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[[quoteright:225:[[ComicBook/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_the_riddler_2.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:225:"RiddleMeThis... What can be smashed, played and worn?" [[labelnote:answer]]A symbol.[[/labelnote]]]]

An outfit is repeatedly and obviously decorated with one or more different symbols, signifying something important about the wearer.

Say a girl wears a floral-patterned dress. That wouldn't mean anything. But if she had a GreenThumb, that would mean the dress is fitting to her nature.

These can be made by choice of the wearer, or be RuleOfSymbolism.

This trope is TruthInTelevision, as some royalty would often wear [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia capes and robes]] with symbols adorning them.

A SubTrope of {{Motifs}}. A SuperTrope to StarSpangledSpandex.

Compare ChestInsignia, GemEncrusted, WearingAFlagOnYourHead, ColorMotif, SigilSpam.

Now there isn't a hard minimum to count, but '''it has to be more than just one or two instances of the symbol on the outfit''', even if they are large. One or two does not make a motif.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/AChannel'': Sato-sensei's [[GoofySuit goofy]] [[IconicOutfit marijuana leaf print shirt]] is his trademark.
* The King and Queen of Hearts in ''Anime/CodeGeass: Nunnally in Wonderland'' one-up the trope picture by a mile. Even Charles' [[MemeticMutation infamous hair]] is affected.
** ''Anime/CodeGeassAkitoTheExiled'''s "mysterious geass girl" (who is possibly [[spoiler: ''God'', or the "collective unconscious" that Charles tried to kill in R2 of ''Anime/CodeGeass'']]) has Geass symbols everywhere on her. It's on her waist, collar, legs, and even her ''haircut''. (Thanks, Creator/{{CLAMP}}.)
* ''Manga/DearBrother'': Fukiko "Miya-sama" Ichinomiya often wears a long and flowing black skirt with a red rose pattern.
* This pops up a lot in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'':
** The main villain of ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', DIO, along with his closest henchmen, have {{Wicked Heart Symbol}}s all over their clothing. Heart symbols also show up on some of the villains' Stands, most notably DIO's Stand, The World.
** By contrast, ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'' main character Josuke Higashikata has heart symbols on his clothing and Stand, along with a peace sign on his jacket lapel, that befits his kindhearted (if not somewhat brutish) personality. His best friend Okuyasu Nijimura instead has currency symbols adorning his clothing and Stand, which fits his family's ThemeNaming (they are all named after Japanese words for large numbers).
** Giorno Giovanna, the main character of ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'', has stylized ladybugs on his clothing and Stand; ladybugs are known to symbolise good luck. Other characters in the part with similar patterns include Pannacotta Fugo (who has strawberries on his tie and shoes) and Trish Una (whose choker and skirt have a pattern made up of mathematical symbols).
* Trafalgar Law of ''Manga/OnePiece'' wears the insignia of the Heart Pirates jolly roger on all of his outfits, including on his own Den-Den Mushi.
* ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'':
** In many splash pages, the characters wear clothing with a motif resembling the heart-like pattern on Sakura's feathers.
** In [[spoiler:Infinity]], some of Sakura's clothing has a queen motif, referencing her role in [[spoiler:the Chess game]].
** The clothing of [[spoiler:Valeria]] usually has a motif that looks like swirls of wind. Given Fai's wind symbolism in the series, this is probably not coincidental.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]
* Playing cards, at least the Anglo-American designs popularized by [[http://www.wopc.co.uk/blogs/kenlodge/goodall Charles Goodall from the 1850s onward]], sometimes feature the queen, king, and jack with their respective suit symbols on their clothes.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ComicBook/TheRiddler of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' often wears a green outfit with question marks all over it.
** More minor Batman foes with symbol motif costumes:
*** Doctor Zodiac wears a robe decorated with stars and moons.
*** Polka Dot Man wears a costume covered in polka dots.
*** Signalman wears a costume covered in symbols from a huge variety of disciplines.
*** The Ten-Eyed Man has multiple eyes on his costume.
*** Zodiac Master wears a costume covered with zodiac symbols.
* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': Minor Marvel villain [[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Larry_Ekler_(Earth-616) Everyman]], when disguising himself as the hero Zeitgeist, demonstrates how this trope isn't inherently aesthetically pleasing. His costume was more or less a single bodysuit covered in images of clocks.
* ComicBook/CaptainUniverse is frequently connected with the stars, and individuals with whom it bonds are usually depicted with prominent stars and constellations added to their costumes.
* Alchemist Smurf of ''ComicBook/TheSmurfs'' wears a stars-and-moon wizard hat variation of a Smurf hat.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Queen Desira's outfit repeats the modified Venus symbol (♀ with two extra horizontal lines) she wears on her crown on all of her limbs.
