Religious Garb

Beaked mask and waxed coat of the plague physician

The plague doctor outfit is the protective costume worn by physicians treating bubonic plague victims in 17th-century Europe — among the most bizarre medical garments in history. Designed in 1619 by French court physician Charles de Lorme, it comprises a long bird-beaked mask, an ankle-length waxed leather coat, wide-brimmed hat, long gloves, boots, and a staff. Pre-germ-theory medicine attributed disease to "miasma" (bad air), so the beak was stuffed with dried herbs, spices, and vinegar-soaked cloth to filter inhaled air. Glass eye-holes preserved vision; the waxed leather sealed off skin contact. Although built on mistaken theory, the outfit happened to block droplets and fleas effectively. The staff let doctors examine patients without touching them. Preserved and aestheticized through Venetian Carnival's medico della peste mask, the plague doctor became the iconic image of death, pestilence, and mysterious alchemy in gothic fantasy, steampunk, and horror.

Korean shaman's ritual gown

The mudang-bok is the elaborate costume worn by Korean shamans during a gut (ritual ceremony). Built on the hanbok foundation, its unique system involves the shaman changing into different garments as they invoke successive spirits: a red jangsam and navy kwaeja for the initial descent of the spirit, a red cheollik and helmet for the warrior god, black official robes for the governing spirit, white dangui for the grandmother spirit, and multicolored saekdong for the child spirit. The garments embody the shaman's role as a stage on which multiple deities perform. Colors follow the obangsaek five-element scheme — red, blue, white, black, yellow mapping to directions and forces. In Korean fantasy and horror, the mudang-bok, paired with bells and blade, is the iconic image of spirit-walking and exorcism.

Medieval European monastic robe

The monk's habit is the ankle-length robe worn by male religious of Medieval Europe, with strictly regulated colors marking each order: Benedictines in black with scapular, Cistercians in white, Franciscans in coarse brown with rope cincture, Dominicans in white with black mantle. Rope belts, hooded cowls, and scapulars symbolized vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Woven from coarse wool or unbleached linen, habits expressed the ascetic ideal in visible contrast to worldly finery. Monks in medieval times were also scholars, tending scriptoria, medicine, and contemplative study. In fantasy, the habit is the archetypal dress of clerics, sages, and reclusive mystics.

Catholic nun's veil and robe

The nun's habit is the dress of Catholic religious women, distinguished from monks' habits by the veil covering the head and the wimple framing face, neck, and chin. From medieval times until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, habits strictly concealed the hair, with each order prescribing its colors — Benedictines in black veil and robe, Carmelites in brown with white wimple, Dominicans in white with black veil. The veil combined the medieval custom of married women covering their hair with the spiritual identity of a "bride of Christ." A crucifix and rosary at the waist completed the ensemble. After Vatican II most orders simplified their dress, though traditionalist communities preserve the classic habit. In fantasy and gothic literature, the nun's habit signals purity, mystery, and sometimes a hidden darkness.

Buddhist monastic robe of patched cloth

The kāṣāya is the traditional robe of Buddhist monks, composed of rectangular pieces of cloth stitched together in a patched pattern. The form originates in the Buddha's instruction that disciples sew their robes from discarded rags, making the patchwork itself a visible symbol of poverty and renunciation. Originally dyed with earth, rust, or plant juices into ochre tones, the kāṣāya adopted regional colors as Buddhism spread — black or brown in Chinese Chan, gray in Korean Seon, vivid multicolor in Japanese schools, and elaborate gold-woven variants among Tibetan lamas. It can be worn with the right shoulder bared (ekāṃsikaṃ) or covering both shoulders. Three sizes — outer, middle, and inner — correspond to different occasions. In East Asian fantasy, the kāṣāya marks the enlightened monk, martial priest, or sage.