Fashion is fleeting, but style is forever.

Authors want their characters to stand out, and there's various tropes that can be used to make their look distinctive. One such way that says a lot about a character's... well, ''character''... is for them to purposely use an OutdatedOutfit in everyday life. Rather than a suit and tie, they'll wear finery from London in the 1850's. Instead of a dress, how about a ceremonial Kimono? Instead of business attire, go to meetings decked out in Renaissance plate armor and helmet. Regional chic from past times works as well: a character wearing cowboy gear is sure to look cool and stand out. ValuesDissonance will often determine how this trope applies: berets are pretty cool in North America, but in France and Spain they are more often thought of as old-fashioned.

This isn't just a distinct visual look, but a subtle (or very overt) statement that this character is enamored with the bygone style and perhaps even time period. They have a [[GoodOldWays different world view than most contemporary people]] (though not necessarily the one from their chosen period of dress) and aren't afraid to defy convention by dressing unconventionally. When done well, this trope shows it's not the clothes that make the man or woman, but the wearer who gives what ought to be a desperately out of place Halloween costume a natural style and appropriateness. Somehow, it seems ''natural'' that the man in a cowboy suit is opening a bank account, and the woman in the Kimono is working at a particle physics lab, or the man in a bowler hat is slaying zombies.

See also GorgeousPeriodDress and ElegantGothicLolita. If a character's whole ''personality'' is stuck in a bygone era, you've got DiscoDan.

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!!Examples:

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[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* In ''SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', our main character, his sister, and his devoted stalker all wear old-fashioned kimono. But not just kimono, ''vintage'' and ''seasonally appropriate'' designs from the early 20th century. The accessories are no exception: the author will knot the obi differently on different occasions, and always matches the characters up with classic outerwear in winter, like Inverness coats and ''kakusode gaitou''. If you know much about traditional Japanese clothing, it can be quite the sight to behold. To be frank, in that universe Japan's [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_name era name]] [[RetroUniverse is still]] ''[[RetroUniverse Showa]]'' (aka Emperor Hirohito), not ''Heisei''.
* Ryougi Shiki of ''Literature/KaraNoKyoukai'' wears a kimono (usually light blue) under a bitchin' red leather jacket with fur fringe.
* Inverted in ''{{Inuyasha}}'', with Kagome wearing modern day clothes in feudal era Japan.
* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''{{Mushishi}}'', where the main character wears modern clothes in a feudal setting... [[RuleOfCool For no reason other than that it looks cool.]] [[WordOfGod According to the author]], {{Mushishi}} was originally set in the modern day, but they forgot to change Ginko's clothes when the comic changed to the feudal era. And, no, [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight nobody ever says anything]].
* Roderich/Austria in ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'' generally dresses in rather anachronistic suits, among the few constants being a cravat. No one else notices.
** Grandpa Rome meanwhile ''still'' manages to look badass in centurion armor.
** America meanwhile still tends to wear his WorldWarII bomber jacket well into the present.
* Inverted- Miaka and Yui (and presumably the other two priestesses as well) in ''FushigiYuugi'' were both dressed in their modern day school uniforms. These wouldn't stand out ordanirily, but when you consider that most of the book is set in ancient China, then you get the picture. At one point, Tamahome plucks at Miaka's bra strap and says 'What's this?' Miaka's reaction is to call him a pervert and give him an upper-cut.
** Also when Tamahome [[spoiler:is in modern day Tokyo]], everybody stares at him as he's in his battle armour, trying to [[spoiler:get back to help Tasuki and Chichiri, after finding that Mitsukake and Hotohori have died]].
* Played with in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' with Alphonse Elric. Though he doesn't wear it by choice, Al walks around in a full suit of medieval battle armor, much to the surprise and commentary of others. Due to his naive, idealistic, chivalrous worldview and nobility (one character even envisioning him as a literal {{Prince Charming}}), the armor is surprisingly appropriate, and no one disputes that he pulls it off with considerable awesome, to the point that he is frequently mistaken for his famously talented in-universe MemeticBadass brother Ed. Of course, most people don't realize Al isn't wearing the armor, he's a disembodied soul bonded to it, and the armor is his body.
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[[folder: Comics ]]

