Fashion comes and goes but style is forever, and Splatoon cares about neither.
I’m not a very fashionable person. I don't keep up with the latest clothing trends nor do I have my finger on the pulse of the industry. I’m also most certainly not a stylish person either, having worn formalwear fewer times than I have been invited to formal events. However, I do care about my appearance; I dye my hair colours I like and just bought a jumper because it had Kirby on the back. Part of me is just a bit too lazy to figure out what's in and what's out with each new season. My approach to fashion goes a little like this: for T-shirts or shirts, I’ll usually buy something with a cool design featuring something I care about. You know, like a jumper with Kirby on the back. However, if it’s just a graphic tee with the logo of a company on it, why would I wear it? I have no interest in celebrating a brand’s existence. I love jackets, jumpers or tops because this is how I usually display what sort of mood I am in. Bomber and denim, cut off leather or military green jackets? Hell yeah to all of them. Don’t talk to me, I want to give off unapproachable vibes. Sportswear tops? Sometimes, I guess, I like to think these make me look like I’m busy and have somewhere to be. Hoodies? Sure, but I’m probably not leaving the house for the rest of the day.
Hats are a must. They are a great way to avoid making unwanted eye contact, hide that I never do makeup and save my dyed hair from the rain. For pants I will wear anything loose and all one colour. I struggle to express myself here so why bother? What sort of socks do I wear? Um, ones with holes in them. Usually. Can socks even be fashionable? Maybe to some people. Finally, shoes are easy. Once every six to nine months I find the loudest Converses I can, and wear them until there is no more sole left to protect my feet from the ground beneath them.
This is not a super complicated approach to style, but it means that I am usually comfortable in what I wear, don't feel like a company billboard, and am at least presentable enough to not feel bad if I unexpectedly meet a friend or family member while out. Yes, it’s very utilitarian, but I like pretty much every piece of clothing I own in isolation and, in my head at least, it services a purpose and represents me. You don’t have to follow trends or have the latest Gucci collection to be fashionable in my book, you just need to be comfortable in your own style.
The big problem is I never feel cool. I have all the parts of cool outfits, but I am no good at matching them up. Since I’ve bought all these clothes from different places over the years, even when I do try to match colours and styles, it all just feels a bit off. I love the clothes I wear but I don’t feel good about getting them all to come together when I go out wearing them. That was until I got back into Splatoon with the release of the latest game. After only a couple of hours with it, I realised something. I didn’t want to feel cool in what I was wearing. I wanted to feel confident.
The Splatoon franchise has always been about squid kids being ‘fresh’, but it’s worth considering exactly what that means. It could just be a somewhat fishy pun for being stylish and fashionable, but it feels like more than that. Walk through Splatsville or Inkopolis and every time you will see countless unique inklings hanging out, chilling with friends, and showing off their drip. The important thing, though, is that every single one of them will be wearing something different. Something individual to them. Something new and distinct and fresh.
Even those wearing the same top, shoes and headgear will have different randomised perks giving them a boost when they go out and face the competition. In fact, some inklings only care about their hidden perks given to them by their clothes and as a result, you will find people wearing wild combinations. Power armour, a poker cap and a bright orange pair of kicks? If that’s what makes you feel good on the battlefield, you go for it!
I think the thing I love about Splatoon is it presents all of this not just as valid, but as awesome. It all fits with the chaos of the world and the game. So, your pink high-tops don’t match your luminous green hair and paint? Who cares? You’re wearing a beanie and woollen jumper in the middle of the desert? As long as you keep splatting, I’m not going to complain. Snorkels, American football shoulder pads and socks with sandals? That sounds fresh as hell.
The ensembles I wear when leaving my flat might not be the most coordinated. They might not even look good together. But I like each part of them and what psychological boosts they give me. Whether it be letting people know what games or imagery I like, asking the world to please not bother me or wearing sweatpants because they’re comfortable, my clothes all come together to help me be fresh. Not because of what I am wearing, but because of how I feel wearing it.