History Main / ClothesMakeTheLegend

* The entire concept of the LegacyCharacter owes a lot to this trope. It's easy for any random guy off the street to claim he's [[MemeticMutation Chuck Norris]], but even if he ''is'' a total {{Badass}}, no one will be taking him seriously. Even if Chuck designated him as his official successor. Put him in Batman's suit and have him be the new Batman, and [[BatmanBeyond that's another story...]]

* DC Comic's "New 52" (a continuity reboot following Flashpoint designed to attract new readers and de-tangle some long running books) became a war-zone on a lot of forums with this trope as the battlecry among 'conservative' readers who saw issues with changes to core elements of some costumes, arguing that they were iconic.

** A huge amount of discussion erupted over the idea of Wonder Woman wearing tight pants, though the idea had been done in the past (such as in Odyssey). As with Aquaman, a more classic costume was chosen.

* [[TheLegendOfZelda Link's]] green cap and tunic. A particularly notable example as ever since the first game in the timeline, Skyward Sword, the green tunic and floppy hat gradually become known as the garb of the hero of legend-- sometimes this is the reason that Link wears it, but at other times there are extraneous reasons that the boy who will become Hero is by chance wearing green:
** In ''TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', chronologically the [[strike:second]] fourth game in the main story, Link was raised among the Kokiri, where all the boys wore green caps and tunics.
** By ''TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', the legend of the ''Ocarina'' Link has spread, and it's now traditional for boys to wear green on a certain birthday as a sign of coming-of-age. It just so happens that on ''this'' Link's birthday, his sister was kidnapped...
** ''TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'', the second game chronologically, has no explanation for the tunic, but Link meets a [[NiceHat talking green cap]] who serves as the game's ExpositionFairy. At the end of the game, [[spoiler:as the restored-to-true-form Picori wizard departs]], he leaves Link a replacement cap similar to the ones worn by other Links.

* Although the colors have changed, [[SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] still have their cap and overalls, although the colors weren't really finalized until ''SuperMarioWorld'' (when the color palette was large enough to properly show it).

* Since the actual ''TeenTitans'' comics were not well known outside of the comic fandom, but the cartoon series was a huge hit with the general public, Starfire's animated continuity costume is now often cited by those who don't know otherwise to be her core outfit, going so far as to lament the "changes" made to it in DC's current comic lineup (though to be fair, her costume is different in the newest line than it was in either the older comics OR the cartoon show).

* [[ClassicDisneyShorts Mickey Mouse]] just doesn't have that same iconic status without the red shorts and yellow shoes. Same goes for DonaldDuck and Goofy and their respective wardrobes. Even their outfits in ''KingdomHearts'' are still based on their classic looks. Mickey still has the red shorts and big yellow shoes. Donald's shirt is still blue and has a (modified) sailor collar. Goofy still has a tall hat and a vest over a turtleneck.
** Ironically, Mickey's outfit, while ubiquitous in comic books and merchandise, was actually not worn for much of his film career. The cartoons made between 1942 and 1953 have him wearing more contemporary clothes, not wearing the red shorts on the big screen until the 1995 short ''Runaway Brain''. Furthermore, some of his more iconic roles (the Sorcerer's Apprentice in ''{{Fantasia}}'', ''BraveLittleTailor'', and others) have him wearing some other uniform (although the Apprentice costume is nearly as iconic as the shorts).
** It is much less ubiquitous in comic books than you think. Ever since Floyd Gottfredson, the ''first'' guy to seriously write Mickey Mouse strips, Mickey has been shown wearing just regular clothes in comics. (Gottfredson started a trend where Mickey is just a regular action comic hero who happens to be a FunnyAnimal). The original outfit is generally acknowledged by making his standard outfit red trousers and a white shirt, with whatever other clothes fitting the occasion (he generally wears a green baseball cap outdoors when casual, a BadassLongcoat and fedora outdoors when formal, etc.). When he started wearing the original shorts in recent European-sold Disney comics, fans cried DorkAge.

