Here's the thing that I think is really important to remember when designing anything for Serendipity though.... or really ANY place...
This isn't the Dark Ages, it isn't anything that falls into any type of history that we know. And, even if you want to draw from that history, there's one huge MASSIVE crucial difference: Magic.
I look at it almost from a Dungeons and Dragons perspective.
1) Obviously they're not going to wear Iron, that would be stupid for Serendipity xD
2) Why not have armor that is drawn from magic? Tunics and such can be infused with armor without needing the bulk or the iron.
lol....and yes, Rina xD I did go to bed but I couldn't sleep because all of these thoughts were rolling around in my head!
The magic thing really changes everything, I think. As does the fact that they're descended from a fey heritage....I just have this whimsical feel from it all....both in regular clothing and in armor type things. I mean...who says that they have to purchase dyes? I know that I've played a textile mage before xD This also opens a wide range of stitching styles and just...
MAGIC! It changes everything! I know I've said that at least 5 times (I'm tired and rambling)
So....I just feel like I want more from them than just a tabard...and Serendipity isn't a poor nation, they're actually pretty wealthy with all the trade and that so money wouldn't really be an issue...
And seeing as this is its own entity and not really our history...I really do feel that the soldiers can most certainly have a uniform. Not the foot soldiers should they be enlisted in a fight, I definitely understand that, but just...more than a tabard. Nothing ridiculously fancy or anything, but like...I don't know, everything is issued, everything is uniform inside the palace. The higher ranked you are in the military, the more elaborate the uniform of course...but I just can't justify thinking, "Dark ages, medieval" because I feel like its so limiting with everything that is at Serendipity's fingertips.
I know that this basically goes against everything that we discussed and semi-agreed upon, Rina xD it was a major epiphany that I had while trying to sleep and failing.