#bedlah

[ziseviolet]

Hiya! I’ve been extremely interested in Cdrama’s as of late and the costumes! Now in some of these dramas there are dancing scenes. But I saw that not all the dancing scenes are done in chinese clothes. I saw one scene where they wore a ‘bedlah’. Can I get your input wether this is just modern aesethic or not. Thank you for your time in answering our asks!

Hi, thanks for the question!

I know what you’re referring to - in Chinese historical costume (guzhuang) dramas, you can occasionally see characters wearing bedlahs or bedlah-like outfits for dance scenes. Example below - a character wearing bedlah for a dance scene in historical Cdrama Myth of Sword (x):

Bedlahs typically show up as dance costumes in historical Cdramas for the following reasons:

To give the dance a seductive/sensual air (of course this can be achieved with Chinese clothing, but bedlahs add an additional element of mystery and/or “exoticness”) 

To suggest/signify Xiyu influence. Xiyu (西域), lit. “Western Regions”, was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to the 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of Yumen Pass, most often Central Asia or sometimes more specifically the easternmost portion of it (e.g. Altishahr or the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang), though it was sometimes used more generally to refer to other regions to the west of China as well, such as the Indian subcontinent (as in the novel Journey to the West)

For example, Tang dynasty-set Cdrama Beauties in the Closet features a bedlah dance scene, in which animal spirits disguised as women perform a dance to seduce the emperor (x). The Tang dynasty is famous for its Silk Road trade route that enabled strong relations with the empires to its west (ex: Byzantine, Persian, Arabian). The Tang capital Chang'an became an international metropolis, and foreign clothing & hairstyles became trendy. In Chang’an and Luoyang, Turkish and Persian fashions were highly sought after (x). Thus, the bedlahs in this scene serve to emphasize the seductiveness of the dance, as well as make a nod to the multicultural nature of Tang society:

Another example comes from the historical Cdrama The Great Dunhuang, which is based on the history of the oasis city of Dunhuang, which lies on the ancient Silk Road. In this scene, Meiduo, a princess from the ancient Kingdom of Khotan, dances a feitian (apsara) dance in feitian costume (x). Feitian costumes as depicted in Chinese media have similarities with bedlah, as can be seen below:

With all that said, though, the use of bedlahs in historical Cdrama costuming is still a modern aesthetic, due to the simple fact that the bedlah as we know it today is a modern 20th-century Egyptian belly dance costume influenced by European theatrical attire (1/2):

“The bedlah is essentially a Westernized creation, though not a wholly Western creation. What really cinched its iconic popularity in dance was the golden age of Egyptian Cinema in the 50s-70s, when Egyptian movies still largely cast professional dancers for dance roles. These Egyptian dancers, directors, and costumers sought inspiration from Hollywood and American culture - the bedlah is basically an Egyptianized iteration of the types of costuming that American dancers and showgirls were wearing. (Think Vegas, burlesque, cabaret, lounge and nightclub culture, in addition to movies/popular music culture.)” (Source)

Needless to say, this particular type of outfit did not even exist prior to the 1900s, much less during the Tang dynasty.

So why do they show up in historical Cdramas? As I’ve mentioned many times before (1/2/3), historical Chinese dramas tend to take a lot of liberties in their costume design. And indeed, this is one of those cases. I chalk it up to a combination of trying to appeal to modern audience’s aesthetics/expectations & lack of resources/attention. Researching & creating historically accurate outfits is a lot more difficult than slapping on a bedlah and calling it a day. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

To be fair, this misunderstanding is a worldwide phenomenon, not just a Chinese one. For example, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Disney’s depiction of Princess Jasmine in a bedlah in Aladdin played a huge role in propagating the perception that the bedlah was an actual “ancient” historic outfit. This influence is especially noticeable in the recent Chinese “Xiyu aesthetic” fashion trend. Below are two Xiyu-style outfits with the theme “Loulan Princess” (the Loulan Kingdom was an ancient kingdom based around an important oasis city along the Silk Road) (x):

The “Princess Jasmine effect” is quite strong, wouldn’t you say? :P

For culturally/historically accurate Chinese dance clothes, please see my dance & dance hanfu tags.

