Valentione's Day Items

[Eloah]

My main gripe about the dress is that those kind of skirts don't translate well to taller races. As Iscah pointed out, the skirts tend to flare and angle awkwardly as they're designed for the more "kawaii waifu" body types like Au Ra. It's not BAD, it's just an awkward look and Viera look downright amazing in shirts and slacks. Hell, I'd even take turning off the ears to wear the guys' hat (although the ladies' hat also looks pretty dapper). But hey, if people like the dress and want to wear it, male or female, that's cool, too, just not my thing.

EDIT: Also, good gods that princess dress looks terrible, thank the gods I never bought it.

If you notice, the images to show us how the dress looks on females, only shows them on the smaller races, noe Roe, Elezen, or Highlander.

[WhiteArchmage]

If you notice, the images to show us how the dress looks on females, only shows them on the smaller races, noe Roe, Elezen, or Highlander.

I did, which is usually a good indicator that they look... off on taller races. Much like how if there's not explicitly a Hroth/Viera showing off an event headgear, it won't work for us xD

Mostly talking from experience with my once-favorite High House Bustle and other pieces with similar poofy skirts.

[Sated]

My main gripe about the dress is that those kind of skirts don't translate well to taller races. As Iscah pointed out, the skirts tend to flare and angle awkwardly as they're designed for the more "kawaii waifu" body types like Au Ra. It's not BAD, it's just an awkward look and Viera look downright amazing in shirts and slacks. Hell, I'd even take turning off the ears to wear the guys' hat (although the ladies' hat also looks pretty dapper). But hey, if people like the dress and want to wear it, male or female, that's cool, too, just not my thing.

EDIT: Also, good gods that princess dress looks terrible, thank the gods I never bought it.

Understandable; I feel that height distortion as elezen even with pants sometimes, or things like the urban coat which just feel a bit too long from the back.
Stuff like clipping and weird lengths don't really bother me much (but that princess dress would be hard to ignore).

[Iscah]

I do however have a question, that I feel might show how arbitrary this topic is for the current event.

This isn't the first time we've had gender-locked event rewards. And by that I mean the items are seperate, not that they have a different look but are the same item. we've gotten them before in the following events:

Valentine's Day - the male and female aprons. The male version just being a reskin of the culinarian's level 50 outfit. The female version was a complete origional.

Little Ladies Day - the Songbird and Senechal attire, and the Lady and Lord's Suikan, as well as their respective clogs. The Songbird and Senechal outfits are again a "dress" and a "suit" on equal footing, and the Suikan's are very similar too, hemp length being different though. The only major difference being the socks on the female clogs.

Moonfire Faire - various swimsuits and yukatas, all of which are on equal footing with another compared to real world attire. Males even get flat wood clogs and females sockless ones. But at the same time, why can't males get a one-piece swim suit and females a more sporty look with shirts and a crop top?

All Saint's Wake - the Werewolf outfits are unique with the female outfit being "cuter" and getting a skirt again? Why does a werewolf need a skirt. Why can't males be cute? Also of special mention is the Witch's attire which while one item, is a whole outfit on females compared to males since females have the skirt attached.

The Garo Event also had unique outfits for some of the female jobs, that arguably were better than the male versions.

So it's not like any of this is new. And in most cases the same rules applied, you could only receive the one for your gender, but maybe get the other gendered one later, through either the event or the Calamity Salvager. So why the uproar now. In all of the previous instances the gear was fair, something equally nice for males and females, but no one ever really complained, at least not to this much of a degree.

Honestly, I really do think it's a case of the female outfit being really disliked among the people who play female characters. And because they dislike it people are clamoring for the unlock, probably because the male version is similarly themed but less busy. I'm not saying gender-locking is good, or that things shouldn't be unlocked, but I dont think this outfit is the proper platform to hard press the issue on. I think people just don't like the female version and don't wanna just say that and move on. Honestly, how often do you wear the other event specific items, that usually have specific themes that people might not wanna wear on a daily basis.

Not every piece of gear will be for everyone, bit that doesnt mean the devs are being unfair.

This isn't the first time people have complained about genderlocks on event gear. I was definitely unhappy about the Endless Summer set being shorts for boys and briefs for girls again, and I'm pretty sure there was a discussion about it. I didn't like the werewolf skirt either, or the Spriggan pants turning into short-shorts, and I'm sure I've repeated my dislike for pants-becoming-miniskirts in general far too many times by now.

I feel like the Songbird and Suikan outfits really are good counterparts - the same outfit adapted to suit each gender.

