I prefer using the same outfit, partly because it's easier but also because it makes the character more recognizable. But if there's a reason for changing outfit (going to a party, having to use a uniform etc) then I think it's fun to change it up. Or if your story is focused more on fashion, varying the outfits often is nice.
But when you think about it, it's kinda weird when the characters are wearing the same thing everyday. Do they have multiple of the same outfit, do they have to do laundry every day, or smell real bad?
I use the WITCH series as one of my main "role models" for making comics, there the characters have always change their outifts from one day to the other. I remember distinctly a couple sort of behind-the-scenes pages where one of the character was "interviewed" and she showed her wardrove and explained what kind of style she had. I've never been a fashion enthusiast,yet it was a detail I loved, seeing them change their clothes like any normal person and recognizing outfits they had worn a couple issues back.
TLDR: one of my main inspirations for comics did vary the characters' outfits, and so do I
So it personally annoys me when a character has the same outfit (especially in some kid cartoons where they sleep with their day clothes and shoes on) so I am aiming to have every OC in a different outfit depending on the situation. It might be a pain but it’ll prevent me from yelling at the screen while rereading it.
Ohhh, finally, a topic to discuss!
I have my comic series in western cartoonish style and tend to follow it in character ddesigns but still I'm soooo fed up with toon characters having only one look for season so I decided to go more variative. I do still have that one, iconic, as you said, most recognisable character outfit but through the chapters their looks differ a lot.
I like to vary them because it could also show personality that isn't said :"o i don't have a comic yet but I plan to have my characters wear different outfits to also show a change of day as well.
Example i guess? This character has a methodological approach when it comes to his clothing. It's characterized by monochromes and blues/violets (just muted colors). He doesn't wear the same outfit most of the time but his pieces can be similar because of the combinations he used. Like in the second one (the most casual he's in), it doesn't have his usual waistcoat but the lighter blue part of the jacket has a v shape. It's formal-looking w/o looking very out of place in their world and w/o looking flashy.
There's also this girl https://toyhou.se/428577.-lianna-montgomery/gallery?key=Bd0p3bef8a56ZOU6 who I love to draw different outfits of. In her case it's more to show how wealthy her family is (with the patterns and jewelry). In her case too, it's probably one of my favorites because I can use the way she dresses in certain situations/with certain somebody as a contrast (like how she's covered up in social events and how shes willing to show part of her back/shoulders in another).
The only exception I can think of are when it comes to the gods in my story. I don't think they actually have a concept of time in their part of the world so they're just stuck in one or two outfits. The two that change outfits are to show departing influence from the main god.
edit: sorry for the rambly text haha, I just like clothes a lot ><
Only one character in my comic actually wears something different every strip. Why? It's because of concept of the character, which is somewhat meta, and I wonder if the readers have figured it out yet. Although they seemed more curious about her strange hair and eyes. The titular character has different variations of the same suit which changes his look somewhat.
Everyone else just wears the same outfit which only changes depending on the situation.
I also like the idea of changing my characters' outfits, as I prefer a more realistic approach. However, I also like to give each character their own distinctive palette, which is going to stay pretty consistent.
For example, Adrian loves his biker outfits in muted earth tones and there's no way you're gonna change his mind about it :'D
You could see him in grey, black or muted blue sometimes (in the last pic, for example, he's wearing a grey shirt, thouh you can't really see it with all of that light ), but overall he's mostly going to stick to green and brown.
Me too, i try to keep the silhouettes similar and especially the shape language. If i can't fudge the silhouettes, like for example in my second chapter and in my upcoming fourth chapter, then I tend to fall back on clothing choice, specifically collar choice. A character's choice in clothing is a greater personality indicator.
@TheDWrek83 omg hehehe, thank you so much, it's really nice to hear
@IndigoShirtProd I absolutely agree! I especially like to throw some characters in very uncomfortable situations and indicate this not only with the overall plot, but I really enjoy absolutely changing their clothes to something very unusual (thus uncomfortable) for them