If anyone wants to share more information, please do. Hope this helps!

[gazzrr]

Flipnote style Gadget bellydance commission! I have a YCH available for this animation for 40$!

[bellydanceday]

[libraford]

Holy SHIT I thought that was a professional bedlah!! Mad respect to the Pock.

Omg I'm so proud of her. She did an amazing job and everything fit so well, which is not easy when your hips are 58 inches.

I'll show closer details when I'm done editing photos and explain some of it later.

[darthvashtique93]

A Cosmos In The Sand

Chapter 18

Maya cowered before Slaede, Graent, and Mara. "You know where Themyscira is?" Slaede stared at her skeptically while circling her. "And how, may I ask, were you able to do this when Raven, who is way better than you, could not?"

"I-I-I," Maya stuttered.

"Isn't obvious?" Graent sneered. "If Maya was able to find Themyscira so easily, this just proves Raven has been manipulating us. She's known where Themyscira has been all along."

"N-N-No," Maya tried to speak.

"Should have carved her face when you had the chance," Mara said.

Slaede folded his arms, his mouth in a straight line. Had Raven been playing him all along? The thought churned Slaede's stomach. I gave everything to her, and this is how she betrays me? "Gather the troops," Slaede said to his son. "Feed them. We ride at dawn."

Maya stood silently in Raven's room, biting her nails. After their initial conversation, Raven had told Maya to tell Slaede where Themyscira was. She was then supposed to tell Slaede that Raven had escaped her captors and was on her way. She'd told Slaede where Themyscira was, but Graent interrupted her before she could say tell them that Raven was on her way. She placed a hand on her bruised cheek. She had frozen in fear when Graent sneered at her. With a sigh, Maya looked out the window. The sun had just finished rising. I just hope I haven't ruined everything by keeping my mouth shut. Maya prayed Raven got here soon.

It wasn't exactly a feast, but it was not not a feast. Slaede knew the way to his soldiers' heart was their belly. Thus, the lavish meal. Looking around the open courtyard, Slaede took note of the League of Shadows members standing quietly in the shadows. He looked to his right, where Maya sat dutifully, stiffly, and quietly. Her face didn't show a single emotion. Turning to his left, he scowled at what he saw. Graent was all but forcing himself on one of the serving girls. Slaede rolled his eyes. He didn't mind what his son did or who he did it with, but "Have some decorum," Slaede muttered to himself. He turned his attention back to the fancy dinner, raising an eyebrow when one of his captains boldly strolled up the aisle, stopping a few meters from Slaede. He bowed on one knee respectfully. "Rise," Slaede commanded. The captain obeyed. "Speak," Slaede ordered.

"Sire," the captain spoke loud enough for the men to hear. Slaede tilted his head curiously, and even Graent ceased his groping. "The men and I were wondering – will the sorceress be joining us tonight?"

"The sorceress is right here," Slaede gestured to Maya.

The captain smirked. "She is not the sorceress of which I speak. She is merely a child. No, I speak of Raven."

Slaede frowned. It was an unspoken rule that Slaede was the only one allowed to call Raven by her name. He glared at the captain. "She is resting," he said through clenched teeth.

"Of course," the captain smirked, "or is it that she's no longer here?"

"Excuse me," Slaede glared.

"The sorceress hasn't been seen or heard from for days. Yet, we are supposed to blindly believe your words promising us victory? We are supposed to march on Themyscira on the word of this child," he looked at Maya in disgust. "We would like to hear directly from Raven herself."

Slaede slowly stood from his golden chair, his furor growing. "Is my word not enough?" he glowered at the captain.

The captain didn't back down. "It is not that we don't believe you, Your Majesty. It's that the sorceress, Raven, is a sort of…symbol…for good fortune."

"And?"

"Symbols are only useful when they are seen."

"This is so uncomfortable," Jhon whispered as he adjusted the top part of his bedlah.

