article of clothing. Hiyoko Saionji wears a traditional kimono which looks beautiful... but she can't dress herself properly without looking like a whore[[note]]Not just a baseless insult - kimonos are supposed to have their obi (the sash which acts as a belt) tied around and into a bow on the back of the outfit, but prostitutes would have to tie the kimono by themselves, leaving the bow in the front[[/note]]. Eventually people begin to notice that she's not washing because otherwise she couldn't get back into her own clothes.

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Grade B cats are signaled by a collar that is quite ornate, but lacks a front part (collars that ''do'' have a front part are for Grade A cats). After the TeamPet gets one of those collars, there are a few scenes in which she apparently manages to shed it off without any short of human assisstance, making how it doesn't simply fall off the second she jumps on something a big mystery.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' WordOfGod mentioned that [[BeastMan Florence]] could wear clothing that attaches to her fur, and would be impossible on humans without assistance. Florance herself hasn't realized this.

[[/folder]]

* The girls of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''. Only a few of the outfits can be considered practical--and they tend to be part of the occupation (For example, [[{{Miko}} Reimu, Sanae]], and [[NinjaMaid Sakuya]]. And even then they're not the most practical in a series where almost everyone flies.) The most impossibly cool must be Iku's shawl... thing that she can use as a {{whip|ItGood}} or [[ThisIsADrill drill]] and Utsuho's cape, which in ''Hisoutensoku'' has an ''[[UnmovingPlaid individually scrolling]]'' galaxy pattern on it. There's even a Pixiv meme about drawing what artists think how the clothes work [[http://safebooru.donmai.us/pools/1765 here]]. The amount of thought given into these is really impressive.

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear.'' '''''VideoGame/GuiltyGear.''''' {{Cosplay}}ing characters from ''Guilty Gear'' requires either a lot of time and sewing skill, or [[CrackIsCheaper a lot of money.]] Of course, since its made by the same people as ''Guilty Gear'', ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' is equally frustrating to properly do cosplay for.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''
** [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Robert Garcia]] is known for being [[SharpDressedMan dressed to the nines]] in each of his appearances, and even provides the page image for the ActionFashionista trope.

** HighlyVisibleNinja [[GainaxBounce Mai Shirinui]]. Just how does that gi stay in place?
** Iori, prior to ''XII'', would wear pants that have a strap that binds both legs. Why anyone would fight with an intentional handicap like that is his business (he even does a nearly straight-up kick with no difficulty).

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', Elsa [[GorgeousGarmentGeneration creates a gown for herself]], complete with a cape, out of ''ice''. Despite its material, it flows like silk.

*** There is also a valid engineering for the "ballet-boot" design of the feet, as it eliminates a structural weakness at the ankle and foot, while still remaining light. The AD Police's K-12 armour shows how much more heavier that area needs to be to deal with stresses on the ankle joint and foot extension. Arguably a case of DidTheResearch. Also, the heels make good anchor slots for the [[AMechByAnyOtherName Motorslaves]].

* Princesa Sugehit has entrance gear modeled after an insect exoskeleton with a cape which she can fan out with her arms to resemble a butterfly wings. Dalton Castle has one too, only modeled after peacocks.

* At the end of ''[[Comicbook/XWingSeries Starfighters of Adumar]]'', Wes Janson gets a cape that is essentially a supremely-flexible flat-screen TV. Being the comic relief character that he is, he sets it to an image of a bunch of Jansons with their arms linked, kicking their legs like chorus dancers. Wedge Antilles wonders if he can find a way to [[ThrownOutTheAirlock space it]] on the flight home.

* ''Anime/KaitouJoker'' has all the main characters wearing some pretty sweet clothes which would be impractical in real life or violating uniform practices.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' is the king of Impossibly Cool Clothes. ''Everybody'' dresses in the most incredibly ''[[MemeticMutation fabulous]]'' way possible. The most famous example is Jotaro's various hats, all of which are torn in the back in such a way that when he wears them they appear to seamlessly blend into his hair.

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