Culture - Fashion and Standards of Beauty

In recent years, Haven has become a melting pot for all kinds of fashion and trends. It is not uncommon to see those who feel more in tune with nature running around in hand-sewn clothing or animal hides, while those who wish to keep up with the times have a wardrobe more like what you would see in any big city in Europe. Shops cater to all sorts of clothing styles, though natural colors and fabrics seem to be much more popular to buy and sell than anything synthetically made.

Haven is more laid back than most cities, and its public nudity laws are a bit lax. It is acceptable to be wearing the minimum amount of clothing out in public so long as the “private areas” are covered. It is not uncommon to see a half-naked shifter or werecreature wandering town with shredded shorts, or a fae with just leaves covering the necessary areas. There are also safe zones in the woods and near the river that are used as nudist colonies for those individuals who feel freer without the confines of clothing.

Fae are naturally beautiful creatures, though their beauty can be harsh and terrifying at times, and they are attracted to pretty things – including people. While the outside world’s beauty standards may not always apply to the fae in Haven, there is pressure to look good. However, “looking good” just might not be the same as it would in the human-run world. Instead of starving oneself into smaller dress sizes, healthy bodies are considered beautiful. Makeup and hair products can be an asset, although the fae generally like to use them in a more extreme way. The more nature-infused something can be, the prettier it is to the fae.

Shifters and werecreatures have different standards of beauty, as well. Generally speaking, it is known that the stronger the body, the more suitable the person for mating. While makeup and clothing might have little to do with their opinions, they are more likely to judge someone by their stature or expression, and if in animal form, by how well-maintained they keep themselves.

Vampires see seduction as beauty, generally speaking, though their opinions can also change depending on how old they are. A vampire from the Victorian era might appreciate a bigger woman with a paler complexion while a newborn fledgling might want tanned skin and bleach blonde hair.

Human opinions of beauty are much the same as they are elsewhere in the world, and often change with the times. They are as fickle as their magazines and newspapers display, though that is a generalization.