The Versatility of Belts

When thinking of my key item, I immediately thought about something that can add value from not only a gameplay perspective,  but from an aesthetic one as well. I wanted to create something that didn't compromise fashion for functionality.  When taking these aims into consideration, my mind immediately went to belts.  I thought about how belts can be used for violence, as well as for fashion. For example, Jessica from Dragon Quest 8 (lower right) uses whips as her weapon class. A belt and a whip are interchangeable when it comes to function, but belts have the added bonus of being easily wearable.  I thought about Bayonetta, and how her guns double as the heels of her shoes.  Obviously a belt would serve as a great weapon, but I want to think bigger than that. I thought about the ways I would style the belt so that it would make sense in the context of the world I wanted to build. If the game was campy and whimsical, maybe it would be oversized and ridiculous like the belt scarf from the Moschino 2023 pre-fall collection (upper left). If it was more steampunk, it could be edgier in tone like Lulu's belt dress in Final Fantasy X (upper left), or Paynes outfit in Final Fantasy X-2 (upper left).   

One thing I enjoyed about thinking about fashion and design in gaming is that practicality isn't the priority because real people aren't wearing the clothes. The Diesel belt skirt (lower left), for example, was controversial because it is basically impossible to sit in.  In contrast, my item can be as fantastical as possible. I want to go big with the concept. 

My final concept: I want to make a sentient belt that is worn on a female characters waist, and on a male characters pectorals. I want to make this distinction because its time to even the playing field and have male characters be sexualized like female characters often are. Having the female characters item be around the waist would give her outfit a cinched look which would amplify her figure.  Belts like the Loewe Anagram Cut Out Belt (lower left) and the Iris Van Herpen Sensory Seas Belt (lower center) are great examples of this. In Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw used an Hermes belt to feminize her partners dress shirt. The oversized shirt with the belt around the waist adds a conventionally feminine shape.  Having the belt be wrapped around the male characters pecs conjures up homoerotic imagery, but also doubles as commentary on the censorship of  breasts that are considered female.  Kuja from Final Fantasy IX  (upper left) is a great example of this. His design is very revealing and queer coded, which is what I want to aim for. When the belt is used, it comes off the characters body and attacks with snake-like movements. It would also morph into being oversized. When the attack is done, it would jump in the air and turn back to its normal size before going back on the characters body. It would be similar to a Pokemon returning back to its Pokeball. 

Lulu- Final Fantasy X

Moschino Pre-Fall23 scarf belt

Prada x Final Fantasy SS12

Payne- Final Fantasy X-2

Kuja- Final Fantasy IX

Diesel Silver B-Berny Miniskirt

Loewe Anagram Cut Out Belt

Iris Van Herpen Sensory Seas Belt

Jessica- Dragon Quest VIII

Carrie Bradshaw- Sex and the City