"Stop fidgeting," Damyan whispered back, laying as a still as a statue.

"The things I do for family," Jason muttered, "do girls really wear these things? It's so uncomfortable," he adjusted his top too.

"Guys!" Viktor shouted from outside the carriage, "I can hear you! This will only work if you're quiet!"

"Easy for you to say," Jason whispered loudly, "you're not wearing a tiny shirt and skirt."

"Will you shut up!" Damyan whispered loudly.

"All of you be quiet! I'm crossing the bridge," Vicktor said.

"Here goes nothing." A few minutes later, Damyan heard Viktor say to a guard at the gate, "I have the women for King Slaede."

"The king didn't call for any women," a guard replied. Damyan watched the silhouette of another guard approach the covered wagon. The guard grabbed the curtain with his free hand.

Raven quickly adjusted her top as she dashed down the stairs, the task made more challenging by her unfamiliarity with the castle's layout. Sneaking in had proven difficult, never having been allowed to roam freely within its walls. After finding a hidden entrance and winding up in the kitchen, a place she'd never before visited, Raven had to acclimate to the iolite decorating the palace walls and the slightly toxic atmosphere, a stark contrast to the clean air she was accustomed to.

Despite the confusion of the kitchen staff upon her arrival, Raven pressed on, spending nearly an hour navigating the castle's corridors, avoiding guards, before finally stumbling upon a familiar hallway. Getting dressed without assistance had been a struggle, the intricate ties of her top proving a challenge for her limited powers, nearly causing her to ruin the garment. Now, standing before the giant doors leading to the courtyard where Slaede's soldiers were feasting, Raven whispered to herself, "Here goes nothing," before flinging the doors open.

[diamondcrownacademy]

DCA Info Part 66: Dorm Leader 3rd Edition Redesigns (Part 2)

View Part 1

Much like their Dorm Fairy companions, the girls also got redesigned! The reason being is that Phoenix felt she was making them look to simple. So she chose to once again redesign them, only this time, designing them to cater more to their preferences and personalities, as well as matching the aesthetics of each Disney Princesses' respective movies.

📚 Rozeline Pierrette

Rozeline's new ensemble was created to represent both Belle and Beast. As well as being an ensemble that looks conservative or old school, not caring for aesthetic outfits and just picked an old pattern from the dress book. Her now unkempt hair is dark brown with a single white streak.

Rozeline's ensemble consists of a muted navy blue long puff sleeve bolero jacket with gold trim with the collar having gold circular roses and the sleeves having white cuffs. She also wears a yellow maxi skirt with muted navy blue and gold trim. For footwear, Rozeline wears a pair of black and white heeled Oxford shoes with gray leggings.

Rozeline accessorizes with a black veil that covers her eyes attached to a muted navy blue bonnet with gold trim, pale yellow roses and black horns, a white ruffle tie, a pale yellow rose brooch with a muted yellow gem brooch in the center and pale tan ribbon with gold trim, a gold belt with ribbon detailing, black gloves and a muted gold crown ring with a yellow jewel on her right index finger.

🏝️ Vidya Nazari

Vidya's ensemble is meant to be a fusion of both Aladdin and Jasmine's respective ensembles, with the top portion taking inspiration from Aladdin's Prince Ali persona. The purple sash was a gift from Kalim and not only serves as a reference to the Magic Carpet, but also reference Kalim's hometown.

Vidya's ensemble consists of a black tunic worn underneath a bedlah top with off-the-shoulder straps with gold accents and matching salwar pants with a gold V-shaped waistline with an opening below the knees and gold trim. For footwear, Vidya wears a pair of curled shoes that are muted navy and feature gold soles and accents.

Vidya accessorizes with a pale gold tiara with a blue diamond-shaped jewel in the center, a pair of blue diamond shaped jewel earrings, a gold choker with blue diamonds, gold shoulder pads with hanging gold threads with a blue diamond brooch in the center, a gold bracelet with blue diamond jewels, a purple sash with floral and swirl designs and gold trim, a gold waist chain with blue diamonds, gold rings above her shoes and a pale gold crown ring with a blue jewel on her left index finger.