* Perhaps it's because he's a Mack truck, but [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]] is always red-and-blue, with the truck's windshield acting has his pectorals. Except for [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Optimus Primal]], of course. Likewise, it's quite common for Megatron to either have some sort of Fusion Cannon or other type of weapon on his right arm, or a strangely bucket-shaped helmet.[[LegacyCharacter Other examples exist in the Transformers francise]], such as Rodimus Prime (always red-with-orange, with flame decals on his chest and large spoilers for his alt-mode) or [[TheFaceless Shockwave]] (a black plate with a single red LED light for a face), a yellow TheBumblebee or Cheetor, etc.

* Dark blue and light blue spandex, both in about equal measure. An ArmCannon. Usually a helmet. No mater how much time passes, that is the default equipment for all who hold the name ''Game/MegaMan''.
** Expect for those in ''MegaManZX'' series, where only the bearer of a pure Model X has that scheme, with protagonists bearing a mix of [[MegaManZero Zero]] and [[MegaManX X]] outfits.

* [[JojosBizarreAdventure Jotaro Kujo]]'s tattered cap and school uniform. After he loses his school jacket in the fight with ZZ, he has a tailor make an identical one.

* Although the colors have changed, [[SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] still have their cap and overalls.
** Peach's pink dress, from the second game onward.
** According to her official art, she's always had that pink dress, with the same classic version design too.

* [[TheLegendOfZelda Link's]] green cap and tunic. Particularly noticeable because "Link" is actually a LegacyCharacter, and games that introduce a new Link have tried to come up with reasons for the guy to wear them:

* On ''Series/DoctorWho'', each incarnation of the Doctor generally spent most of their screen time in one distinct outfit, sometimes (in the John Nathan-Turner era) static, sometimes variations on a theme; the Fourth's floppy hat and scarf is especially iconic.

* Mages in FinalFantasy all have {{Nice Hat}}s, except the white mages, which almost always have nice hoods.

* MetalGearSolid: Snake's dark blue stealth suit and bandana.

* Most the {{Disney Princess}}es have one of their {{Pimped Out Dress}}es show up on the majority of their merchandise.
** Ariel is an exception because she is either shown in her [[PrincessesPreferPink pink dinner dress]] or her SeashellBra.

* ''KimPossible'' and her black shirt, gloves, and cargo pants. For some, it was jarring when she got a new uniform in season four. Little of the prodigious amounts of FanArt featuring her dresses her in the new outfit. (Even leaving aside those that don't put her [[RuleThirtyFour in any outfit]].)
* Characters in {{Daria}} all have a signature outfit. Lampshaded in one episode when Daria looks through her closet to "decide" what to wear. Her closet contains 3 sets of the same green jacket, brown shirt, and black skirt...and nothing else.

* Since the actual TeenTitans comics were not well known outside of the comic fandom, but the cartoon series was a huge hit with the general public, Starfire's animated continuity costume is now often cited by those who don't know otherwise to be her core outfit, going so far as to lament the "changes" made to it in DC's current comic lineup (though to be fair, her costume is different in the newest line than it was in either the older comics OR the cartoon show).

** According to her official art she's always had that pink dress, with the same classic version design too.

** In ''Ocarina of Time'', chronologically the [[strike:second]] fourth game in the main story, Link was raised among the Kokiri, where all the boys wore green caps and tunics.
** By ''The Wind Waker'', the legend of the ''Ocarina'' Link has spread, and it's now traditional for boys to wear green on a certain birthday as a sign of coming-of-age. It just so happens that on ''this'' Link's birthday, his sister was kidnapped...
** ''The Minish Cap'', the second game chronologically, has no explanation for the tunic, but Link meets a talking green cap who serves as the game's ExpositionFairy. At the end of the game, [[spoiler:as the restored-to-true-form Picori wizard departs]], he leaves Link a replacement cap similar to the ones worn by other Links.
** In ''Twilight Princess'', the clothes seem to have become somehow intrinsically linked to the bearer of the Triforce of Courage. The Link of that game only starts wearing those clothes because when he was restored from his wolf-form for the first time, they appeared on him in place of his work clothes. The Light Spirit who restored him indicated this as a sign that he was TheChosenOne.
** ''Spirit Tracks'' takes a slightly different approach, in that the cap and tunic have become the uniform for the royal guard (presumably in honor of the ''Wind Waker'' Link that helped found this kingdom). This game's Link starts wearing them when he has to dress up as a guard to sneak Zelda out of the castle.
** Prequel ''Skyward Sword'' again has it as a preexisting uniform, this time for the Skyloft Knight Academy. Though in this case, it comes in multiple colors to note which year the students are in (but Link's year is of course green).