* The Shade and the Gentleman Ghost are both {{DCU}} supervillains who dress in old fashioned finery. Justified in that both men were actually alive when these clothes were first being worn.
** Especially the Gentleman Ghost--being a ghost, he's nothing but a walking set of late-19th century finery, with top hat and monocle.
* {{Batman}}'s nemesis The Penguin has sported a tuxedo, top hat and monocle ever since his first appearance in the early 1940s, when that look was already becoming old-fashioned. (He did ditch the top hat in the 1990s, though. And tuxedoes are still perfectly acceptable attire for men in formal environments, although as society becomes increasingly more casual even they are on their way out.)
* The Hellfire Club, enemies of the ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}''.
* Minor MarvelUniverse villain Turner D. Century dressed in clothes approriate to, well, [[TheGayNineties the turn of the century]].
* On a more general level, certain commonly used items of superhero wear, such as musketeer-style boots (e. g. Captain America, Hawkeye) and flowing capes certainly apply.
* Marvel's Black Knights.
* GreenArrow's costume is patterned after the popular image of medieval hero Robin Hood.

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[[folder: Film ]]

* The yellow striped jumpsuit originally worn by Bruce Lee in ''GameOfDeath'', but used again in ''KillBill Vol 1.'' True, it's not exactly "anachronistic", but more "nostalgic" and "intimately associated with [[TheSeventies its era]]."
* Sam in ''Film/BennyAndJoon'' is first seen on a train reading a book entitled "How to Dress Like Buster Keaton". He seems to be succeeding at this. (Sam also embodies the other part of this trope, because of his odd personality and fondness for Keaton's style of comedy.)
* [[WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]] dresses in a top hat and frock coat of the sort worn in Victorian times, though somewhat more colourful and gaudy.
* WordOfGod has it that Mother Gothel of ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' was intentionally designed with clothing from approximately 400 years before the movie's time period, which hints at [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld her true nature]]...
* The wizarding world in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' films is full of this. The costume designers must have had a field day.
* In Film/TheAvengers, Steve's hair and uniform are reminiscent of the 1940s. Justified, since he was frozen in 1944 and thawed out in modern time.
* [[TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzai Buckaroo Banzai]], although commonly dressed in the height of contemporary ([[TheEighties 1980s]]) fashion, was just as likely to be be seen wearing a kimono and hakama.
* The very jarring appearance of a pair of pink Converse All-Stars during a ShoppingMontage in ''Film/MarieAntoinette''.
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[[folder: Literature ]]
* In ''[[AuntDimity Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon]]'', when Calvin Malvern describes his King Wlifrid's Faire he specifically says the point of it is to enjoy a fantasy, rather than a stickler-for-detail re-enactment. To that end, he encourages the residents to attend in costume, and lets it be known that anything vaguely like medieval- or Renaissance-era clothing will do. Lori and her neighbours quickly get in the spirit, doing library research, taking one of Sally Pyne's sewing classes, or hiring costumes from a theatrical supplier. Even Bill dons an ensemble from Calvin's stores that he calls a "cool medieval dude" outfit; Lori is particularly taken with the way he fills his tights.
* In the MercyThompson series werewolves, while immortal, will change their clothing with the clothing style to avoid becoming stuck in the past, while vampires will keep the style of the era they or their leader were turned in.

