Wizard Wear

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 33721

This isn't really a follow-up to any specific message. 

I've thought about the clothes myself for a long time, and as someone 
who came to the books having seen the movie first, I found the 
movie's ideas about uniforms somewhat anachronistic. Not to mention 
the cover illustrations (both US and UK) which have Harry wearing  
what looks like a rugby shirt under his billowing robe.

One thing I always found perhaps a bit strange is why should all the 
adult wizards (ie males) we encounter wear robes, whilst the pupils 
at the school wear a standard UK school uniform (the only difference 
being a cloak instead of a blazer). Assuming most UK wizards have 
gone through Hogwarts, why would they all be so clueless about Muggle 
clothing, if they were used to wearing such a tasteful and non-
wizardly uniform? From where, and at what stage, would they get the 
urge to wear long billowing robes instead?

The only one we've met thus far who bucks the trend is Bill, who is 
said to look quite "trendy".

In this discussion, I think there's a distinction some people appear 
to have overlooked, which is that the "robes" and the "cloak" (the 
only element of the uniform left in the movie) are two separate 
items. Re-read the shopping list from PS/SS for what I mean. :-)

I therefore always concluded that the kids' clothes are unisex (with 
a tendency towards female rather than male Muggle ideas) - I never 
got the impression that the boys would be wearing trousers, or indeed 
that there'd be space for trousers under the robes. The one scene I 
thought might give us a clue was any description of the Champions 
diving into the Lake for the Second Task. The only extra information 
we get is that Krum is wearing swimming trunks, and Harry removes his 
shoes and socks to be left getting "his robes" wet.

As for what they wear underneath, well, that's anyone's guess, but 
Hogwarts seems cold and draughty so I for one would not be prepared 
to ...errr.. "have a breeze around my privates". :-)

-- 
Richard Sliwa aka GulPlum

(Forgot to sig my previous - first - message to the list. Some of you 
will recognise me from alt.fan.harry-potter.) ;-)