imo, much of the discourse on fashion in the games industry runs back to the complex of masculinity, power, and youth running through every aspect of this industry - how it is idealized, worshipped, exploited, extorted, intruded upon, used to influence or even abuse others.
there's an inherent youthfulness we associate with play that seems to bring a devil-may-care "we have fun here" culture into games, which so often trots right over barely-defined borders into blatant unprofessionalism - in the office, at social functions, etc.
at the same time, the upper rafters of this industry run on concentrated ego, manifested in control and command of massive amounts of labor power to make dreams manifest. there's a sort of divine mandate of creative self-actualization there, no matter the cost.
a man's world and a boy's club at the same time - and this image so often sold as freedom AND power is reflected in the classic blazer/jacket+tshirt, pretty much on its face!
i feel so often that men in this industry dress in a way that combines:
-a show of power/seniority that comes with age -a clashing appeal at youthfulness in an effort to buck the responsibility that comes w/ their command -vulnerability (that they have the privilege to display!)
as an indie who's burning through the youth that so often carries the appeal/momentum of indie successes, i can't /not/ consider this.
including boundaries - it's so important for men in this industry to understand that being a "funmaker" doesn't give you the keys to everything!
this doesn't even touch upon how this is reflected in the influencer/streamer/games cultural space, and the massive disparities in presentation, agency, and taboo between masc-presenting and femme-presenting people there...
(example relevant to tonight: troy baker fashioning himself a tiktok zoomer and what that communicates.)
