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Is there a name for a trope whereby we meet one of the main characters in flashback and instead of seeing them at their "best", we see them in some clothing/hairstyle/etc that is distinctly different from how they are now? In both cases I can think of off the top of my head, there is *a* character who dresses the way the main character will dress in the future.
In my head, I'm calling it the "Sartorial Sponge" trope, but idk.
The two instances I can think of off the top of my head are: NCIS, in the S8 episode "Baltimore", where we are introduced to Tony in tube socks and jeans (?) as well as a visible shoulder holster. Compare to today, where he wears suits and ties more often than not. His partner was the one with not only the nice suits and shoes but also the movie references!
The other instance is in White Collar, the S2 episode "Forging Bonds", where we meet Vincent Adler, who is the one to introduce Neal to wearing his very nice suits that have since become synonymous with Neal's character.