Character Theory What are your thoughts on sexy clothing in RP?

Rathian Diablos

The Golden Carrot
So I find myself in a bit of a dilemma sometimes and that being sometimes I want to use sexy face claims or wear sexy outfits, but let me explain.

I do not want to wear these sexy outfits in RP because I necessarily want to make a sexual or seductive character. Yep truth us I just genuinely like some of the designs for these outfits and genuinely find them to be cute. I am the person in an MMO RPG who will dress their female character up in what would normally be considered a sexy or revealing outfit because I genuinely like the design of the outfit and think it looks super cute on her. Yet I refrain from using them in RP because I don't want to be seen, as...that girl. The one who clearly wants attention from the male role players because well...look at what she's wearing, but I genuinely just like the design and think it's cute but most of the time I feel like no one is going to believe that and avoid me or worse I will inevitably attract the creepers who believe I'm dressing my character up for unsavory purposes.

I typically avoid using them because I don't want to be a distraction or a disruption and at times when I do I usually try to come up with a reason for the clothing to explain why she's dressed like that but then it just sounds like an excuse...which it kind of is on the account I just...well I've said it several times now, you know why I like them.

So my question is this. What are your thoughts on sexy clothing in RP, what do you believe is too much? Do you believe someone can be dressed a certain way for example if I were do dress my character in this.
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Do you believe that it is possible to still have a meaningful and productive RP or not? What do you feel is too much or too little this in this case?
 
Personaly, I dont believe that sexual clotheing is a problem, provided of course the people youre roleplaying with feel the same as you do. I do believe its possible to have a meaningful roleplay reguardless of what youre character is wearing. Just one opinion anyways.
 
My thought on it is - if it fits the setting then why not? Some might find it off-putting but if they do, maybe they aren't people you want to rp with. There's nothing bad about it per se. Just do what you want to do!

You might want to consider that if the sexy clothes are impractical for what she does, give her a second outfit and have a pic for that too.
 
My thought on it is - if it fits the setting then why not? Some might find it off-putting but if they do, maybe they aren't people you want to rp with. There's nothing bad about it per se. Just do what you want to do!

You might want to consider that if the sexy clothes are impractical for what she does, give her a second outfit and have a pic for that too.
Well usually I would only ever think of doing this in settings where the practicality of one's clothes does not matter and of course would not conflict with said setting for example. I'm not going to put her in said outfit in a Game of Thrones RP or a Slice of Life School RP of Zombie Apocalypse, but I might in a Super Hero or Magical Girl RP or some other fantasy setting where it doesn't particularly matter.
 
Well, for starters, one has to take into account that what is or isn't a sexualized picture can be a rather subjective matter. What one person can't help but see as sexual, another might like you simply appreciate it for the design, or just think the character is cute, or want to use the contents without regard for the exact shape they take (for instance, wanting a character in a swimsuit and not worrying about how that worry about how much skin it may or may not leave exposed), and many other ways of taking potentially sexualied content in a stride. One might draw the line for what is or isn't sexualized at the skin shown, or categorically at any character wearing a swimsuit. Or any character that has out-of-realistic-proportions parts (like anime girls with big b**bs). Personally, I draw the line at bodily fluids and weirdly focused camera angles and textures. Take this for example:

Jack Assassin beach 2.jpg

The way I see it, this picture is a girl in a swimsuit with some sunglasses. It's a cute picture, maybe usable in some kind of beach RP or just as alternate art for fun during a beach-focused part of the RP. That's it. But I can also tell that there is a slight gap between the leg visible in the crotch area, and while I don't look at it that way I can see someone believing that bit of the crotch being exposed (not naked, if you didn't see the pic), or the fact that the girl's toes are visible means the picture is now sexualized.

As such I believe that fundamentally one's own perception of what the picture is like, their intentions with it, matter more than the actual contents when it comes to bringing something as loosely defined as "sexualized clothing" into an RP. Heck, even with full awareness, a character is flirtatious might actively choose to dress like that, and from where I stand a character that does that is still just as legitimate. That said, I also understand (and often fear myself, especially given the kind of characters I play tend to be of the ...younger persuation... ) the other side of the issue, that regardless of how things "should be", the fact is people will become umcorfotable with things even if one doesn't see them as sexualized or is able to overlook the sexualized style.