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Doctors One (Edwardian academic garb), Two (long coat and bowtie), Three (smoking jacket, ascot, and ruffled shirt with lace cuffs), Five (cricketer's costume and porkpie hat), Eight (frock coat, vest and cravat) and Eleven (tweed suit with leather elbow patches and a {{bowtie|s are cool}}).
** Doctors Four, Six and arguably Seven subverted this trope with bohemian outfits that were ''never'' in style.
** Nine and Ten avert this with, respectively, leather jacket and contemporary suits which become anachronistic to their surroundings. Nine [[ChangedMyJumper dealt with it]] in ''The Unquiet Dead,'' and they travel so much, they'll end up going somewhere where they'll be out of style.
** Although it should be noted that the Ninth Doctor actually wore a [[WorldWarTwo WW2]] German Kriegsmarine Jacket. In ''The Empty Child'', Jack openly mocks him for walking around during the Blitz dressed like a ''[[IdiotBall U-Boat Captain!]]''
** Five ''really'' mixed this up with his choice of an Edwardian-era cricketer's outfit combined with (at the time) modern-day sneakers.
* The BadassLongcoat, especially as worn in ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. Practically everyone on the show is wearing clothes from either the 1860s or the early 1990s. Or the Roman Empire, for the Companions.).
** And Jayne, who uses a [[HandCannon Lemat Revolver]], which would be a very anachronistic CoolGun in a show set today, is constantly seen in T-shirts and jeans. The best clothes to imagine having in a Western.
* Captain Jack Harkness of ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. It's more subtle than some of the other examples on this page, but he consistently dresses in 1940s style, complete with Royal Air Force greatcoat and suspenders. It's worth noting that his timeframe of origin is the ''51st'' century, so he presumably just likes the style. And when he has to wear more normal and contemporary clothing for a time in ''[[Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth Children of Earth]]'', he is NOT happy about it.
** He spends the entire time pouting until Ianto finds replacements.
** It could also be because that's the clothing he met the Doctor and Rose in.
** It has been speculated in-universe that Jack's fashion sense has a FreudianExcuse of some sort. Owen probably put it best.
--> '''Owen:''' Period military is ''not'' the dress of a [[AmbiguouslyBi straight man]]!
** In ''[[Series/TorchwoodMiracleDay Miracle Day]]'', he attracts the attention of a gay bartender with his signature greatcoat. Yes, he's wearing it while everybody is on a lookout for someone who looks like him (and he's also the only mortal man in the world).
* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'''s Cosmo Kramer wears casual clothing from rougly the [[TheSixties 60s]] and [[TheSeventies 70s]] throughout the [[TheNineties 90s]]. At one point, Kramer's regular clothes, while still casual, made it appear to office employees that he was working with them in an office with 90s formal business wear. Michael Richards, Kramer's portrayer, once rationalized this by explaining that his character developed a severe case of agoraphobia as a very young man and [[LimitedWardrobe never again went out to buy new clothes]] - [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness although this goes against many episodes where Kramer is perfectly fine with being outside]] (one episode has him walking around on a ''highway'').
* The dentist in ''Series/{{Mash}}'' loves Japan, so he wears a kimono in his spare time.
* ''KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'': The rangers wear color-coded garb from their ancient time when untransformed, and it looks pretty damn cool.
* [[WhiteCollar Neal Caffrey]] started out dressing in old-fashioned suits he got from his landlady (they belonged to her late husband, a bootlegger during TheRoaringTwenties), but later switches to modern-day suits. However, he still loves hats of that style, to the point where this allows Peter to easily track him down in a foreign country.
* [[TheUrkel Steve Urkel]]. Although his costume is less "anachronistic" and more "no one outside of a circus would ''ever'' wear that."

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[[folder: Music ]]

* When not dressed in his BadassLongcoat, DoctorSteel usually dresses in an Aristocratic neo-Victorian {{Steampunk}} style, complete with top hat. (He even has his own personal clothier!)
* {{Steampunk}} ChapHop artist ProfessorElemental usually dresses in the style of a [[VictorianBritain late 1800's]] GentlemanAdventurer: khaki shirt and shorts, with a pith helmet and SherlockHolmes pipe.
* Revo of SoundHorizon, [[SureWhyNot amused by the fact that the fandom]] [[CreatorWorship decided to crown him king]], has taken to wearing ruffled shirts, embroidered waistcoats, cravats, breeches, and other such anachronistic items almost any time he's in public -- and then there's the times [[http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1233/tumblrlx11h1ksmt1r0c5wr.jpg he decides to go all out]] with the CostumePorn...
* KingCharles, both in hair and in apparel, tries to reflect late French monarchs. Even on stage.
* Once, a singer/songwriter was asked to sing at a nightclub in Los Angeles... in a wig. The long-term result of this was stage persona PrincePoppycock, a displaced fantasy-kingdom noble in [[CostumePorn richly-colored, embroidered, and trimmed]] 18th-century costumes, elaborate wigs, and whiteface makeup.
* SteamPoweredGiraffe. They were voted "Best Costume - Group" in the 2013 Steampunk Gazette Reader's Choice Awards.

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[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

* Apparently, in the 2070s of the {{Shadowrun}} world, Steampunk is in-fashion. Not entirely this trope until you remember that a lot of the steampunk look comes from the Victorian/Edwardian fashion of the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Meaning you could have an elf walking down a Seattle street, casually chatting to a friend of his in Berlin via AugmentedReality while decked out in a fine waistcoat, top hat, boots and so-on with an assortment of clockwork mechanisms scattered here and there, maybe even an honest-to-God pocket watch just to complete the look. Oh, and a pair of goggles, naturally.

