Cerulean garb is flowing and clean, reflecting the refined and controlled nature of the Cerulean people. Their clothes and cloaks, the chiton, peplos, and signature himation, are unique to the League, and they enjoy having a style that is so distinctively their own. Their outfits are remarkably simple in construction, but the details and subtle color combinations are what make them really come together.
Cerulean clothes are well-adapted for the warm and arid weather of the Isles, but they struggle sometimes when forced to deal with colder weather. Cerulean Veilwalkers are encouraged to bring heavier clothes and cloaks, just in case their adventures through the Godscore Gate take them to areas in the northern reaches of the Continent.
Mediterranean, Natural, Pastoral, Nautical, Bright, Flowing, Simple, Cool, Elegant, Refined, Clean, Logical
Historical Ancient and Classical Greece, with medieval innovations and practical considerations (eg pants, boots, and shoes). Rare touches of Japanese traditions and aesthetic in iconography and jewelry. Fantastical versions of Ancient and Classical Greece such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey.
<aside> 🇬🇷 Please note that, while many garments in the Cerulean brief and its general aesthetic are based on historical Greek garments and appearance, the Cerulean brief is not a historical one. It is its own fictional entity, a fantasy nation and culture that is inspired by Ancient Greece, not a strict recreation of that period.
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https://www.pinterest.com/veilguardlarp/cerulean-league/ (a Pinterest board for garb and aesthetic inspiration.)
Cerulean garb is dominated almost exclusively by cool colors and white or undyed fabric. Greens, blues, aquamarines, and grays are the primary colors of choice for fabric, though many prefer the stark simplicity of bleached white cloth. Golds and yellows are also used frequently in clothing, though primarily as accent colors rather than as the primary color of a garment.
You can refer to this page (Cerulean Color Swatches) or the color block above for a visual reference to the Cerulean color palette.
Linen is by far the preferred material for base layers, though cotton has begun to be adopted as an alternative with the increase in imports of it from Vauldan and Aurendale. Wool is frequently used for cloaks and himatia, though fine linen can be used for these as well if the weather is particularly warm.
Leather is almost exclusively used for either armor or accessories such as belts and scabbards, and is very rarely used in crafting items of clothing. Fur is used in the crafting of accessories such as pouches or purses, but almost never in clothing, even as a decoration.
A Cerulean outfit generally consists of a base layer and a cloak or sash. If the weather is cold, Ceruleans tend to add more clothing on top of their base layer, wear an extra cloak, wear a larger and/or thicker cloak, or any combination of the three.
The base layers of a Cerulean outfit are a tunic and a pair of loose pants or shorts. Femme-presenting Ceruleans may make do with a long tunic or peplos (see below) without any pants.
A “tunic” for Ceruleans can sometimes be a garment that others on the Continent would recognize as a tunic in its construction. More often, however, they are the traditional Cerulean garments of a chiton or peplos, which are made by stitching together a large tube of fabric, pinning one end of the tube over the shoulders and/or arms, and then wrapping a belt around the waist to form a very loose and flowing garment. A chiton goes down to mid-thigh or just above the knees, while a peplos goes down to mid-calf or the ankles and often has a folded-down panel of fabric at the top of it.
Cloaks worn by Ceruleans fall under two general categories, the chlamys and the himation. A chlamys is a classic square or rectangular cloak the size of a small blanket, worn pinned around the shoulders. A himation is a larger piece of fabric, worn wrapped over one shoulder, under the opposite arm, and then pinned in place at the shoulder. If you are creating a chlamys, ensure that the only decoration on it is along the border, as Vauldan characters may also wear a chlamys with a tablion decorating it and it’s important to keep the two nations’ garb clearly distinguished from one another.
Ceruleans have a particular style of hat, the petasos, which they wear when they are outdoors and in need of shade. They are relatively flat, with a rounded top and wide brim, and are often fashioned of straw, reeds, or felted wool, and kept on the head via a chin strap or (if the wearer has long enough hair) a hair pin.
Cerulean clothing usually has minimal patterning or ornamentation outside of its trim and borders. The edges and hems of a garment often feature a repeating geometric, organic, or nautical pattern, such as the Greek Key/Meander or a pattern of leaves, vines, or waves.
