Final Fantasy 10 is the ultimate ’90s time capsule

polygon.com:

The worlds of Final Fantasy and fashion have crossed paths many times over the years, at times in ambitious mainstream collaborations. As we approach the 16th mainline entry in a franchise boasting gorgeous art, colors, and designs, though, one entry’s fashion statement stands above the rest. Final Fantasy 10 is not only filled with bold designs — it’s a time capsule mashup of ’90s flair.

Video Game Fashion Week is Polygon’s attempt at covering the fun, silly, and highly important world of character style.

Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, the 10th entry didn’t simply offer new looks based on what the developers knew of design and history, but pulled in influences from the previous decade’s pop culture. FF10’s developers chose to borrow pieces from the real world when crafting ensembles, simultaneously grounding them in ’90s subculture fashion aesthetics while making each wardrobe layered and expressive. It’s a choice that has earned the game staying power all these years later, letting players relate to not only the game’s characters but to their own history outside of the game.

The outfits in FF10 are a mixture of show, tell, and dazzle. Some believe they’re too outrageous for the land, harder to take seriously than the more blended looks in FF7 or FF8, but FF10 differs from the dark futures we’re used to. The game’s world, Spira, is a tropical paradise, full of all types who express themselves, joyfully or through pain. In its diverse setting, giant feathered shoulder pads and pants with one leg longer than the other meet sunglasses, leather straps, and people who look more ready to open an S&M club than fight.

This blend channels the nostalgia of the Hot Topic and Spencer Gifts stores of the ’90s. Millennials may