🐲 Jinlong Esi

Jinlong received a very notable redesign, now resembling more of an eastern dragon while also possessing turquoise horns, off red nails, three pointed toes with red claws, and a red tail with teal spikes and gold underbelly, the tail also has copper colored fluff at the tip. Jinlong's hair is now in a single ponytail.

Jinlong's ensemble consists of a navy blue martial arts tunic with gold trim, a maroon collar with teal circular gems attached to gold tassels and maroon cuffs with gold detailing. Underneath the tunic is a pair of blue-green pants with gold trim. For footwear, Jinlong sports a pair of navy blue sandals with maroon detailing and straps.

Jinlong accessorizes with a teal earring on her left ear, a pair of oversized turquoise bracelets, a maroon belt with gold trim and designs with a large circular gold brooch with a turquoise gem embedded in the center, and a gold crown ring with a maroon jewel on her right index finger.

🐻 Elu Sorrel

Elu has a slightly more muscular physique due to being a hunter while her ensemble looking more modern and much like Allison and Jinlong, offering more mobility. To avoid making her look to similar to Leona, Elu's braids were moved to be around her ears (though not shown in the picture above).

Elu's ensemble consists of a tan sleeveless turtleneck tunic with baggy pants that include fringes worn underneath what appears to be a brown corset with the bottom having fringes and a dark teal corset with various pale red diamond details and pale red threads. For footwear, Elu wears a pair of light tan boots with teal and white straps and fringes near one of the ends.

Elu accessorizes with a brown cloak with a white trimmed fur hood with the bottom featuring a teal and red diamond design and fringes, a pair of gold goggles, pale red arm bands with teal beads, a brown necklace with red and teal beads with a brown brooch with an orange gem embedded inside and teal, white, red feathers with red beads, brown gloves and a pale gold crown ring with an orange jewel on her left index finger.

🐸 Perrine Bousquet

Perrine ensemble bears some resemblance to the flapper dress that Tiana wears at the end of The Princess and the Frog, while also wanting to match the aesthetics of the 1920s. Perrine's hair is now a golden blonde curly bob cut and she now has green eyeshadow.

Perrine's ensemble consists of an off white green tinted blouse worn underneath a pastel green dress with the top portion resembling a blazer, with green lapels and cuffs. For footwear, Perrine wears a pair of green pumps, a style popular with working women in the 1920s as they featured minimal decorations and were less expensive than trendy strap shoes or lattice pumps.

Perrine accessorizes with a green cloche hat with a light green satin ribbon with a yellow flower with green leaves and a green circular gem in the center, a silver necklace with a green gem pendant, a yellow flower brooch with green leaves and a vine as well as a silver circular brooch with floral detailing and a circular green gem in the center, a pair of pastel green gloves and a silver crown ring with a green jewel on her left index finger.

[tellmewherethelightis]

I made a fan design for a Freak Du Chic Cleo! See under the read more for more about her design!

I'm an aspiring designer, and I've always loved Monster High, so I love making my own designs for the characters. I've finally worked up the courage to post some of my art, and first up is my FDC Cleo, based on belly dancing and snake charming.

For her design I went with snake and lotus patterns everywhere, her mesh bodysuit is meant to evoke snake scales while also being a triangular version of FDC’s checkerboard patterns, and she has a peacock feather in her turban bc they were associated with Amon-Ra and the eye of Horus, and lotus were a common motif in ancient Egypt and not something Cleo often has in her designs. Her outfits is based off of bedlah, an outfit often worn by raqs sharqi performers, more commonly known in the west as belly dancers, but modified to be more age appropriate for a character that’s in high school (despite her being thousands of years old, but I wasn't very comfortable with putting her in a super revealing outfit tbh), and also being true to modern Egyptian dancers, since it is illegal for women to publicly bare their midriffs, so the mesh bodysuit underneath was a good fit for her. It was tricky to strike the balance between what people think belly dancers wear and more traditional styles of outfit, but I hope I managed well enough (my mother belly danced frequently in my youth, and her costumes, albeit not Egyptian but Turkish in origin, actually covered her from head to toe. The peacock feather was actually inspired by some of her outfits!). Her sheer harem pants have two different designs going on, the jagged stripes found on many FDC dolls, and a starry diamond pattern that was partially inspired by diamondback rattlesnakes. She has some snake designs on her shoes and hidden in her clothing, and the dangly jewelry and coins all over are both inspired by real life costumes and Cleo’s own triangle and gem designs.