If I absolutely want to use a picture that I suspect might be thought of as sexualized, my course of action depends on the kind of roleplay I'm doing, and what I know about the group. If it's an RP where there is more to the clothing than just the fashion choice (usually by means of the culture allowing weird clothing, or there being some kind of fantastical or sci-fi-ish properties to clothing) then I just leave it as is, but if the RP is set in a more realistic setting, I will just say that the character isn't wearing what is on the picture. That said, if the group I'm working is more squirmish, then I might look for alternate art (though I typically avoid working with such people, as I hate feeling like at any point I might step on a landmine with something, be it in attempting comedy or tragedy).

The way I see it, not being able to use these pictures just because of the fashion choice would be a massive waste of good faceclaims, and as mentioned earlier even potentially character ideas.

All of this said hold true one rule if nothing else:

REMEMBER THE SITE'S PG RATING AND RULES!

Excessive nudity and outright pornographic images are against the site's rules. If it's not a picture you'd feel comfortable showing to a 13 year old, you shouldn't use it.
 
The main thing you should always take into consideration is: does it fit in with the setting?

The setting of each RP is typically a deciding factor in formulating characters, and should fit in nicely like they're part of the world, not the other way around. For instance, say we take a more fantastical DnD-esque fantasy setting. Characters are widly varied, with dozens of character classes and races and cultures. Say you create a deadly assassin who wears basically a belly dancer's outfit. You've always got to explain why. Does she wear it to distract men and take them out more easily? Or does she wear it because it's traditional wear of the culture she's from. That fits in nicely.

On the other hand, if it's a more realistic setting, a modern military RP for instance, this is where you need to draw the line. These RPs are grounded in reality, and everything has a reason to exist. Therefore, you can't have a supermodel running around in nothing more than a bikini with woodland camo and combat boots. That's totally unrealistic and frankly ridiculous.

For me, I really don't care what outfit a character wears, so long as it fits in. Outfits shouldn't influence the story at all. In fact, outfits tend to be one of the most defining traits when it comes to characters. It's your personal preference, really.

Just don't go overboard with skimpiness and have characters running around with nothing but thongs and nipple straps.

Tl;dr: Only have characters with skimpy outfits if they fit in with the setting of the RP.
 
You've always got to explain why. Does she wear it to distract men and take them out more easily? Or does she wear it because it's traditional wear of the culture she's from. That fits in nicely.

On the other hand, if it's a more realistic setting, a modern military RP for instance, this is where you need to draw the line. These RPs are grounded in reality, and everything has a reason to exist.

Pardon me, but I don't see the difference in what you're saying here? It seems like you're saying the same thing for the scenarios where you appear to want to suggest something different.

You've always got to explain why.
everything has a reason to exist.

May I ask you to clarify the difference between the attitude in "less realistic" and "more realistic" settings for you?
 
What I'm saying is that fantasy settings are less grounded in reality. This generally allows players more freedom with what they can come up with, and gives them more excuses as well.

Realistic settings are just that: settings that are grounded in reality. The rules of the universe are typically more clear. I'd say that players tend to be more limited in this way. It's more to do with how realism takes a higher priority than the former.
 
Going to agree with everyone else that it depends on the setting and the type of character.

I also think it's worth mentioning that using a sexy faceclaim doesn't mean they have to be wearing that outfit in the actual roleplay.
Just as an example... this is my character, Astraea and her official reference (artwork also purchased by me)
astraea_by_ashwynne_dbn69mb.png
But, in reality, she's an incredibly gritty character (classic tsundere, actually xD) and this outfit doesn't fit the setting OR the character. I still use it as a reference because as far as her physical appearance, it's 100% accurate and it's really pretty artwork that I love (and paid for) so I want to use it.
What I do is also include separate outfit references that make more sense in character
Outfits:
Standard armor: worn the vast majority of the time in order to be constantly prepared for battle.
Casual wear: not a lot of opportunity to wear it these days, but something like this would be her casual attire.
This kind of lets you have a "best of both worlds" scenario where you get to use the "sexy" reference but also have clothing that's realistic to the setting and/or character.

Really, it comes down to your comfort level and what everyone else in the RP is feeling. When in doubt, just ask the group. Alternatively, in some roleplays clothing never even comes up... so whatever image you use as a reference is a bit irrelevant unless you're actively describing the outfit IC.

Idk, the more I type the more I realize how extremely situational this question is xD Technically, you can argue away most anything. If it's in a world with magic or advanced technology? She's actually fully armoured but uses magic/technology to make certain parts invisible to make enemies think she's an easier target than she is. In the majority of realistic settings? ... yeah, I don't think that would ever work, but for a good chunk of fantasy and some of the looser "realistic" ones (set in a technological future most likely) you can probably get away with it IC too.

