shawlternatives?

[Arinna Katal]

In the trailer for the TV show, it appears that the Aes Sedai don't have shawls--at least, I'm assuming so because no one has a shawl in the Hall of the Tower, a place in which I imagine all book Aes Sedai would definitely be shawled up--but, rather, exclusively wear dresses in the color of their Ajah. I feel like this probably makes sense from a costuming perspective for a TV show, but I will admit that "raised to the shawl" has a ring to it that "raised to the dress in the solid color of your Ajah," uh, doesn't really as much.

But that got me thinking about shawls. Rings as a signifier of status make lots of sense to me--they're compact, easy to wear, easy to travel with, and match all of your clothes with no problem. Shawls, however, are more difficult. What if, let's say, you're Green Ajah, but your favorite color is orange, so you have a lot of orange clothes? It's going to be...difficult to make that work. Possibly even more important: the books establish that cats love women who can channel. That fringed shawl is going to pose a PROBLEM around a cat!

Anyway, this is a long and rambling introduction to the question I'm pondering: what could Aes Sedai be raised to other than a shawl? Idle speculation on a Saturday morning.

 

[Arella Mathara]

Since they seem to be going for different stones depending on your Ajah, I'm thinking "raised to the ring" if anything.

What they do with the girls traveling with their rings etc I have no idea, lol. And am fine with them dropping that aspect completely.

 

[Arinna Katal]

Sorry, upon reviewing my original post, I think I wasn't clear (you mean the meandering wall of text I produced while drinking coffee and listening to a podcast wasn't a model of perfect clarity?? SHOCKER)

I guess the conversation I'm trying to have is:
If you were suddenly in charge of WoT worldbuilding, and Accepted definitely got a ring, what would YOU have Aes Sedai raised to? Would you keep shawls? Would you have some other signifier of Aes Sedai status?

I don't have good answers to this! I just thought it was an interesting thing to think about.

 

[Jaryd Kosari]

Based on the trailer, I think Aes Sedai are raised to the ring and Accepted have rainbow dresses (and there are no novices), so it's difficult to think of it any other way.

 

[Lyndo Shiranui]

Scarf would be cool, maybe. Or the Flame of Tar Valon having the colour of the Ajah the person chose, being tattooed on the person, maybe on top of their right hand or something.

 

[Arinna Katal]

Scarf would be cool, maybe. Or the Flame of Tar Valon having the colour of the Ajah the person chose, being tattooed on the person, maybe on top of their right hand or something.

Ooooo, this is a great idea! I keep defaulting to jewelry-related ideas, which doesn't seem super original, but this is very innovative and I love it!

 

[Elia LePhant]

Hmm I do like the idea of not using shawls just because from experience they are super annoying. But I’m not sure what. Jewelry does make sense like the new rings.

 

[Elania al'Manir]

I will admit that "raised to the shawl" has a ring to it that "raised to the dress in the solid color of your Ajah," uh, doesn't really as much.

This got a rl from me!

 

[Arinna Katal]

Hmm I do like the idea of not using shawls just because from experience they are super annoying. But I’m not sure what. Jewelry does make sense like the new rings.

Yes, this was sort of the basis for my entire thought process, haha! As in, the sequence of events in my brain was:
1) Accepted get rings, Aes Sedai get shawls, that's how it is
2) Huh, looks like they're doing things differently on this TV show, INTERESTING
3) Gee, now that I think about it, it seems like that fringed shawl situation might be really annoying? I bet RJ never tried to wear a fringed shawl for an extended period of time--that bad boy's gonna get snagged on EVERYTHING
4) So what could be done instead of a shawl? This seems like a fun thing to think about on a weekend--let's go ask this giant WoT message board that I just joined!

 

[Arinna Katal]

This got a rl from me!

True confessions: I probably wouldn't have posted this thread at all, except that I came up with this joke when considering this question and liked it too much to not use it

 

[Lyndo Shiranui]

I was always wondering what to wear when I become an Aes Sedai. What male Aes Sedai would wear... And I thought of scarfs, or jackets that has the Flame on the back. But the long hair would hide the Flame, so that's not very optional for me. :scratch

 

[Arella Mathara]

Oh, right, this isn't in the TV show forum, lol. I never pay attention to where I am in here. Or elsewhere

Maybe weird hats? "Raised to the Cap"

Or a special necklace? "Raised to the Chain". I actually like that. The expression at least.

Aes Sedai are Servants of All, so maybe a pin representing that? "Raised to the Office".

I'm just bouncing off all kinds of ideas now

 

[Arinna Katal]

I was always wondering what to wear when I become an Aes Sedai. What male Aes Sedai would wear... And I thought of scarfs, or jackets that has the Flame on the back. But the long hair would hide the Flame, so that's not very optional for me. :scratch

Another very excellent point: shawls are coded as feminine in a way that probably doesn't jive with everyone's gender presentation! I do like the jacket idea, but I admittedly have extremely short hair.

Oh, right, this isn't in the TV show forum, lol. I never pay attention to where I am in here. Or elsewhere

Maybe weird hats? "Raised to the Cap"

In your defense, I was the one who brought up the TV show, so it makes perfect sense that you thought I was talking about the TV show, a thing that I specifically talked about!

And I LOVE the weird hats concept! Very Juilin Sandar vibes, haha! I always truly enjoyed that he was apparently like "You know what? I'm gonna be Weird Hat Guy now, this is the vibe I'm going for"

I'm just bouncing off all kinds of ideas now

YESSSSSSSS this is what I was hoping for!

 

[Arella Mathara]

I was always wondering what to wear when I become an Aes Sedai. What male Aes Sedai would wear... And I thought of scarfs, or jackets that has the Flame on the back. But the long hair would hide the Flame, so that's not very optional for me. :scratch

A scarf with Flames at the ends would be lovely.

And tbh I'm not a hat person so all hats are weird hats And weird is a compliment coming from me so no use in anyone being offended

 

[Hal Bahalla]

And I LOVE the weird hats concept! Very Juilin Sandar vibes

I could never figure out what kind of hat he was wearing. Anyone more fashion aware than I have an example picture to share?

PS - Sorry for totally hijacking the thread with an off topic question.

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

@Hal Bahalla something like this hat?

 

[Jaryd Kosari]

Pretty sure he wears a fez. Fezes are cool.

 

[Imzadi Hopewind]

Then it is shorter than the one I linked to...

 

[Lyndo Shiranui]

Then it is shorter than the one I linked to...

Probably, yeah

 

[Hal Bahalla]

@Hal Bahalla something like this hat?

LOL… that is hilarious… I am so going to enjoy reading his parts even more when I get to it again. Thanks so much Imzadi Sedai