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[[folder: Video Games ]]

* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'': The Von Karma clan is very partial to the cravat; [[{{Bishonen}} Miles Edgeworth]] even has a spare with him after [[http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0gope0VlK1qb0azq.gif Kay uses it as a hanky]].
** Jack Marshall and his late brother Neil wear [[CowboyCop cowboyesque attire.]]
* Many clothes of attire in the VideoGame/{{Fallout}} series, especially more evident in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' and ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' which cover a wide range of anachronistic clothes for the post-apocalypse, ranging from trenchcoat dusters to modern-day riot gear to 1950s parkstrolling outfits.
** Especially the Caesar's Legion in ''New Vegas''. Guess what their entire group decide to wear in the 23rd century.
** Several characters in the "Mothership Zeta" DLC can, at least, be justified, as they have just been thawed out from a HumanPopsicle state, which they've been in after their abduction. This includes a CombatMedic from WorldWarThree, a genuine cowboy from the Old West, and an 18th-century samurai (whom you can't understand) in full battle armor.
* While the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series doesn't normally do this, some of the extra DLC costumes in ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Final Fantasy: Dissidia]]'' do have some strange costumes as a ShoutOut to either their own games or others. Laguna can wear a knight's armour from his temporary film role in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', Tifa can wear a cowgirl outfit from her days as a mountain guide in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', and for the sake of a cross-reference, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII Lightning]] can wear Aya Brea's 20th-century jeans and black T-shirt from ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve''.
* ''The'' major point of uniform customization in VideoGame/StarTrekOnline (assuming you're willing to spend real money). You (a 25th century Starfleet captain) can walk around in everything from the Starfleet uniform of the time to the ''Earth'' Starfleet uniform of the [[Series/StarTrekEnterprise NX-01 tour]] -- and that's just the actual uniforms, the off-duty clothing includes the option of 2''1''st century clothing.
** Even if you ''aren't'' willing to spend real money, the default clothing options includes the TNG movie-era uniform (which is at least two uniform-changes back).
** There are even two uniforms that can be acquired that in-universe invert the ''description'' of this trope while taking the anachronism one step up: ''future'' uniforms.
* VideoGame/TexMurphy in the eponymous series of games dresses as a typical noir-style detective with a trenchcoat and fedora... in a post-WorldWarThree world. However, many other characters dress in 30s and 40s styles consistent with the RaymondChandler-inspired setting.

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[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* Wil of QuestionableContent and his "several cloaks."
** Also, the Horrible Revelation, a bar that rents Victorian suits and dresses. (Which appears specifically [[AuthorAppeal because the author loves drawing them]].)
** And then, when Wil goes to interview for a job at said bar wearing a hilariously outdated suit, he's hired [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1480 on the spot]], and is seen wearing it in every subsequent appearance at work.

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In an episode of ''{{Daria}}'', Jane dates a guy who has a thing for dressing up in styles from the early half of the 1900's, and by the end she gets fed up with how seriously he takes all of it.
* The ''ScoobyDoo'' gang, overlapping with ClothesMakeTheLegend, are better remembered and mostly appearing in their late 60s outfits. Possibly this is why they came back to them in ''[[ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated Mystery Incorporated]]''. Notably, Velma is the only one who's never changed from her orange sweater/red pleated skirt/orange knee socks/red strap-on shoes combo. Shaggy's outfit, however, is probably the one that least ''needed'' alteration, although the cultural connotations of it have shifted from Surfer Due to... well, [[TheStoner something a bit less kid-friendly.]]
** Then again [[ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated Mystery Incorporated]] may take place in some kind of RetroUniverse as it seems 60s-70s style clothing is the norm for just about everyone.

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[[folder: Real Life ]]