EDIT:
I've been mulling this over some more today and to me it sounds like you have a solid handle on your usage of it (considering your clarification here within the thread). I also realized I may not have fully answered your questions so with some more thinking on the subject I'll try and concisely answer again!

1. What are your thoughts on sexy clothing in RP?
- Perfectly fine if the group has no issue with it and it suits the setting (or an alternate clothing ref is included/changed into depending on the IC situation). It should also suit the character... so if you're playing a shy girl or any character that's not particularly confident then it probably doesn't work (again, unless it's made clear that their IC clothes are actually different from the initial ref).

2. What do you believe is too much?
- Anything that violates RPN rules. Otherwise, everything is fair game as long as they fulfill the conditions of point 1.

3. Do you believe someone can be dressed a certain way for example if I were do dress my character in [OP outfit example]?
- Yes! If it fits the character, setting, and plot (or the group dynamic--as sometimes people really don't care and clothes aren't even mentioned)

4. Do you believe that it is possible to still have a meaningful and productive RP or not?
- Absolutely. If a roleplay is defined by the outfits the character is wearing then imo it's not a very good story. On the contrary, if the story is good enough then you should be able to have your character strutting about in a Lady Gaga-esque meat suit and still have a fantastic story on your hand. Comes down to the plot/writers a lot more than anything else. And I mean... if you're stuck with people who are micro-managing/intensely focused on the outfit of the character then that might not be a good group fit for you? I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't stick around with people that nitpick over what I choose to have my character wear (unless their reason is that it's immersion breaking/doesn't fit the setting).

5. What do you feel is too much or too little this in this case?
- Too much... I guess (other than not following RPN rules) would be underage characters dressed skimpily (I think someone already mentioned that though). Not sure if I can answer a 'too little' in this case. Again, clothes are one of those weird personal things that some people put a lot of focus on and others never think of at all. So, I don't really think you can go "too little," here.
 
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As a cosplayer I curse character designs sometimes XD
Those kind of sexy outfits are usually impractical. But roleplaying is fantasy, pretty much the same as games or anime where such outfits are commonly used just because they look cool / attractive etc and not because they're practical. If you're using a character in an outfit like that doesn't mean you'd need to wear it yourself.

So yeah, I agree that it's okay when it fits the setting or the character personality. But in most cases it wouldn't even be mentioned in the rp aside from the character sheet. I rarely assume that faceclaims are exact image of the character (unless it was specifically stated so). Usually it's just an image to get overall feel of a character, and if the image has a revealing outfit it may not automatically mean the character would wear exact same outfit in the rp.
 
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So everyone else has done the setting appropriate argument already so here’s my two cents

1. Just to be clear are you personally wearing these outfits in some of your games OR are these all on online characters? Because if you personally are wearing them I would definitely poll the rest of the group for their comfort level of how much skin is revealed.

2. If these are online characters I would keep it age appropriate for the group. Some people might be uncomfortable seeing images of young children running around in skimpy outfits. So I would make sure to poll the group if your dealing with underage characters.

3. I would be prepared to offer an in universe reason for the clothes. Especially if they might seem odd in context. Example if it’s raining and your character is wearing a lightweight outfit that’s likely to reveal undergarments or be cold the other characters are probably going to comment on it. (And your character might think of the discomfort too)
 
So everyone else has done the setting appropriate argument already so here’s my two cents

1. Just to be clear are you personally wearing these outfits in some of your games OR are these all on online characters? Because if you personally are wearing them I would definitely poll the rest of the group for their comfort level of how much skin is revealed.

2. If these are online characters I would keep it age appropriate for the group. Some people might be uncomfortable seeing images of young children running around in skimpy outfits. So I would make sure to poll the group if your dealing with underage characters.

3. I would be prepared to offer an in universe reason for the clothes. Especially if they might seem odd in context. Example if it’s raining and your character is wearing a lightweight outfit that’s likely to reveal undergarments or be cold the other characters are probably going to comment on it. (And your character might think of the discomfort too)
Well as I pretty clearly said I don't actually use them in RP because I don't know if they are appropriate and I don't want people to avoid me or attract creepers. I also said I don't intend to use them all the time and only do so in RP where practicality doesn't matter and fits into said world like a DC style Supero/Villian RP or a fantasy RP where again practicality doesn't matter.

Also while I realize I didn't specify, I do not have my characters running around in thongs and bikini's the worst I would have them wear is akin to the picture I have in the OP. I do not do this in all my online interactions. I will do so in MMO RPG if I think the outfit is cute.
 
