Ok, when I said "technology" I basically meant they're not synthetic and wouldn't use plastic fibers in their weave. Aka, they can be created from 100% natural material xD when I wrote that out I just couldn't think of a better word for it so went with the generic term "technology." (also, you'd be surprised at they kinds of things you can make by hand, without machines and such! So regardless of the technology level, there can be some freaking talented seamstresses/tailors that can do WONDERS with needle and thread! I mean...just look at some of those couture gowns... like holy moly
THIS was done completely by HAND?! xD)
Also...hoods to me do not scream elegant and I just can't see the people in Serendipity, with so much at their fingertips and their focus on beauty...focusing on
hoods....it just...seems weird. That's not to say that some people might not really like them, but as a whole it seems very out of place. Elegant and flowy, to me, speaks more of trains and (like you mentioned) draped fabrics but not....hoods. With your moonspear idea, the whole going against vampires, I can see the hoods being a trend there, but not as an overarching "Serenians love hoods"
As for the velvets, you're right about them being heavy but I was thinking more along the lines of giving some awesome texture to an overall look. It doesn't mean they'll want to wear a dress COMPLETELY out of velvet, but mixing of a flowy with a stiffer can really be quite stunning. Also, I was just mentioning some fabrics that really, only nobility and reeeaaaallly wealthy people would have at their disposal xD
And again, I didn't say it would be something that
all nobility would do, but there are bound to be crazy eccentric nobility out there who would want nothing less than to walk around in extravagant gowns all the time xD That
also said, I never really considered their "party attire" to be gaudy just....absolutely stunning. Like, taking a clean cut gown and magicking it to look like moonbeams spilling off of the dress rather than "OMG MORE GEMS! I NEED MORE GEMS! RIBBON GOLD SILVER YAAAY!" >_>
Moving onto empire waist, it depends on the
type of empire waist! The technical definition of an "empire waist" is having a prominent seam below the bust. It can be an
a-line cut dress with an empire waist, it can be a
form fitting gown with an empire waist, or it could be a
more Grecian style have have that flowing right out from the bust that doesn't always look good on everyone
(But damnit they're still beautiful on the people who can wear it! >_<)And I did like your Moonspear dress. I thought it was really pretty.