* HelenaBonhamCarter often appears in costumes that resemble outdated fashions.
* The cravat, and possibly [[BowtiesAreCool the bowtie]] as well. It's now relegated to formal use since most people find it either too old-fashioned or for stodgy teachers/politicians. Bow ties are also notoriously difficult to tie. In an age when many men refuse to bother with even an ordinary necktie, a bow tie is simply beyond the pale. Major props to people who can actually do them up.
** it's not hard. A cravat(and ascot, for that matter) is tied in the same manner as a regular necktie(sometimes without actually knotting it), and a bowtie uses literally the same knot most people use to tie their shoes(you just have to pay closer attention to keeping things the right length, so that bow will be even.)
* In real life, Zoot Suits never truly went away, so they're not entirely anachronistic, but experienced something of a revival in the 1990s before retreating back to their urban, Black/Hispanic roots.
* Anything to do with ninjas or samurai, at any time, anywhere.
** Especially since ninja outfits were invented by someone other than actual ninjas, who dressed as peasants to blend in.
* Lampshaded, parodied, yet still works with superhero capes.
** As well as the short shorts contrasting with the tights' color (a.k.a. "underwear over the pants").
* In Japanese superhero TV shows (e.g. SuperSentai, Franchise/KamenRider) the pastel scarf replaces the cape (though three Sentai teams have used capes, and Knight and Femme from ''KamenRiderRyuki'' wore capes as well).
* A whole section could be done about this solely about hairstyles, particularly EightiesHair and the duck's ass mullet.
* Franchise/{{Zorro}} costumes are inherently cool.
* Fedora hats, which fell out of mainstream fashion before TheSixties but have lately come into vogue with the hipster crowd.
* On a similar note, thin ties.
* Creator/GKChesterton's cape and swordstick.
* [[ConspicuousTrenchcoat Trenchcoats]]. Add a fedora for good measure. Justified and no longer conspicuous if you're in the rainy season of a rainy climate.
* OfCorsetsSexy.
* Arguably the entire reason for SteamPunk fashion, though in its drive to be [[RuleOfCool awesome]], it ends up with a fair amount of AnachronismStew. It's a pastiche of roughly 1850s-1910s fashion, with a generous helping of SciFi mixed in.
* [[WaistcoatOfStyle Waistcoats]] and pocketwatches.
* Long, over-the-elbow gloves for women; often called "OperaGloves" (no prizes for guessing at what event they were worn), these were standard accessories of ladies' costume for evening wear (and often daytime wear) from the late 1880s through the late 1950s; they also showed up in the [[RegencyEngland Regency era]].
* DitaVonTeese is the walking embodiment of this trope. The lady is '''seriously''' into vintage fashions, especially those of the 1940s and 50s. And it's not just her clothes either; she furnishes her house in 1950s style right down to the appliances, and drives seriously cool vintage cars.
* TomWaits has not changed his style since he started performing in the '70's - and his style was outdatedly cool even then, as he dresses sort of like a 1930s hobo. Take [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZmqbcBsTAw&feature=related this '77 performance]], for example. The backup band is all in polyester and outrageous mustaches, and Tom looks exactly like he does today, except considerably less wrinkly and more attractive.
** Also a good example is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gwUtEEjZJ8&feature=related his stint on Fernwood Tonight]], a cheesy fake talk show from the '70s.
* {{Prince}} and The Revolution did this in TheEighties, in RummageSaleReject style. And it worked.
* National costumes from all parts of the world tend to fall into this territory and are often entirely made up in a much later period than what they are supposed to represent, as the national pride rears its head. Needless to say, they tend to be far too colourful and elaborate to have been remotely affordable [[NewerThanTheyThink before the late 19th century]].
** The [[http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/15593/img_5602.jpg Swiss Guard uniform]] looks like a cross between a clown costume and medieval hose and tunic combo.
** Exception: The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barong_Tagalog Barong Tagalog]], the Philippine National attire for men, is very regularly seen in most formal occasions and government meetings even when the attire itself predates the Philippines's discovery. [[AwesomeYetPractical It was created using thin fabrics and is a very necessary answer to the West's thick and heavy 3-piece suit because of the Philippines' hot and humid weather.]]
* TheLeagueOfSTEAM are often written about and interviewed as leading examples of steampunk style.
* [[NiceHat Fezzes.]] They were the height of fashion in 17th century Turkey; anyone who wears them nowadays is either trying to seem quirky, or just likes the style.[[note]]Or, if it's Memorial Day, they're likely a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriners Shriner]].[[/note]]
-->[[Series/DoctorWho "It's a fez, I wear a fez now, fezzes are cool."]]
** They can also be used to [[IndianaJonesAndTheFateOfAtlantis follow a person in a crowd]].
** JustifiedTrope: the Ottoman Empire once wanted to define its culture more clearly, in opposition to Europe's culture. So they picked a style of hat from Morocco, a territory they did not currently own (so they wouldn't be playing favorites), and decreed that the fez would be the official hat of the Ottoman Empire. Europeans wore them when they wanted to be decadent Orientalists. Then it got [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] in the early 20th century when Turkey suddenly no longer wanted to be Ottoman, and Ataturk made a famous speech about how rotten the fez was and why Turks wouldn't wear them any more. In short, don't wear a fez if you're in Turkey unless you want to make a very dangerous political statement.
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