Since its debut in 1987, The Final Fantasy franchise has served us some of the fiercest looks in video game history. Yes, even the pixel art characters of the original games had some dashing duds, including the first appearance of the now-legendary Black Mage hat (although its gotten progressively floppier over time). Growing up, I would draw my own characters, and their outfits would often be inspired Final Fantasy fashions. That meant belts and buckles galore and laces on just about any garment imaginable. In fact, the frenzy for laces in my friend group became so unraveled that we had to place limits on how many lace-up outfits we could have for our characters (ah, simpler times). I have only played Final Fantasy up to Final Fantasy X as well as the Final Fantasy VII remake, so I will only be including outfits from these games. Even within this limited scope, there is such a diversity of style and setting, so I am excited to dive back into this creative kaleidoscope of worlds! Without further ado, here are my choices for the coolest Final Fantasy outfits (in no particular order):
Firion – Final Fantasy II
Firion, Final Fantasy II cover art, Image credit: Square Enix
Firion is the main protagonist of Final Fantasy II and was the first main character in the series with a default name and storyline. The early Final Fantasy games are rooted in the fantasy genre, so many of the characters sport more traditional armor and Firion is no exception. My favorite part of Firion’s epic ensemble, however, is his bandana. The vibrant material creates a striking contrast with his white hair.
Squall Leonhart – Final Fantasy VIII
Squall Leonhart, Final Fantasy VIII promotional render, Image credit: Square Enix
Squall’s monochrome ensemble is a striking example of how less can be more (except for belts and buckles, of course). The fur-capped bomber jacket, the silver lion charms, the thigh straps (with buckles, naturally), the leather boots and gloves—all effortlessly cool.
Vincent Valentine – Final Fantasy VII
Vincent Valentine, Final Fantasy VII promotional render, Image credit: Square Enix
Vincent was one of my very first fictional crushes so while this pick is shamelessly biased, Vincent’s black leather and crimson-caped ensemble is a striking look. Of course, it is belted and buckled up to the nines, because in the Final Fantasy universe, the quantity of belts is directly proportional to the level of angst (kidding, but not really). The crowning element to Vincent Valentine’s outfit is the gold claw and pointed boots to match. I love the union of Final Fantasy VII’s signature steampunk-esque style with antique armor plating, much like how Vincent is haunted by the past while fighting for the future.
Sorceress Edea – Final Fantasy VIII
Sorceress Edea Kramer, Final Fantasy VIII promotional render, Image credit: Square Enix
Sorceress Edea’s look is absolutely iconic – my jaw dropped during the thrilling parade scene that introduced her character and I loved how her aesthetic both complimented and contrasted with Art Nouveau sci-fi style of the game. The sleek, simple silhouette of her gown paired with the gilded fan of her cape looks like her musical theme feels. Her exquisitely eerie headdress completes her darkly enchanting aura.
Terra Branford – Final Fantasy VI
Terra Branford, Final Fantasy VI promotional art by Yoshitaka Amano, Image credit: Square Enix
Terra’s outfit is a medley of elements that seem like they should be too much, yet, they come together to create an elegant, exquisite look that has a dash of whimsy.
Yuna – Final Fantasy X
Yuna, Final Fantasy X promotional art by Tetsuya Nomura, Image credit: Square Enix
Yuna’s outfit feels like a fragrant breath of fresh air, evoking the bright and flowy petals of the “sea hibiscus” her name is inspired by. My favorite aspect is the blushed tinge of her long sleeves, a subtle touch that enlivens the whole ensemble. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura based the design on a hakama, a type of traditional Japanese clothing. The cascading nature of Yuna’s clothing is perfect for the ethereal dance she performs to “send” souls to peace.
Lulu – Final Fantasy X
Lulu, Final Fantasy X promotional art by Tetsuya Nomura, Image credit: Square Enix
The belt baroness herself, Lulu’s “strapping” getup is as Final Fantasy as it gets. The tangle of belts is balanced with the delicate details of her lace stockings and the ornate trim of her robe. Legend has it that character designer Tetsuya Nomura added all the belts just to test the graphics developers and see if they could achieve the exact number, configuration, and overall design each time she appeared. In turn, they found ways to only show Lulu from the waist up or behind others in many of the cutscenes.
Ramza Beoulve – Final Fantasy Tactics
Ramza Beoulve, Final Fantasy Tactics promotional art, Image credit: Square Enix
Ramza’s first outfit is not one I have seen mentioned in the Reddit threads and other articles showcasing the coolest outfits in Final Fantasy, but you can bet your boots it has earned a spot on my list! His boots are not the sole reason, but come on, they are glorious and quite possibly the highest-reaching boots in the franchise! The blue embellished tunic complete the look of a noble ready for battle.
Exdeath – Final Fantasy V
Exdeath, Final Fantasy V promotional art by Yoshitaka Amano, Image credit: Square Enix
Pure evil never looked so dazzling. Exdeath’s baroque, bejeweled armor is a curious contradiction for a villain who is obsessed with reducing the world to a state of absolute nothingness. In my experience, I find that the more elaborate a villain’s regalia, the more challenging they are. Just take a gander at Kefka!
Rinoa Heartilly– Final Fantasy VIII
Rinoa Heartilly, in a promotional render for Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Image credit: Square Enix, Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja
I love the spunky practicality of Rinoa’s outfit and how it actually looks comfortable! Character designer Tetsuya Nomura mentioned how initially, her outfit was inspired by what the male staff considered “cute”. He then consulted with female staff who pointed out how there “was no way a girl wearing a miniskirt could move like that”, so he opted for biker shorts instead. A wise choice!
This concludes our Final Fantasy fashion show! We would love to hear your thoughts on our selections as well as additions you feel deserve a place on this list. The creativity of Final Fantasy designers never ceases to amaze us and we would be more than happy to make a series to continue celebrating the artistry of video games!
If you have suggestions for the best outfits in Final Fantasy for any game in the series, including those after FFX, or if you have any suggestions for other video game series we should celebrate the fashion of, let us know in the comments below.
Featured image photo credit: Square Enix, Final Fantasy X promotional image
Leave a Reply