Silence is Golden ☆ Gilded Surfaces ☆ Silver and Gold
Silver Leaf ☆ Gold Leaf ☆ Fool's Gold

Deconstructing the Clothes

The Dark-Colored Turtleneck:

The choice of the turtleneck could be from the concept of masculinity. In the book Seeing Through Clothes by Anne Hollander the following is said about the black turtleneck look:

"A black turtleneck on a man was supposed to indicate the kind of freedom from sartorial convention demanded by deep thought or pure creation (usually poetic) -- with overtones, always carried by masculine black clothes, of both wanderings and sacerdotal zeal. There was at this date (circa 1948-50) a good deal of power in the startling look of a tight black sweater rising high around the chin and neck. It threw the face into sharp relief, all the greater for being unrelieved by the customary intervening area of white shirt, so well established as the proper accompaniment to black clothes for men. It looked both austere and (because it was only a sweater) informal, and it made everyone who wore it look peculiarly interesting. After the Second World War it had new connotations (see Jean Gabin and Humphrey Bogart) of seafaring, which suited the new version of the uncommitted, wandering fatal man. This mode had more currency for young women than for men among actual serious students--even the bohemians in the Ivy League stayed with the old tweed conventions. But in the light of later developments in anti-fashion, which came to be called counterculture, the high-neck, black-knit Intellectual Mode can be seen as the herald of the most significant changes in popular clothing in the twentieth century (V.53, 54)."

I can see much of Trowa in that. He is not the sort to follow the rules of others but what he considers the right path. He has always been known to be a wanderer. The black color is identified with masculinity and thus physical strength. It gives a look of seriousness and that of the ordinary at the same time, which works for his two modes from a fighting soldier to a perfect infiltrator or mere civilian.

The note on the "uncommitted, wandering fatal man" sounded like Trowa and many of the other Gundam Pilots, especially in the beginning of the television series. While the last part gave greater indication to women, Trowa is indeed intellectual. He is sharp, observant, tactical and philosophical. So far, the turtleneck seems to fit him well in more ways than just the physical.

Even more black has always been associated with mystery. In the past, white always represented the good guy and black the bad guy. As time progressed though, the good guy has been seen in black to give him a mysterious air. Mystery is one of Trowa's key words when it comes to fans.



The Light-Colored Jeans:

Trowa's jeans are light colored and tight. Tight jeans can emphasize the lower part of the body. Trowa is skinny as it is, perhaps the jeans help his thighs appear a bit larger. If his shoulders are at all as broad as they appear in the Endlezz Waltz OVAs/Movie, then it makes sense. The dark turtleneck and the pale jeans can even his profile out into an up and down, long and lean appearance.

If Trowa has anything it is upper body strength. Black and colors as dark as it can slender the body. White meanwhile draws more attention. If he is more top heavy due to muscle build, then the combination makes him look more balanced.

While the illusion of up and down slenderness can give off the idea of him being scrawny, it also hides the power behind his upper body and the true agility of his legs. Thus, perhaps there is a bit of thought put into his clothing style and color combination there.

The only thing that lacks a bit of sense is the lacking freedom of movement. Trowa is a very active as well as acrobatic guy. How he manages to do his triple axel aerial flip in them without cutting himself in half or breaking a seam is beyond me. Perhaps he's even skinner than his jeans...



The Gray Zipper Shoes:

While his shoes seem to be a rather odd choice as well as lacking in style, they are overall practical. Trowa is a busy young man. With a cover as a circus clown and sudden missions, the shoes seem perfect for quick changing. With the zipper style taking his shoes off is a smooth and simple movement compared to untying and retying shoe laces. At the same time, there are no laces to come undone and thus no burden of having to stop and retie them or having them get caught on anything. They really do seem to suit Trowa's life style if anything.




Sources:
Seeing Through Clothes
By Anne Hollander
Edition: reprint, illustrated
Published by University of California Press, 1993
ISBN 0520082311, 9780520082311
504 pages



☆ Main Page
☆ Silver Leaf
☆ Trowa's Fashion Sense