Silly little question

So . . . I’m thinking of setting “Talking Heads” in a fancy restaurant. Should Sunset wear:

• A trim, sober suit, like she wore in Diplomatic Overtures?
• A frilly, striking dress, like she’s worn in episodes?
• If the latter, does any particular design stand out, or should it be original?

Comments

[PresentPerfect]

Always Sunset suit. Always.

[Masterweaver]

Why not both? Rarity is around after all. A suit jacket that has ankle-length frilly tails and flared sleeves, complimented by slacks, bowtie, and a fine tuxedo. All in red with orange accents, of course, since this is Colorful Earth and not everything has to be strictly black. Throw on some jewelry--I forget if Sunset is considered a diplomat, but an 'implied tiara' of silver chain on her head could remind our friend Pinstripes that this is somebody a foreign country likes. No heels, though, and keep the jewelry to a minimum--head only. We don't want to seem too ostentatious, and Pinstripes probably respects power. Are we allowed a "ceremonial" sword or dagger? A dagger could be placed in front of a belt buckle, with the sheathe designed to fit into the general outfit.

[lazyreader19]

Either works, but I'd like to put forth Sunset's dress from "I'm on a yacht"

derpicdn.net/img/view/2019/5/6/2032244.jpeg
derpicdn.net/img/view/2019/1/12/1933227.png

[EchoWing]

I'd go with the suit. It shows that Sunset's taking things seriously.

[Super Trampoline]

Did someone say Talking heads and food?

[FanOfMostEverything]

5068962
Rarity and Cook would make for a fantastic pair of wardrobe consultants. One knows fashion, the other knows his boss. Together, they might just manage to eke out a positive first impression.

As for what they'd conclude... Suit with vividly colored power tie seems like a strong contender.

[Masterweaver]

SCREW IT I WILL DRAW THE THING

I WON'T COLOR IT BECAUSE I AM NOT THAT FANCY BUT I WILL DRAW IT

[Masterweaver]

Why not both?

SCREW IT I WILL DRAW THE THING

i.postimg.cc/pdH2WQZw/Sunset-Diplomat-Outfit-Sketch.png
So! Working our way up from the bottom:

Shoes are based off basic black shoes. Maybe black with orange highlights. Slacks are basic slacks, red. We get to the belt, and it gets interesting. The belt buckle is a sheathe for a dagger, with the images of both Celestia and Luna's cutie marks on the front. It's a very old metaphor: Celestia and Luna are giving Sunset the weapon she needs to protect Equestria's sanctity, but the weapon is sheathed because they don't think she'll need to use it.

From there we move onto the tux. Standard woman's tux, orange with a red bowtie. And then there's the coat, it has waist-pockets and chest pockets and flared sleeves with cuffs and a long, lacy tail that makes it into a dress. The coat is red, but it has a firey pattern in orange that reaches from the tail up the back and down the sleeves, reminiscent of a phoenix. There's red cufflinks, a red band of gems around the back of the waist, and just below the gems is a single sky-blue ribbon, tied in the back in a decorative knot resembling a butterfly.

Then we get to the accessories. I'm not sure if Sunset will be wearing opera gloves (orange), the outfit works well with or without them. But I do think she'll be wearing cutie mark earrings and "The Chain Of Harmony," a band on her head made of six larger rings linked together by paired chains of six smaller links a piece. That's a total of 6*2*6 links, for 72 links, plus the 6 big rings. I did put a little outline next to her head.

Also, she's wearing her hair back--not in a ponytail (although that would be appropriate) but in a looser 'pull-back before letting it flow' arrangement that meshes with the fire on her coat so it makes her hair look like the beak of the phoenix. If that at all makes sense.

EDIT: Well apparently the image link isn't working so here's a direct link.
https://i.postimg.cc/pdH2WQZw/Sunset-Diplomat-Outfit-Sketch.png

[Rose Quill]

I’ll talk to you in the Discord later.

[FanOfMostEverything]

5069014
"Rarity, it's, uh..." Sunset bit her lip as she took in the sketchbook.

"Don't hold back, dear."

"It's great, really, I'm just not sure it really sends the message I'm looking for."

"Well, I was going to try to adapt traditional Equestrian diplomatic garb, however..." As Rarity trailed off, she gave Sunset a flat look over her designing glasses, not so much asking the other girl to finish the sentence as daring her.

Sunset sighed. "Ponies don't normally wear pants."

"Ponies do not, in fact, normally wear pants. Or much of anything. You have your god-queens trotting about in nothing but shoes and a smile, for goodness sake."

"There are a number of things wrong with that statement, but I understand where you're coming from."

[Masterweaver]

5069232
Suit in the front, dress in the back!

[Dave Bryant]

5068959 5068962 5068964 5068977 5069098 5068967
Overall it seems the suit edges out its competition in the voting, and I confess I lean a bit that way myself, so suit it is! However, it won’t be a straight-up business suit black tie. Some of the suggestions I’ve fielded, even for dresses or gowns, will find their way in; others won’t feature directly, but did spark alternative ideas. Thanks to one and all, and rest assured your input definitely was tremendously helpful.

[EchoWing]

5071042
Not a problem.

[Dave Bryant]

5069232
As usual, this is brilliant.