** ''ComicBook/SensationComicsFeaturingWonderWoman'': In "Wonder World" one of Riley's friends, who is characterized by her caring nature and support of her friends, wears a lot of hearts including a heart-shaped purse and heart bracelets.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWomanAndTheStarRiders'': This version of Franchise/WonderWoman wears her usual star adorned tiara in addition to a cape with stars, a skirt with stars, leggings with stars, a star-shaped cape clasp, and a star-shaped belt buckle.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* Empath of ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' wears a black Smurf hat and pants with white stars on it, to match the yellow star birthmark on his forehead.
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomverse'': [[Characters/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrailChloeCerise Chloe Cerise]] usually wears her school attire that has two large anchors, representing her never leaving her comfort zone. In ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'', she swaps the uniform for a white dress with the collar and waist decorated with fish, to show her change to become brand new and explore her surroundings.
* ''[[Fanfic/ALadysScout A Lady's Scout (and the Salt Within Her Soul]]'': Marinette intentionally {{Invoke|dTrope}}s this with the "parting gifts" she makes for the former temporary heroes. Each accessory or article of clothing includes a reference to the Miraculous they once trusted with, such as an orange fox embroidered on the shirt she makes for Alya, turtleshell patterning on Nino's new hoodie, or bees on a skirt for Chloé.
* ''Fanfic/TheMoonsFlashPrincess'': Kirito and Asuna combine their symbols into one: a white crescent moon over a dark sun. Asuna makes a scarf for Kirito with this symbol, and Argo gives them a pair of matching earrings in the same design.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* The most regal outfits worn by the Queen and Princess of Heart in ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsAdventureInWonderland'' have hearts adorning their [[PimpedOutDress dresses]], [[CoolCrown crowns]] and even [[PrettyInMink the ermine]] on their [[PimpedOutCape capes]].
* Several characters in ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'' wear clothing decorated with symbols that match their gifts: chameleons for [[{{Humanshifting}} Camilo]], hourglasses for [[{{Seers}} Bruno]], and so on. Mirabel, who has no gift, decorates her own clothes with her family members' symbols to symbolise her dedication to her family.
* The Wizard hat in ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'' is decorated with star and moon shapes.
* In ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'', Elsa's HappyHolidaysDress has snowflake symbols all over it, though in whole on the cape part, and in pieces on the dress part.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/{{Cinderella 2015}}'', Cinderella's ball gown has butterfly designs on the neckline, and on the toes of her glass slippers.
* Film/{{Hancock}} incorporated eagles into whatever outfit he wore, even when he was homeless.
* The mayor in ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' wore a blazer covered with boat anchors, fitting for a guy who runs the small Northeast beach town of Amity Island.
* In ''Film/{{Stardust}}'', Septimus has multiple number 7s on his outfit. In fact, each of the Stormhold princes from Primus to Septimus has their respective Roman numeral embroidered into their clothing somewhere.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Queen Amidala and her handmaidens wear elaborate costumes decorated with her majesty's private sigil.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'':
** Kelson Haldane's coat of arms features a single golden lion on a red field. His wardrobe includes a red tunic covered in tiny tiny golden Haldane lions.
** Alaric Morgan often sports his griffin crest and complains about wearing clothes in which it is incorrectly but aesthetically emblazoned.
* This is a recurring element in many books by Creator/MercedesLackey. In her ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, the Tayledras will often have a motif repeated in their clothing, usually something to do with birds or [[FeatherMotif feathers]]. Given their relationship with birds of prey, this is entirely fitting.
* The sendings at Abhorsen's House in the ''Literature/OldKingdom'' books tend to trot out surcoats checkered with symbols related to the powers of whoever they're intended for. So, for example, Sabriel gets given one patterned with the Abhorsen's silver key motif, crown princess Ellimere gets gold royal towers, Lirael gets a mix of Clayr stars and [[spoiler:Abhorsen keys]], and Sam gets [[spoiler:the Wallmakers' gold trowel]].
* Many versions of ''Literature/TheSecretGarden'' feature Mary Lennox in a costume that has a floral design on it somewhere.