I don't mind the recycled CUL gear really - it's still cute, and I got the pants I needed for my alt's White Rabbit costume out of it.

Also I know people love to complain about the witch outfit not giving pants for the male version, but how hard is it to put on one of the existing pairs of plain pants that would have inevitably been recycled for the model anyway? People would probably complain about that instead.

I think people just don't like the female version and don't wanna just say that and move on.

I think we are saying that. We're not avoiding it.

Honestly, how often do you wear the other event specific items, that usually have specific themes that people might not wanna wear on a daily basis.

That's ultimately part of the issue here. Female characters get a "cute Valentine's dress" with hearts and frills. Males get a waistcoat that is going to be useful throughout the year. We don't have anything in that style currently - or not broadly available, at least.

[NessaWyvern]

I mean, if you want a similar look, the free company tabard looks kinda like the Valentione coat, but you would be missing the tie and the white sleeves.

[Eloah]

This isn't the first time people have complained about genderlocks on event gear. I was definitely unhappy about the Endless Summer set being shorts for boys and briefs for girls again, and I'm pretty sure there was a discussion about it. I didn't like the werewolf skirt either, or the Spriggan pants turning into short-shorts, and I'm sure I've repeated my dislike for pants-becoming-miniskirts in general far too many times by now.

I feel like the Songbird and Suikan outfits really are good counterparts - the same outfit adapted to suit each gender.

I don't mind the recycled CUL gear really - it's still cute, and I got the pants I needed for my alt's White Rabbit costume out of it.

Also I know people love to complain about the witch outfit not giving pants for the male version, but how hard is it to put on one of the existing pairs of plain pants that would have inevitably been recycled for the model anyway? People would probably complain about that instead.
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I think we are saying that. We're not avoiding it.
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That's ultimately part of the issue here. Female characters get a "cute Valentine's dress" with hearts and frills. Males get a waistcoat that is going to be useful throughout the year. We don't have anything in that style currently - or not broadly available, at least.

I'm not trying to say people haven't voiced displeasure with past outfits, but it does seem like people are a bit more "hurt" than in previous events. I think you are right that part of the issue might be that the female version is more "on theme" than the male version.

I think a few of the past outfits, as you said, do work nicely together. Which is why I personally am a bit confused, since I thought this years outfits paired well too, and fit the whole suit/dress theme. But the overall unpopularity of the dress is just rather surprising.

As for the CUL apron and the Witches attire. The issue there is more about the recycling effort. Both male versions are just recyles of already established outfits, with a few holiday embellishments added. Whereas the female version is 100% original for the Valentione's apron or a lot more edited for the Witch's attire. That's why people got upset with those since it wasn't a case of just disliking the outfit, but it felt like SE put in no effort for the male versions. This issue has obviously gotten better.

I've read comments, such as yours, that are just simple "I'm not pleased" comments, that just show your overall dissatisfaction. But there are some other comments that I have read that make it sound like they want the devs skewered alive for doing this.

[kunoz]

relax ladies, let the males have the good glam for a sec

[Iscah]

So despite saying the other day that I thought the dress looked more like an apron, and also that I'd like a blouse version of the men's shirt, it didn't quite click at the time...

What I feel like the dress really needs is a blouse under it, so it's more of a pinafore.

It would match the style of the men's design better, both visually and for the era/style of clothing, and it would make sense with that dress shape.

Without changing anything about the dress itself, I think it would make a big difference to the look of the outfit.

[MaiSuu]

I seriously hope they un-genderlock this because the dress is WAYYY too clippy.
Not only is the dress clippy but the pants, don't even rise high enough to use with other items, like the suspenders top without showing belly.

PLEASE SE, please. Give Females access to the vest and males access to the Dress. Just remove the Genderlock!

Begging.

[Iscah]

So I got the dress for my Roegadyn alt. The top part looks better than I was expecting, but I don't like the skirt, and the ruffled hem clips straight through her fingers. It's an issue that could have been fixed by making the skirt an inch or two longer.

Also the undyeable parts are a difficult colour that doesn't quite match anything, but is closest to Dark Brown (for which marketboard prices have skyrocketed).

Dress dyed Dark Brown
+ Augmented Torrent Sleeves (Dark Brown)
+ Makai Markswoman's Ribbon (Soot Black)

Not visible here, but I also dyed the tights Soot Black which actually looks a bit greenish next to the brown so it looks like they're slightly transparent. Interesting effect, though I still would have preferred to make them look plain black.)

Also I got the suits for my two Miqo'te characters.

(I've been wanting this for Zi'aba ever since they announced the event. The brown gives it more of a steampunk vibe than I was expecting it to have.)