I also have this kind of dilemma sometimes, one of the main reasons why I can take a long time to find a fitting faceclaims. In the end, I choose to avoid these kind of image unless I plan to play a girl that likes to show off her body. The reason was simple, for me faceclaim is not only for us the creator, but also to give other players an impression of our character. if a faceclaim has the probability to make other players think our character as bitchy while we don't really intend for her to be seen that way, then that faceclaim failed it's purpose.
 
Well as I pretty clearly said I don't actually use them in RP because I don't know if they are appropriate and I don't want people to avoid me or attract creepers. I also said I don't intend to use them all the time and only do so in RP where practicality doesn't matter and fits into said world like a DC style Supero/Villian RP or a fantasy RP where again practicality doesn't matter.

Also while I realize I didn't specify, I do not have my characters running around in thongs and bikini's the worst I would have them wear is akin to the picture I have in the OP. I do not do this in all my online interactions. I will do so in MMO RPG if I think the outfit is cute.

I see the way the OP was written I was unsure if you were talking about yourself personally or your characters.

I would actually say practicality does matter in fantasy and superhero roleplays. It’s actually a real peeve of mine when people assume that you don’t need to be practical just because there is magic or super powers.

Example : you wouldn’t see the Flash or Batman running around in a suit that showed a lot of skin because it wouldn’t be practical to their super powers/fighting styles. Whereas someone like Supergirl or Starfire showing a lot of skin is fine because the characters are largely invulnerable.

So even in a fantasy or superhero setting how your character looks has to have a reason. And you have to look at the benefits and drawbacks of their costumes. Like if they are just wearing regular clothes in a firefight what happens if they’re attacked? Do they run around naked if their clothes are damaged? Or are their clothes made of some fancy fiber so they don’t tear? I actually read a somewhat sexist (but oddly realistic) book where the invulnerable female would be forced to fight naked. Because her uniform was just regular clothes and it didn’t hold up in fire fights or superhero battles.

Now with fantasy books it’s the same thing. Unless invulnerability or some kind of shield magic is a part of the character/outfit you do have to address its practicality in fighting. Now the good news is this is something everyone else should also be worrying about so most likely there will be a group wide consensus re: why our characters clothes don’t get destroyed by magic or other super powers.

Example : I believe the thought for a lot of magical girl roleplays is the clothes are essentially magical armor/constructs that appear whenever you transform into your magic girl form. Thus they are unaffected by magic or normal wear and tear.

A lot of super suits are assumed to be made of some kind of tech that makes them compatible with the characters particular power set.

Magic you usually say it’s magical material made to be compatible with the magical abilities of the character.

So like you can explain it away without ya img to be too in depth. But it does need to be e planned in universe as something other than ( I the player thought it looked cute). Even if it’s just “The character liked the design and figured they would take their chances with lack of covering. ( assuming that might be an issue from a environmental or battle stand point ).
 
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I see the way the OP was written I was unsure if you were talking about yourself personally or your characters.

I would actually say practicality does matter in fantasy and superhero roleplays. It’s actually a real peeve of mine when people assume that you don’t need to be practical just because there is magic or super powers.

Example : you wouldn’t see the flash or Batman running around in a suit that showed a lot of skin because it wouldn’t be practical to their super powers/fighting styles. Whereas someone like Supergirl or Starfire showing a lot of skin is fine because the characters are largely invulnerable.

So even in a fantasy or superhero setting how your character looks has to have a reason. And you have to look at the benefits and drawbacks of their costumes. Like if they are just wearing regular clothes in a firefight what happens if they’re attacked? Do they run around naked if their clothes are damaged? Or are their clothes made of some fancy fiber so they don’t tear. I actually read a somewhat sexist (but oddly realistic) book where the invulnerable female would be forced to fight naked. Because her uniform was just regular clothes and it didn’t hold up I fire fights or superhero battles.

Now with fantasy books it’s the same thing. Unless invulnerability or some kind of shield magic is a part of the character/outfit you do have to address its practicality infighting. Now the good news is this is something everyone else should also be worrying about so most likely there will be a group wide consensus re: why our characters clothes don’t get destroyed by magic or other super powers.
Well again, I didn't say that it automatically doesn't matter in these kinds of RP. As I also pointed out I said I would sometimes do it in RP where it genuinely doesn't matter. When I say DC style Hero/Villian RP, I'm not just going to assume it doesn't matter, but if the tone of the RP shows it genuinely doesn't matter because no one is concerned with the practicality of the uniform then I will. I could also point out some heroes and villains that dress this way and it's not particularly practical like Black Canary who is actually one of my favorites, Zatana or Huntress.