I hope people like her, I'm not the best artist, but I tried to replicate the Monster High style as faithfully as possible, since it's so different from my usual style. Please let me know what you think! <3

PLEASE Tumblr don't compress these images too much I'm BEGGING you

[helavent]

Nid pt.2

Nid x this bedlah fit (i think that's what this is, feel free to correct me):

More under cut:

[bookishfeylin]

do you think rhysand is a brown man? i feel like sjm did such a terrible job of trying to make him into a representation that it's better off if he's white. his culture is constantly represented as savages and barbarians and misogynistic and he's pining over a white woman while looking down over his own people 🗿

So big disclaimer here that I'm Black, not brown, and that I might get things wrong! If I'm corrected by a brown person in the comments or reblogs please defer to them, and I may edit this as necessary. That being said...

it's really a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If Rhysand is NOT a brown man, and is, in fact, white (as some stans happily draw him) then his whole court REEKS of cultural appropriation. We got henna tattoos, stolen from middle eastern/south asian/north African/east african culture:

And we got bedlah aka the middle eastern belly dancer's outfit, complete with "harem pants" (probably the outfit that inspired Princess Jasmine's clothing in Aladdin):

But Mrs. Maas clearly wants us to view him as a person of color, at least in later books (and by extension, Illyrians as POC), and he, Cassian, Azriel, and the other Illyrians are described as having brown skin. So if Rhysand IS a brown man, then that's... almost worse. First is the fact that Sarah J Maas couldn't actually decide what specific culture the Illyrians were based off of, because the middle east is not a monolith! South Asia is not a monolith! I've seen some guesses that Rhysand and Co are Persian, others speculating he's Indian... and there's a BIG difference between those two cultures. You can't claim to provide representation if no one even knows what specific culture/ethnicity is being represented.

And second is the fact that Sarah J Maas really decided it would be a good idea to make her most prominent group of POC in this story a WILDLY sexist culture that mutilate their own women and are looked down on by the 'civilized' (read: mostly white) High Fae for being violent warriors. She really said that she was going to have a culture (Illyria) entirely of POC and make them sexist, violent, and cruel, and have them be called brutes and animalistic by white people. In what UNIVERSE is that ok? In what UNIVERSE is that good representation???

And thirdly is, as you said and as I mentioned in this post, the batboys are men of color who find their own women "plain" and pedestalize white women (Feyre, Nesta, and Elain) as the beauty standard. As I brought out in that post, the idea that white and lighter skinned women are better, prettier, and more valuable than darker skinned women of color is a real world issue with dangerous consequences, and it's disgusting that in a book series Sarah J Maas has declared is "feminist," she decided to promote the idea that white women are better than the rest of us. Hell- how many women of color are in ACOTAR? And how many of them are allowed to have a male love interest? Are allowed to be seen as beautiful, desirable, and worthy of protection and romance?

In conclusion: it's racist either way. I, for one, only view book one as canon due to this series becoming nothing but a pile of retcons and nonsensical worldbuilding afterwards, so I do view Rhysand as white in that book, especially with his "moon white" skin. But in the series as a whole? I think Sarah wants us to view the bat boys as men of color, due to the aforementioned cultural details and her giving them brown skin, but she handles it horribly all around. So for the intents and purposes of your question: from ACOMAF and beyond, Rhysand is a brown man. Illyrians are people of color. And it's one of the most racist portrayals of people of color that I've seen in a hot minute. Sexist, animalistic brutes are not representation, and brown people deserve better.

