Any good ideas for the fashion of the average citizen in the various nations, outside the typical Renfair-ware?
For Zilargo, the following is what I imagine, with the pattern of the print shifting due to the enchantment in the weave:
You can check the "Five Nations" book it has a fashion section for each of the five nations.
There are bits here and there.
The section on the Sloths in City of Stormreach for instance mentions Brelish fashion. Light comfortable breathable fabrics, silks for those who can afford them, that tend to show more skin than generally passes in polite society. Breland is mostly tropical after all. Lot of 'Brelish blue'.
Karrnath on the other hand is more conservitive and by five nations casual clothing is heavily influanced by military dress uniforms.
I find the best way to find inspiration in clothing to look to the immediate parralels to our world. At the end of the day we wear what we wear because it suits our climate. So for example Breland is typically hot and humid in the south, cool and wet in the north. So in the south expect silks, open collars, loose sleeves and clothing that otherwise allows a great deal of breaking. Cloaks and coats would probably be restricting. Instead they have shirts that double as finery with intricate details to make up for the lack of cloak. The north would be similar, due to the amount of rainfall, but with cloaks and very stout boots (for walking/trudging in the mud). Boots would be probably shorter than most, since Breland doesn't get much snow (with the exception of the Black Caps). Probably upper calf at most and likely lower. Breeches would be loose and have plenty of give, for both breathing and comfort (if you've ever been in a tropical climate in the rainy season you know how much a sweat rash from clothing is).
Then you jump over to somewhere like Cyre, which is the heart of Khorvaire. You have Scions Sound to the north, Breland/Aundair to the West, Thrane is northward and Karrnart northeast. You also have the Talenta Plains to the East. In other words, it's going to be a temperate climate, probably with more widely fluctuating temperatures between night and day (proximity to oceans often mediates the temperature differential). So it's a mix of other cultures and yet it's also the heart of fashion and culture. Cyre (when it still existed) was both a mirror and a lens. Expect gloves due to the heat/cool and dust. Cloaks would be useful, as would coats and comfortable closed shoes. The shirts would probably be of thicker weave and cling more to the body, less room to loose heat. Coats would be multi-functional and likely long, probably just past the top of the thigh. Breeches would be more snug and form fitting, both to show off and to keep the body heat close. But not too tight, it still gets warm in summer in Cyre. Boots would range from mid-calf to partyway up the thigh. Not too high or low though, Cyre is neither warm nor cool enough to justify it.
Then you jump over to cold and grim Karrnath. Plenty of fur coats, fur trim and thick clothing for snow and bitter winters. Coats would be long, possibly to the calves. Boots too would be high, the last thing you want is the snow sneaking into your boots. So at least up to the top of the calf if not partway up the thigh. Very thick shirts and hats would be popular too. You'll be surprised how much heat you can conserve with a good hat (the head looses the most heat of any party of the body). Thick cloaks, not hanging too low so they get caught in the snow. Probably the shortest of all the cloaks, barely making the thigh. Breeches and shirts would likely be worn overtop another layer of clothing. For the richer they might even have varying colours of shirt and have the upper shirt slightly unbuttoned to show the difference. Nothing to flowery or dangly, when it gets wet it would only be a deadweight or even catch on anything you walk by.
It's late where I am on my corner of the globe so I'll post up more tomorrow. Hope this gives you some inspiration.
Hope this gives you some inspiration.
Thank you for this. I find it very informative, and it will definitely serve to inspire and inform future descriptions and mental images of the peoples of Khorvaire. You rock.
I'll ditto Mrcelsius's sentiments. 
If anyone (especially Pjammagod) has any further thoughts on the subject, I'd love to see them. 
I'll ditto Mrcelsius's sentiments.
If anyone (especially Pjammagod) has any further thoughts on the subject, I'd love to see them.
*grins*
Cheerski for the comments, glad I could be of some assistance. I'll see if I can ramble for a bit longer and cover the other major fashion capitals of Khorvaire and beyond ;) .
Okies I didn't touch upon Thrane last time because, well I have a hard time pinning my finger down on what would be distinctly "Thranite". Their geographical location is similar to Cyre, being slightly north and again being landlocked like Cyre. As such Thrane would experience similar seasonal swings from the lack of ocean. As such Thrane is less likely to be constrained by geographical factors as cultural ones. Thrane is by and large a nation of the Silver Flame and one of the tennets (whether you believe it to be overlooked or not is up to you) is Ascetic virtue. So Thranites would go for minimalist style and functionality over the (in a Thranites mind) gaudy looks of Cyre. Clothing would stratified into a domino of predominantly black (for ease of cleaning) and white (for purity). Cloaks would probably be longer due to the temperature differential and the chill blown off Scions Sound and Lake Arul to the East. Cassocks would again be common as would long flowing robes, both for comfort and as a nod towards Thranes well recognised religious style. Silver filigree or tooling in any leather belts or gloves would be common, as would silver thread in more expensive garments. Some might even incorporate basic enchantments to give the effect of faint silver light illuminating the area (an aura of light if you will). Sandals would also be quite common, being a sign of humility and ascetic virtue (and also the ease of removing them when entering a holy place).
Last of the Five nations we have Aundair, perched up to the North West. With the Eldeen Reeches to the West along with the Labyrinth acting as a meteorological shield-wall, the weather would be mild with lots of rain and cool winds coming off the northern sea and Lake Galifar to the south. Aundairians are mentioned to have a love of gloves (Five Nations pg 17), so always think of clothing that would accent and compliment gloves. This includes deep sleeves and frills/lace. Cloaks again would be useful, probably worn long since Aundair doesn't have nearly half the snowfall of Karrnath. Longer than the upper thigh and possibly close to the calf. With the large pasturelands of Aundair I expect broad-brimmed hats would be common/popular. For the nobles think something along the lines of the Three Musketeers. For the common folk, probably leather Akubras or something similar. Shoes would be good supple leather, more designed to keep out the cold damp so probably mid-calf to possibly the knee.
I'll wander father abroad to Xen'Drik and Sarlona when it isn't so late (stupid insomnia)