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Avatar Closet: Azula

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Cultural Fashion: Ember Island Fashion Pt. 1

Since “The Beach” features a lot of new and original outfits, I figured I’d divide “Ember Island Fashion” into a series of posts. First I’ll be covering Azula’s party outfit, since that design takes the most influence from historical fashion.

Her design is inspired by traditional Southeast Asian clothing, particularly the fashion of the Angkor Empire (802–1431), a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom. This empire encompassed modern-day Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. For the sake of convenience, I’ll be using the Cambodian (Khmer) words for these clothing items, as those are the terms I’m most familiar with.

Overall, her look is reminiscent of Thai and Cambodian depictions of apsara, female spirits in Hindu and Buddhist culture with dominion over various kinds of revelry (dancing, gambling, etc). The first picture in the second row and the middle picture in the third row are examples of how apsara are commonly portrayed in Thailand and Cambodia.

Jewelry

The thick gold necklace she’s wearing was a popular accessory for royalty during the Angkor period, influenced by the style of jewelry coming from India. While I haven’t found a specific name for these types of necklaces, I think calling them “apsara necklaces” would be appropriate, as that’s usually the imagery people are evoking when wearing them. The gold armband that Azula’s wearing is also a common accessory in traditional Thai and Cambodian formal wear and is similarly influenced by Indian culture. However, the chest-belt accessory that she’s wearing is uniquely Angkorian, having been worn exclusively by kings and princes (as far as I’ve seen). Which makes me wonder if she borrowed (snatched) it from Zuko just to… stand out more than Ty Lee. ;)

Clothing

The top that Azula’s wearing is a simple wraparound tube top known as an aor chong pong (អាវចងពង់) in Cambodian. Her skirt is a unique cross between Angkor culottes called chong kben (ចងក្បិន) and an Angkor wrapskirt called a sampot (សំពត់). Like chong kben, Azula’s skirt is knee-length and gathers at the center; like sampot, it’s a skirt with a strip of fabric that hangs down the front. Finally, the curly shoes she wears were also quite en vogue during the Angkor period— Although, curly shoes have always been pretty popular throughout Asia.

I find it hilarious that right after saying that she wants to pass as a normal Fire Nation citizen for the night, she proceeds to wear like three pounds of gold meant for literal kings and goddesses.

Like what I’m doing? Tips always appreciated, never expected. ^_^

https://ko-fi.com/atlaculture

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a little something for tea and cakes

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take me back to a simpler time

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Zuko’s Legacy Twitter | Instagram

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“Family dinner”

Did a little portrait of little Azula. She is about 11 here.

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the question of what would have become of sasuke had he not learned about konoha's involvement in the uchiha massacre really does keep me up at night. before that point, sasuke had devoted every waking minute to matching itachi. after finally letting naruto and sakura in and admitting to himself that protecting his friends was as important to him as seeking justice for the family he'd lost, his encounter with itachi knocked him back on the path of vengeance at the cost of everything else. killing itachi was all that he lived for... i don't think sasuke ever conceived of there being an "after."

this panel in particular is so haunting. what's left after you've completed the quest that consumed the very essence of your being? what happens once everyone you can admit to loving is dead and you've avenged them? what must have gone through sasuke's mind, watching itachi crumple to the ground not only as the murderer of his clan but also as his beloved nii-san, tapping his forehead and asking for forgiveness one last time -- and knowing that itachi fell by his hand? sasuke just smiles, and then collapses right next to itachi like he's dead too.

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Azula’s Corruption Twitter | Instagram

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Konan from NARUTO

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Azula + Thrones

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Kushina sensei au, where she trains obito and Rin (tho mostly Obito at first, since she first encountered the lik guy @ the training grounds)

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Kimimaro from NARUTO

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Anko from NARUTO

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Haku from NARUTO

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Just a little dude