[ziseviolet]

Ziseviolet’s 2022 Tumblr Top 10

1. 3,306 notes - Jan 2 2022

Q: What exactly does Dunhuang style mean?

2. 2,167 notes - Mar 7 2022

Q: I keep wondering about the reason for qipao/cheongsam not be considered a hanfu? 

3. 1,262 notes - Jan 10 2022

4. 1,167 notes - Jul 15 2022

Dior Mamianqun Controversy

5. 528 notes - Oct 8 2022

Q: In wuxia I see that they have half their hair up and the other half down. Is there a certain period where this hairstyle directs from?

6. 492 notes - Apr 11 2022

Q: In many novels it is mentioned that men would tie their hair in ponytails- but so far I haven’t seen any in tv series? Was it common?

7. 410 notes - Apr 4 2022

8. 291 notes - Dec 13 2022

Q: What hanfu is suitable for high-tea event? The theme was black, white and gold. 

9. 283 notes - Feb 14 2022

Q: I was always taught that ancient Chinese people didn't cut their hair due to filial piety; it disrespected the body given to them by their parents. Would this have been true for every dynasty? Was there ever a period where bangs would have been in fashion?

10. 281 notes - May 23 2022

Q: In some cdramas there are dancing scenes. But I saw that not all the dancing scenes are done in Chinese clothes. I saw one scene where they wore a ‘bedlah’. Can I get your input whether this is just modern aesthetic or not. 

See previous years here.

Created by TumblrTop10

[obscuremarvelmuses]

Asp aka Cleopatra Nefertiti (which I pray is a stage name) is an exotic dancer in addition to a supervillain-for-hire merc, so my first inclination was to put her in something based on an Egyptian bedlah (belly dancer costume) as I love the beautiful details those have. But then I thought, while I’m sure she exploits Orientalist visions on stage for the money, she’s someone who is actually FROM Egypt, she knows it as the modern country it is. So for her representation of herself on her own time, and at a gala no less, I looked up modern Egyptian designers, and took inspiration from dresses in “The Legacy Returns” collection by Farida Temraz, but still gave it some bedlah vibes too because I think she definitely loves to dance and would want to do so at the Gala!

[readyplayerziggy]

Fast Food AU Halloween costumes for this year:

Morrigan Aensland, skintight leggings included.

Bedlah, only slightly skirting the line of an arrest for public nudity.

Butcher with a whole assortment of bloody cleavers (not actually a costume, she was doing an infiltration at a smuggling ring with a butcher shop as the front but didn't have time to change)

Dragon onesie she got from her sister and secretly wears in her room when no one's around.

Bedsheet ghost.

[bellmo15-blog]

The Genie Of The Lamp And Funny Puns

So, my sona’s stumbled upon a magic lamp. And you know what that means? Three wishes from a genie! Or at least, that’s what SHOULD of happened. What actually happened is that the smoke that came out of the lamp just enveloped them and once it dissipated instead of being met with a genie, it’s turned them into a genie. Ehh, at least they are enjoying it! And hey, infinite comic power right? At least until one of his friends wishes him back to normal.

As I’m sure some of you know based of one of my recent status posts, I’ve had Genification/Genie TF/Dijinfication/Whatever you want to call it on my mind a lot lately. And I mean A LOT! As in, it’s pretty much been the main transformation scenario I’ve been thinking about the most recently. Weather that’s because of who my main comfort waifu is being Half Genie herself, the fact that I’ve actually considered playing Sonic and the Secret Rings recently after playing Black Knight earlier this year and liking it a lot (yes, you heard me Sonic Storybook Game detractors) or how I’ve been rewatching a lot of old movies from my childhood this year one of them being Aladdin or because of this one Genie TF comic someone once shared on a Discord server a few years ago that I’ve been thinking about a lot more I’ve just had genies on my mind a lot. And I have a transformation kink.

So of course, it was inevitable I was going to get a commission of my sona transformed into a genie. Because why settle for finding a genie and only being able to make three wishes while also running the risk of that genie adding some twist to it when you can instead BECOME a Genie and get all the power in the world for yourself.