* ''Literature/TheSeventhTower'': The Freefolk [[LaResistance rebels]] in the Underfolk FantasticUnderclass cover their uniforms with "F"s to distinguish themselves from the "fatalist" Underfolk who accept their lot. They don't appreciate Tal's observation that "fatalist" also starts with an F.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Each of the ''Series/DangerForce'' has a different emblem that appears on their uniforms:
** Volt: A targeting grid
** AWOL: A shadowy fist
** Shout Out: A radio tower
** Brainstorm: Arrows pointing toward a surface of ground
* When Creator/JohnNathanTurner took over production duties on ''Series/DoctorWho'' in 1980, he introduced the idea of incorporating question mark motifs into the Doctor's costume. As such, Four, Five, and Six all wore question mark collars, while Seven had a sweater adorned with a question mark pattern while wielding an umbrella with a question mark handle. The idea was that the symbols would be more favorable towards tie-in merchandise.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': The various Houses tend to SigilSpam their House symbol everywhere. When Margaery Tyrell (whose House symbol is a rose) marries into House Baratheon (whose symbol is a stag) her crown features a [[BewareTheNiceOnes rose with thorns]] [[ManipulativeBitch entwined around stag antlers]], showing how she's getting her hooks into the King. Some of Daenerys' more intricately woven garments represent the scaled hides of her family's sigil, such as her Dothraki riding top and aquamarine wrap dress.
* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': Queen Miriel often wears clothing with applications resembling fish scales and fishnets, which are references to Numenor being a maritime power.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* The Umbran Elder from ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' on her shoulders there is also a crescent moon shape, on its side so the points are facing the sky.
* Trish, Dante's long-staying partner in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'', has [[ShockAndAwe electricity-based powers]], and so her tank tops throughout the games always have a lightning bolt shape over the cleavage.
* The 3D remake of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' differentiates each character's model for a given job by adding accessories (or splashes of color) from their default outfit. Luneth, for example, typically gets either the belt-vest (or a 3x3 emblem), his turtleneck collar, and/or a splash of purple.
* In ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'', Rose Berstein's outfits have roses or feature decorative rose flower patterns. Special mention goes to her [[TrueBlueFemininity light blue dress and headband]] from ''XIII''.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', the skirt of Princess Zelda's gown is embroidered with a recurring pattern of harps -- the same style of harp that was played by her predecessor in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. It seems to have been adopted as an emblem of the royal house.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', all three of Zelda's outfits have multiple occurrences of the Triforce and the bird from the Royal Crest of Hyrule. The [[FishPeople Zora]] royalty (Dorephan, Mipha, and Sidon) also have numerous [[AccessoryWearingCartoonAnimal accessories]] depicting the three-crescent Zora emblem, with [[TheHeart Mipha's]] in particular also sporting numerous heart shapes.
* Cerebella, from ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'', is from the Cirque des Cartes, where each member of the troupe is associated with a type of card. In her case, it's the diamond suit. Her rival, Beatrix, is associated with the clubs suite and so on and forth.
** Every character actually has these in a way, usually associated with skulls. Like Filia's cufflinks, or Squiggly's corset. Yes, [[CostumePorn her cufflinks]].
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''' [[TheHighQueen Rosalina]], guardian/mother of the cosmos, has a star motif going on for her -- Her crown, earrings, wand, and brooch are star-shaped, and in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' she has glittery stars in the bottom of her gown.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'':
** Seija Kijin, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/TouhouKishinjouDoubleDealingCharacter'', has a dress with an intersecting pattern of black, white, grey, and red arrows pointing in opposite directions. Fitting, as she's an amanojaku, a {{youkai}} race of compulsive {{Commander Contrarian}}s.
** The following game, ''VideoGame/TouhouKanjudenLegacyOfLunaticKingdom'', featured Sagume Kishin, whose skirt is cut into a pattern of curved, counter-clockwise-rotated arrows. This ties into her power, which allows her to reverse any event by speaking about it. Incidentally, according to WordOfGod, Sagume is also an amanojaku, though one that massively outranks Seija.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Most plot-important characters in ''{{WebAnimation/RWBY}}'' each have an emblem that appears on their main outfit, weapons or [[StockSuperpowersIndex semblance]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', some of the ancestors' clothing is drawn with repeating patterns reminiscent of their symbol. For example, Orphaner Dualscar's symbol is the Aquarius wavy lines, and his outfit includes a lot of wavy lines.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Huckleberry}}'', superheroes often have thematically appropriate outfits, such as Morning Star's star-patterned robe. Huckleberry himself, a fruit-themed PlantPerson, has many orange fruit shapes on his costume.
* In chapter one of ''Webcomic/NeverSatisfied'', all the contestants who made it to the third round have trim with a unique pattern on it. Some characters, such as the triangle-themed Tetsu, take this farther than others.
* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': {{Magical Girl}}s each have a unique PowerTattoo called a sigil somewhere on their bodies; when a girl {{transform|ationSequence}}s, her sigil design is typically incorporated into her magical girl costume. Some examples include:
** The five girls of Team Alchemical are [[ClassicalElementsEnsemble each associated]] with one of the ClassicalElements -- [[BlowYouAway Air]], [[PlayingWithFire Fire]], [[DishingOutDirt Earth]], [[MakingASplash Water]], and [[ElementNumberFive Aether]] -- and each have that element's symbol as their sigil. All five girls have their sigil on their earrings and on the waist of their [[FrillsOfJustice frilly dresses]], and they crop up in other places, too: Alchemical Fire wears her sigil as part of her hair bows, while Alchemical Earth has a pair of gauntlets in the shape of hers.
** Heartful Punch's defining motif, as you might have guessed from her name and [[HeartBeatDown powers]], is [[HeartSymbol hearts]]. Her sigil, a pink heart with a starburst shape inside, appears on her hairclip and the soles of her boots; she also wears a heart-shaped breastplate, gauntlets, and kneepads, as well as a heart-patterned skirt. To top things off, she also has a heart-shaped ScarfOfAsskicking that emits a trail of smaller hearts behind it as it flutters through the air.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': The Media Overlord Vox wears a top hat with a bright red wifi symbol on it.
* [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicTwilightSparkle Twilight Sparkle]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' tends to be associated with stars, and most of her dresses have at least have one star.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
** [[Characters/StevenUniverseCrystalGems The Crystal Gems]], a trio of MagicalGirlWarrior protagonists, have a collaborative star theme, usually on their shirt, though Amethyst, the team's least conventional and most immature member, has them as holes in the knees of her leggings. Steven also has a yellow star on his shirt.
** Furthermore, [[Characters/StevenUniverseHomeworldGems Homeworld Gems]] all wear diamonds, with the color of the [[Characters/StevenUniverseDiamondAuthority Diamond]] representing who they work for. When [[spoiler:[[Characters/StevenUniversePeridot Peridot]]]] ends up switching sides, she wonders if she'll have to start wearing a star, and where she'd put it. The Season 5 finale reveals that she put one on each leg, one on her chest, and her TriangularShades plus her hair emulate a third one.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The FleurDeLis symbol on the robes of French royalty. Napoleon went with eagles and [[http://csdart.blogspot.com/2011/07/thursday-threads-bastille-day-edition.html bees]].
* The robes in UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia were gold with eagles embroidered on them. When UsefulNotes/CatherineTheGreat was crowned, she wore a silver dress [[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_II_by_V.Eriksen_%281778-9,_David_Coll.,_Denmark%29.jpg with the Russian gold eagles embroidered on it]].
* The royalty of Sweden decided to be blunt with their symbolism, and have crowns embroidered on their royal robes.
* Queen UsefulNotes/ElizabethI of England and her courtiers used all kinds of symbols in their clothing as jewelry or embroidery, including the Tudor Rose for the Tudor dynasty, the queen's cipher of two "E"s back-to-back, the fleur de lis for her claim to parts of France, the ermine and the sieve for her virginity[[note]]The ermine was believed to concieve and give birth through its mouth or ear without sexual intercourse, while the sieve was a reference to the vestal virgin Tuccia who carried water in a seive or basket without spilling a drop[[/note]], the pillar and imperial crown for her ambitions toward empire, the pelican for her role as head of the church and mother of her country[[note]]the mother pelican was believed to feed her chicks by pricking her breast and letting the young feed on her blood, making it a symbol of selfless love associated with Jesus[[/note]], the olive branch for the peace of her reign, and the armillary sphere representing the universe ordered according to the word of God.
* In Italy two white stars on the collar of the uniform, referencing the Star of Italy, is an easy way to recognize military personnel-or changes in status of a particular police or paramilitary unit, as shown by the police losing the stars upon going from military to civilian and UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini's ''[[BlackShirt Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale]]'' wearing fasces on the collar until the fall of his regime, at which point they were ordered to switch to stars.
[[/folder]]
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