I also said if it was Game of Thrones-style fantasy or something where it matters I wouldn't put it in there either, bit if it was a more light hearted fantasy setting or VRMMO style RP again it doesn't matter so I wouldn't put it in there. I have said I would not have them dressed this way for absolutely no reason and usually give a reason for it and I believe it should go without saying I'm not just about to put them in normal fabric if I did.

I do not mean to come off as defensive. However I feel like you are misunderstanding what I am saying.
 
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...This might just be me, but I almost never pay attention to clothing in Roleplays. Now, if I think it would add something meaningful to the experience, yes, I put thought into how my character dresses. Lower middle class working men and the rich elite have almost nothing in common, and what a person wears can say a lot about who they are.

But I'd say about 9 times out of 10 I never even notice clothing. It's just a detail.

I don't automatically default "revealing" clothing to someone who sleeps around, but that's probably because I never even notice... That, or it's my Asexuality. Maybe both.
 
Well again, I didn't say that it automatically doesn't matter in these kinds of RP. As I also pointed out I said I would sometimes do it in RP where it genuinely doesn't matter. When I say DC style Hero/Villian RP, I'm not just going to assume it doesn't matter, but if the tone of the RP shows it genuinely doesn't matter because no one is concerned with the practicality of the uniform then I will. I could also point out some heroes and villains that dress this way and it's not particularly practical like Black Canary who is actually one of my favorites, Zatana or Huntress.

I also said if it was Game of Thrones-style fantasy or something where it matters I wouldn't put it in there either, bit if it was a more light hearted fantasy setting or VRMMO style RP again it doesn't matter so I wouldn't put it in there. I have said I would not have them dressed this way for absolutely no reason and usually give a reason for it and I believe it should go without saying I'm not just about to put them in normal fabric if I did.

I do not mean to come off as defensive. However I feel like you are misunderstanding what I am saying.

I think we’re using different definitions is all. To me practical just means there is a in universe explanation for the garment. I am looking for internal consistency which everyone else already went over.


I was just using specific examples of changing environment while other people were talking in generalities.

For instance exposed skin is going to get cold when the weather is cold. But a lot of times people forget those kinds of small details about their characters clothing.

And this goes for any outfit btw not just a revealing one. But a lot of times people focus more on the “well it looks cool and it’s made of blah materials” and forget things like. Well is it water proof? Does my character feel changes in temperature? Etc.

That was what my point on practicality was about. Just remember small details as well as big ones.
 
truth us I just genuinely like some of the designs for these outfits and genuinely find them to be cute
That's all that matters, mate.

Wearing sexy clothes in real life, for example, is not as much a sexual innuendo, than it is an attempt of whether being or coming off more confident. It is especially well seen in- or explained by women in stockings. Maybe men too, idk. Thing is, while stockings is a sexually seductive wear, it is so much than that. All too often when my ex-wife wore them, even under a pair of pants or shorts, even her walk changed, as she became more confident knowing she freely wears something most people would think of as obscene. She's just that cool, she thought. And asking around confirmed that, at least among my circle of acquaintances.The woman overall was a surprising showcase of dressing sexy without a desire to send sexual signals. She really, genuinely liked looking like that.

That also might be a thing of adulthood for many introverted people. Not dressing to impress, but putting on what you like, and you want. Of course, RPs are not real life, but they often imitate it well enough to look back at what people are beyond make belief texts and plots. I know I dress what all too many men would consider too sexually seductive (as much as it is possible for a dude), but that's not the goal. I wear that, because I like that; because I like not wearing greasy old sweatshirts and fedoras, but something fancy and pretty. I have certain visual standards put up for myself, and as a creature of habit enjoy following them all too much.

I don't mind sexy clothes in RPs when it makes sense. Like, chain mail bikinis wouldn't male a lot of sense in battle, but would make a lot of sense among dancers or actors. In real life, though, in a modern setting, outside absolutely chauvinistic countries, pretty much any outfit goes. Beyond that, RPs are supposed to be fun. I don't think that wearing something low-cut in a game would influence it too much or ruin the experience for your partner, so why hold back? This is a world of endless possibilities limited only by your imagination: why waste it by holding back on something as minuscule as clothes?
 
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Just gonna add that if you do choose to use a FC with "sexy clothing" please put the image in a spoiler or something.

Sincerely, everyone who've browsed this site during work.
 

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