Week to week, our favorite Shadowhunters characters kick butt, drop amazing one-liners, give us serious cases of the feels, and manage to look amazing while doing it all. But did you know the clothing they wear speaks volumes about their personalities? Here is a breakdown of some of the hidden meanings that can be garnered among all of the zippers, leather, and (in some cases) bedazzlement that we see our characters wear on the show.
Alec Lightwood
We all know that at times Alec Lightwood is wild as hell, but this does not really apply to his wardrobe. He mainly sticks to safe solid hues of blue, black, and green, and when he finds that perfect leather jacket or denim shirt, Alec is a chronic re-wearer. He has spent much of his life comfortably hiding in the shadow of his Parabatai and his clothing choices reflect his instinct to stay out of the spotlight. Alec wears clothing that is appropriate and transferable in any situation, and it is a pretty safe bet that he wants his clothing choices to be effortless so that he can fully focus on whatever dilemma is currently at hand. The leather jacket Alec wears on his first couple of dates with Magnus makes a comeback later on in the second season during a time when the two lovers are at odds. He could be wearing it at this time in order to feel closer to Magnus in his own way, or quite possibly my own Malec heart is just reading too deeply into things again. The headcanons are always going off; it can’t be helped.
Clary Fairchild
Clary has her outfit-build down to a science: form-fitting jacket, a classic tee, cool jeans, and lace-up boots with a comfortable heel. Her style is utilitarian and unassuming, much like herself. Similar to Alec, Clary is not necessarily adventurous or flashy with her fashion, but when you take a harder look, there are interesting details that begin to stand out and hint at her uniqueness. Do not take this girl or her outfits at face value.
Isabelle Lightwood
Needless to say, I think we have all been jealous of Izzy’s style and the confidence with which she wears it since her first appearance in the pilot episode. Izzy’s outfits can be described in the same way we would her – sexy and feminine with a badass edge. Mini dresses and sheer tops made out of stretchy materials allow her to strike a balance with a look that works out on a mission just as much as it does on a fashion runway. Izzy is nothing short of impressive. After all, no one else could teach you how to properly fight while wearing five-inch heels.
Jace Wayland
You will almost always see Jace in a cool leather jacket over a henley and some really nice jeans. The leather jacket he wears the most is incidentally the same one Simon gives away to a homeless man in the park in exchange for information about Madzie’s whereabouts (savage, Simon!). But Jace takes it in stride, and replaces that jacket with at least three new ones! He has a suave playboy style that says, “Nothing fazes me,” and pairs it with a trademark smirk and hair tousle that is impossible to resist.
Luke Garroway
Everything about a Luke outfit screams “Ima arrest you first and give you life advice later” and never lets up. It is a consistent, dependable style with which you can never go wrong. Even when Luke is losing control and things are getting out of hand, his wardrobe does not let you know it, and this reflects how Luke always manages to bounce back out of a tough situation. Just as Luke straddles the different worlds of mundane, Downworlder, and Shadowhunter, his style bridges these cavities by presenting himself as a respectable, authoritative figure across the board, and the upright way in which he holds himself and his no-nonsense tone of voice only serve to further enhance his image.
Magnus Bane
Among his many other accomplishments, Magnus should be winning awards for his fashion choices. Magnus wears pieces that are already interesting in and of themselves, but the extra flair here and there is the final touch that makes them undeniably Magnus Bane. A Magnus outfit often includes a tailored jacket made from exquisite materials usually over a busily-printed button-down shirt, added studs or sequins (sometimes even both), and accessories, accessories, and more accessories – there is no such thing as excessive when it comes to the wardrobe of Magnus Bane, and only Magnus Bane can pull it off. Episode 2×13 “Those of Demon Blood,” showed us how Magnus’ style is closely connected with his mood – the more flamboyant the outfit, the cagier Magnus is being with his feelings. The many layers of his ensembles emulate the complexity of the centuries-old immortal being who dons them.
Simon Lewis
What you see is what you get with Simon. His t-shirts usually express his interests and his heart is always on the sleeve of the usual accompanying denim jacket, bomber, or blazer. The graphics on his t-shirts keep up with his own pop-culture references and are telling of his sense of humor. Simon’s style has the look of the college boy he should be or would be if he hadn’t been sucked into the craziness of the Shadow World. Perhaps we will see his style evolve into something that encompasses the vampire rock god he’s now destined to become – if only Simon could come to embrace what he now is, maybe he’d come to realize just how cool that actually sounds!
Shadowhunters will return with Season 3 in early 2018.