The signature garment of the League is not a singular garment so much as the style of wearing a garment over one shoulder that wraps around the body and under the opposite arm. This can be done in a number of ways:
Footwear in the League is dominated by leather sandals, which are frequently laced up the leg, sometimes all the way up to the knee. Some Ceruleans prefer to wear short-topped shoes or boots fashioned of leather, which keep sand and dirt from getting in and abrading the foot but retain water and can cause problems that way.
<aside> 👣 Remember, your footwear is a critical piece of safety and/or medical equipment. Sandals aren’t a safe or comfortable fit for everyone; if the footwear described here doesn’t work for you, find an alternative that will work for a multi-day event and that won’t cause you pain or injury. Don’t worry about whether it fits the brief, focus on taking care of yourself and making sure you’ll be able to enjoy the game.
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Parasols (similar in construction to a Japanese wagasa) are common accessories, and are used by all genders to guard against the sun. They are frequently brightly colored, and decorated with either a naturalistic scene in contrasting paints or the crest of the bearer’s Schola.
Many Ceruleans carry satchels or purses underneath their cloaks, as chitons and peplos almost never have pockets. These can be as decorated and functional as the bearer desires. Their straps or closure frequently feature some sort of embroidery or beadwork to personalize them.
Jewelry is fashioned of either gold, silver, bronze, copper, or polished wood. Gold and silver are usually worn by those who don’t have to worry about damage to their adornments, while bronze and copper are preferred by warriors and those who do a lot of physical labor. Wooden jewelry and adornments are commonly worn by those who follow Druathos, and anyone who deals with nature frequently. These material choices arise out of a general sense for utility and personal taste, rather than being the result of any kind of class- or wealth-based distinction. Beads are fashioned of glass, shell, coral, metal, and wood. Gemstones are valued for their appearance, but they’re not as highly prized in Cerulean culture as they are in others; Ceruleans will value a well-shaped and highly-detailed piece without any gemstones over a plainer one featuring what are (in their eyes) ultimately just particularly rare and pretty rocks.
Cerulean jewelry tends to focus on pins, brooches, circlets, and pectorals. Rings are kept minimalist, simple bands of metal or wood. Necklaces are either amulets bearing iconography important to the wearer on a simple cord, or are cords strung with patterns of colorful beads. Earrings are frequently chosen to complement other pieces of jewelry in an ensemble; they’re usually simple stud or small dangles, and are never the focal point of the jewelry in an outfit.
Cloak pins and brooches are the first pieces that most Ceruleans go to for extravagant jewelry, as they are frequently the focal point of a Cerulean’s outfit, and they tend to feature geometric patterns or nature motifs in fine detail. There’s a custom of wearing specific colors of brooch to represent the wearer’s mood for the day — green for serenity, blue for curiosity, red for aggravation and anger, yellow for purpose and impatience, etc. These “mood clasps” are changed out as needed, when a person’s mood changes and the circumstances allow.
The pins used to hold up a chiton or peplos are usually much simpler in form but matching the same general aesthetic as the brooch holding the himation or chlamys. They’re also almost always fashioned of a relatively cheap and sturdy metal such as copper, bronze, or steel, even if the “primary” cloak pin is made of silver, gold, or Mythril.
For those with long hair, hair pins are another means of self-expression. Many choose to wear hair pins featuring animals or plants, and some fill their hair with enough little ornaments to make it look like they have a whole menagerie of tiny creatures in their hair.
Metal circlets in organic shapes and designs (laurel leaves, vines, branches, etc.) are part of Cerulean formal wear, with the complexity of the design generally increasing along with the seniority of the wearer in their Schola or the League’s government or military. These are frequently given to an individual by their Schola or employer as a sign of respect and appreciation for their work and achievements.
Pectorals are large metallic or beadwork plaques that are worn around the neck, resting on the upper chest (hence the name). These often feature symbology significant to the wearer and their position in the League, and are almost exclusively worn by figures of importance within the League’s governmental bodies or the churches of the Five Gods.