Nicole and Crystal Redesigns

Hey, all! So, while I've got the time, I figured I'd toy with some designs for a bit and get some feedback. My main goals with these outfit redesigns were to make them more distinct, in a way. I wanted them to feel fantastical, but not too much; like, in a way that you could tell that they're from a fantasy world, but also something that someone could possibly wear in real life, if that makes sense. More importantly than that, however, I gave myself the mission to make these costumes as in-character as possible, making it seem like something that the characters would actually wear.

Let's start with Nicole. I wanted to push the "mage" angle of her character more while still showing her distinct personality. I had to go over a bunch of different references until I could settle on an outfit that I liked, and figuring out the color scheme for the outfit was even harder, ranging from the D&D sorceress class to the Mii Gunner design from Smash Ultimate. Ultimately, I settled on what you see before you, and given what I was trying to do, I felt like it worked. The scarf, I feel, completes the look - it was meant to reference the cloak/robes that wizards are often seen wearing, though thinking about it, it could also be a cute little nod to her mother, Rosalyn, who used to wear a scarf herself when she was an adventurer. I also felt that those gems on the backs of her gloves add to that sort of mystic/fantastical feel.

Now, onto Crystal. Compared to Nicole, I had an easier time developing Crystal's new outfit. Since Crystal isn't quite as modest as Nicole (and lives in a warmer climate... and uses fire), she's probably gonna show more skin. I kind of went for more of a D&D Monk approach, but I also wanted to portray her more athletic and active traits, hence the shoes. Speaking of, I figured that she'd probably wear stirrups under her shoes instead of socks. Why? Just 'cause. And those things on her head are sort of a combo between sunglasses and goggles to protect her eyes from bright lights. As for the colors, they were easier to decide on than Nicole's, as I just based them off of her old outfit. I almost went with making her pants the same shade of maroon as her old shorts, but I went with white because... I just felt it looked better.

But those are just my thoughts. What do you guys think?

(Side note: Is it just me, or do they seem a bit older than their old designs portrayed them?)