** Much longer than that -- Goku has been wearing an orange Kame school gi since about episode 20 of the original series, when Kamesennin gave him his first one.

** In ''Ocarina of Time'', chronologically the second game in the main story, Link was raised among the Kokiri, where all the boys wore green caps and tunics.

** ''The Minish Cap'' has no explanation for the tunic, but Link meets a talking green cap who serves as the game's ExpositionFairy. At the end of the game, [[spoiler:as the restored-to-true-form Picori wizard departs]], he leaves Link a replacement cap similar to the ones worn by other Links.

Another way to fit this trope is if the costume gets some changes, but still retains the basic form, as with a FrillyUpgrade.

Another way to fit this trope is if the costume gets some changes, but still retains the basic form, as with FrillsOfJustice or some {{Pimped Out Dress}}es.

** Ironically, Mickey's outfit, while ubiquitous in comic books and merchandise, was actually not worn for much of his film career. The cartoons made between 1942 and 1953 have him wearing more contemporary clothes, not wearing the red shorts on the big screen until the 1995 short ''Runaway Brain''. Furthermore, some of his more iconic roles (the Sorcerer's Apprentice in ''{{Fantasia}}'', ''TheBraveLittleTailor'', and others) have him wearing some other uniform (although the Apprentice costume is nearly as iconic as the shorts).

** And note that ''Metroid Fusion'' replaced it with a sleeker suit that was ''blue''/yellow by default... which hasn't been seen since, as every game since then has been a prequel. (To be fair, [[MetroidPrime some of those games]] have done their own meddling with the suit via powerups, but it's always returned to normal by the end.)

* Mai Shiranui, from ''FatalFury'' and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' suffers from this, mainly due to her status as MsFanservice in both games. They attempted a change of outfit in the ''FatalFury'' series, but it only lasted two games and she returned to a variation of her original outfit after that. In ''TheKingOfFighters'' only minor changes were ever made to her clothing, and only in the ''Maximum Impact'' she get to wear different ''alternate'' outfits, which are still heavily based on her traditional one.

* Perhaps it's because he's a Mack truck, but [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]] is always red-and-blue, with the truck's windshield acting has his pectorals. Except for [[BeastWars Optimus Primal]], of course. Likewise, it's quite common for Megatron to either have some sort of Fusion Cannon or other type of weapon on his right arm, or a strangely bucket-shaped helmet.[[LegacyCharacter Other examples exist in the Transformers francise]], such as Rodimus Prime (always red-with-orange, with flame decals on his chest and large spoilers for his alt-mode) or [[TheFaceless Shockwave]] (a black plate with a single red LED light for a face), a yellow TheBumblebee or Cheetor, etc.

** Amusingly, in the No Man's Land storyline, Huntress masqueraded as the Batman in the same way as the Phantom's sister. A Lampshade was hung when a bystander comments on how he always thought that 'the Bat' was a guy, only to be fooled into thinking that Batman was ALWAYS Batwoman because "If you were a big tough guy who got beat by a girl, would you admit it? Or would you say it was a huge hulking giant with fangs and claws that took you down?"
** Also [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during the "Knightfall"/"Knightquest" arc when Bruce is replaced by Jean-Paul Valley, whose methods take a turn towards uncharacteristic brutality and Commissioner Gordon expresses suspicions that it may be a different "Batman"; the character he's discussing this with points out that it's a bit naive to assume there's only ''been'' one Batman up to that point.

* ThePhantom is not only iconic for his costume, but it also helps him maintain his "invincible, immortal hero" ruse; when the Phantom dies, his son takes over both title and costume, so the villains think ''it's the same man''.

** This works so well that when one Phantom was incapacitated and his sister had to cover for him, people not informed thought it was still him. Despite the, er, fairly apparent differences in height and waist. Oh, and having ''breasts''.

* Aquaman has traditionally kept with his orange and green combo. For a while he went to an entirely diffrent outfit of white and sea colors in a chaotic pattern meant to invoke the sea. Sword of Atlantis Aquaman lost his shirt, much to many fangirl's enjoyment.