I've been struggling to create a outfit for a female hero for a long while and every time I'm satisfied with something I end up doubting it. All I want is some reassurance or opinions to help me.
the Heroine's character is a Hungarian goddess, she is kind of like the big sister to the other characters in that she is their best friend but is responsible and protective of them. Her usual outfit is still pretty and feminine but doesn't show a lot of skin and tries to be modest.
The part I'm struggling with is this, I want to create a new outfit design for use in a story set in her past when she was a slavegirl in the Ottoman harem. Despite being a slavegirl she will be flying magic carpets (instead of riding her horse) and fighting villains Like evil genies.
i want this outfit to be a contrast to her normal clothes to give her life a dystopian feel. I could make her outfit skimpy like a belly dancer, this would give me the opportunity to add other Arabian elements to It also it would take her out of her comfort zone by forcing a modest ,sensible woman into wearing very revealing clothes, embarrassing her. The problem to this idea is that if she is a slave in an Arabian fantasy setting doesn't she have to cover up because of Islam?
which brings me on to the other option, that is to cover her up when she flys off on her carpet to fight bad guys. Benefits could be that it's maybe more realistic and less likely to offend Muslims if it's set in a Islamic part of the world , however having a character that you can't see either her body language or face or pose would maybe make her less interesting or likeable. That said I'm thinking of the full Hijab (if that's right) maybe I could try alternatives like a kaftan or cloak hmmm? The dystopian part would be that a woman who is still modest but she likes really pretty embroidered dresses and wearing flowery skirts and traditional blouses is forced into wearing VERY different clothes.
Can you let me know what you think or if there is a middle option?
Thanks