Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII garbs

Garbs are special costumes in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII which are an integral part of the Schema system. Players are also capable of changing the colors of each garment via a customization menu. Garbs can also get a new rank.

When equipped with a costume from another Final Fantasy game, Lightning will be granted special sound effects, victory poses, and victory fanfares originating from the costume's respective game.

Color Customization
Players can change colors of garb to their liking. The parts that can be customized depend on the garb. The player can either select all parts of a garb at once, or individual parts, and choose a new color from the menu.

Development
The White and Black Mage outfits available as DLC in Final Fantasy XIII-2 were well-received and there was demand from the fans to bring back past Final Fantasy titles. To respond to that demand, garbs reminiscent of previous Final Fantasy heroes were added to Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: the Splendid Admiral and Heartstealer garb are based on Yoshitaka Amano's depictions of Faris Scherwiz from Final Fantasy V and Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI, respectively. With regard to the Miqo'te outfit from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, the leaders of each project came together to make it happen since the release dates for both games were fairly close to each other.

Garbs based on Yuna's summoner and gunner attires from Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 respectively were included mainly because of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster which was also coming to PlayStation 3, one console on which Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is coming to. Yuna's default Staff and Ring along with Tidus's Brotherhood and Buckler will be equippable too. Cloud's SOLDIER 1st Class-based garb was included because of the demand of a french fansite (ffdream.com), they gave to the producers, Kitase-san and Toriyama-san two drawings of Lightning Strife. An Aerith-based costume was shortly available as part of the downloadable content between December 17th and 20th, 2013, but since then was taken down as it is meant to be acquired through redeeming a code obtained from purchasing a guide book or the Collector's Edition.

Lightning's Mist Wizard garb originally had a victory pose many considered "out of character", in which she raised her arms and crossed her weapons behind her head. After its debut in the game's E3 2013 demo, Square Enix later changed it to a pose similar to that of L'ange Noir, in which she puts hand on her waist. Guardian Corps also got change in victory pose based on Paine's cutscene battle stance from Final Fantasy X-2, because of using different weapon types in the game which don't fold like gunblades in Final Fantasy XIII. Knight of Etro also received a change in victory pose.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Some of Lightning's garbs appear in Final Fantasy Trading Card Game.

Etymology

 * Dust and Shadow is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel by Lyndsay Faye.
 * L'ange Noir is French for 'black angel'. L'automne means 'autumn' in the same language.
 * Vajra means 'thunder' in Sanskrit, "" is the highest rank of Buddhist in Buddhism religion, who will becomes a new Buddha in the future.
 * Shogun, which literally means military general, was one of the hereditary military governors of Japan from 1192 to 1867.
 * Fūrinkazan, was the battle standard used by the Sengoku period daimyo.

Trivia

 * The Equilibrium was described by Isamu Kamikokuryo as his favorite out of all all the garbs.
 * Vajra Bodhisattva's original name was "Sohei Savior".