Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Capturing Decadent Beauty
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Once you've nailed the direction, it's our job as designers to hand them the right weapon for it.
And this direction was way too easy to satisfy.
Because something like decadent charm, sexiness, or sensuality isn't something you stage with clothes—it's something the person themselves has to embody.
The clothes just highlight that vibe.
But witches already meet those basic conditions.
Faces pale from hardly ever seeing sunlight.
Unconventional lifestyles where they wake in the afternoon and sleep in the morning.
Faces smudged from constant all-nighters and fatigue, complete with dark circles.
Even without smoky makeup, they already exude a decadent aura.
The problem is their sloppy behavior and grimy outfits make them look like shut-ins holed up in a corner room.
We'll correct the behavior, and the grimy outfits can be fixed with neat yet bold new dresses.
So no need for risky experiments—just dark colors that cling to the body to clearly outline the figure, without excessive exposure.
We tone down the exposure because flaunting your body to emphasize sexiness is just tacky.
The essence of decadent beauty is something lewd and fallen, yet still beautiful, so you can't let one side overpower the other.
If one dominates the other, you end up with either a prostitute or a noblewoman. The key is striking that balance in the middle.
For example, picture a woman in her thirties wearing jeans, a sweater, and a crisp white coat. You'd think calm and intellectual—maybe a doctor, scientist, counselor, or school nurse.
But add a little staging, and you can flip the vibe completely.
Deep dark circles, gown slipping off one shoulder, half-smoked cigarette clenched between pursed lips.
Throw in half-lidded eyes for extra fatigue, or tousled hair and a few unbuttoned shirt buttons to suggest a lack of leisure.
In other words, decadent beauty hinges on the perfect balance of negative elements layered over positive ones.
The same goes for any outfit.
A Western-style dress, which naturally blends lewdness and elegance, works even better without much extra effort—the base vibe is already there.
Eastern-style clothes aren't impossible, but here they're unfamiliar, so the outfit itself might overshadow the image. No room for that risk.
For a Western dress with slight modifications, my job was pretty light.
Pick a dark, form-fitting one, and you're halfway there.
"Main color is black, no exceptions. Fabric is velvet."
So I started by adding the absolute essentials—like kimchi in kimchi stew.
Unless someone's innately lascivious, you need dark tones like black or at least deep wine red for decadent charm.
And velvet brings its own old-world elegance, so it's essential for beauty that doesn't offend public morals.
Wear bright colors without velvet and still pull off decadent? That's pure talent.
Talent beyond mortal reach.
So black and velvet it is, no question.
"Next up, the hat..."
Not the stereotypical pointed witch hat, but a round-crowned, wide-brimmed velvet hat.
I don't personally like witch hats, and they suit grandma witches more anyway.
Then add a sheer veil along the brim.
The veil helps create an eerie vibe even with a blank expression.
Plus, a veil on a hat subtly evokes mourning, adding a chilling touch.
Embroider funeral flowers on the veil, and add feathers or ribbons to the crown for subtle accents.
Those touches are like a spoonful of beauty plus a sweetener that gives the outfit a "story."
First impressions only, of course.
But how many people get close enough to witches to see past that?
Anyone who knows what witches are really like won't care about outfits anyway, so we skip that.
For witchy emphasis, black or brown feathers work best.
"And the dress."
Ditch the trendy décolletage here—go for a high Victorian collar covering up to the nape, sleeves to the wrists.
Some might complain about the coverage, but compensate by cinching the line from the waist down to hug hips and legs tight.
Like the mermaid dress I made for Elizabeth, but trim the tail and make it an H-line to the ankles.
Blindly squeezing won't do—add a thigh-high side slit so legs peek out with every step.
No bare legs showing, though—pair dark black stockings with garters to show off while keeping things properly covered.
This fills the exposure gap, cuts vulgarity, and gives plausible deniability for public morals.
"Can't forget the shoes."
Normally I'd leave shoes to personal taste, but here legs and feet are fully on display.
Not just peeks—up to the knees for sure.
So finish with 10cm heels to emphasize leg beauty and add height.
Heels can be red or wine instead of black.
"Outfit's done."
Ideally, more dress variations, but this is for the witch collective, not one individual—keep it simple.
Two weeks in, they'll tweak the originals anyway. Customizing risks ruining them.
Uniform format, but easy to customize to respect their free spirits.
Outfit's perfect as is.
But ending here feels a tad lacking.
It squeezes max sexiness from restraint, but restraint leaves beauty a bit short.
Especially since it needs untouchable elegance, and right now it's a smidge soft.
Instead of more clothes, fill it with optional accessories they can pick.
Curate some good ones: fan, pipe, parasol and gloves, petite gem leather choker, corset.
Corset isn't an accessory, but wear it over the dress here.
Glasses crossed my mind briefly, but nah.
Don't hate them, just don't fit witchy decadence.
Fine for grandma witches, but targeting 20-30s, so glasses are out.
Personally love the pipe, choker, and parasol trio.
Three because different spots call for different items.
Pipe for intimate dawn meetings, choker for public indoors, parasol outdoors—for varied shades of gloom.
"Hmm..."
With a quick sketch of a hand holding various accessories in the corner, I leaned back to eye the whole thing.
Just right.
Even if witches customize it weirdly, it'll still scream witch.
As long as they don't shred it to rags, the base holds.
Lower neckline, shorter skirt, higher slit, cropped sleeves? Vibe stays.
Do it all, though, and it's slutty game witch cosplay. But from my taste, they're not that far gone.
Well, one nudist tribe, but every group has crazies.
Past life had no-panties health nuts, so nudists are fair game.
"Oh, right."
Just when I thought it was all done...
Something missing hit me—I gripped my pencil tight.
Fine without, but the leather belt at the waist is crucial.
Emphasizes waist like an accessory, plus hooks for potions and tools—multipurpose must-have.
And as mentioned, corrects lines for big-chested folks.
No huge ones among the witches I've seen, but someone might, someday.
Hell, plenty around me.
I know how seriously they agonize over chest woes.
So belt's essential.
The moment I sketched it on paper, certainty tingled from my fingertips.
"Nice. This seals it."
I set the pencil down with a cheerful grin.