Thayla: Because actually being a genie means that you can’t leave your lamp, will be permanently bound to it forever and even if you do get found by someone there’s a good chance your master could be the worst person in the world! Honestly, stuff like that is why I’m actually glad you made me only half genie!

You do realize that as my OC I could re-write your backstory so that you are a full genie right? Would you like that smartass?

Thayla: … I’m… I’m just gonna go back to playing Mario Kart now…

So yeah, got this pic because Genie TF Brainrot! And if your wondering why I had my self-insert dressed in the Gerudo Vai outfit from Breath of the Wild (but not Tears of the Kingdom) for this one, well I’ve pretty much made that outfit there cannon dancer outfit and most genies especially the feminine ones wear some kind of bedlah anyway so yeah.

Artist is Daisy-Pink71.

[darkestprompts]

Now I'm curious, any takes about the heroes' nationalities you'd like to share?

-Obligatory disclaimer that I know Darkest Dungeon isn't real life and countries as we know don't exist yadda yadda.-

Nothing too unexpected.

Reynauld I definitely read as French like Renaud de Châtillon. Tardif and Margaret too, probably?

Junia (vestals were Roman) and Damian (based on Saint Damian), both Italian. "Sarmenti" apparently derives from a Italian word too. Lots of Italians around, huh.

William I'm on the fence. Either English (for Shakespeare) or Irish (for his Irish Wolfhound).

Bigby is a name that appears to come from North and East England, but I like to think he's Scottish like Robert Stevenson, author of the Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Amani I decided is Egyptian, because the bedlah getup and the modern bellydancer stereotype are a 20th Egyptian interpretation of European Orientalism.

Paracelsus, probably Swiss like her namesake.

The complicated ones:

Baldwin would be born in Jerusalem, of course, but of a fusion culture with both French/Continental European and ME elements, I think

Alhazred would be from modern Yemen, but in Lovecraft's writing his namesake is from the time of the Umayyad Caliphate, so there wouldn't be that differentiation within the Arab Peninsula.

I interpret Boudica as Scottish because I give more weight to her very Pictish blue paint, although I know the historical Boudica was from the south of modern England... Although these denominations weren't in use then.

Josephine is a special case. I'm not sure what I think of the textual evidence, but I love some of the Indian-inspired fanart that's floating around. Looks cool, feels right.

The ones I don't have any strong feelings about: Audrey, Missandei, Barristan, Dismas.

[justabeautifulgirl]

Glenmoral...

Not like men weren't allowed at all but you'd be expected to do what business you had and move on. The town was mostly filled with women. Not adventurer types, more of the kind of women you'd expect to be field workers.

Tall, strong, and very built women dressed to the nines in thin silky bedlah. Ornately patterned with geometric and floral patterns. "You can't fight in that, it'd rip right off, hardly protective," thought the adventurer. As he walked into Glenmoral he'd noticed something peculiar. Everyone was starring, some in disgust but others in, some sort of emotion he couldn't nail down. Whatever it was he didn't like it.

"Excuse me. You seem to be in need of a bath. I own an Inn if you'd like to stay the night and you can be on your way in the morning." An especially tall woman with broad, muscular shoulders and a very beautiful, even regal face spoke up from the doors of a modest inn.

It was a wooden building ornamented with clay roofing tiles and carved guardian statues shaped like a buff woman. "T-Thank you ma'am. I'd very much like that. It's been a long day an-" "That's wonderful! Please come and I'll sign you in our guest log."

He stepped into the Inn.

[lesenbyan]

[ID: Four screencaps of Eve, a tan skinned Miqo'te with red hair wearing a lotus pink bedlah, arm wamers, and hair bow, with black fishnet tights and pumps. She's dancing next to a pond in a snowy landscape with floating glowing particles around her. /end ID]

listen. this glam had to happen sometime. and we have enough gear in the game now that i don't see the thav bustier around frequently anymore so i feel less Stereotypical for it. plus look at her.

mods: x | x | x