(Apologies if this thread have been created but why didn't I have ideas for threads when I still had my premium/search button lol)
So! One of my favorite part of a character design is them having a certain design trait or accessory (or just anything like hairstyle, clothing, item, etc) that are strongly associated with a character--they wear/hold them most of the time regardless of outfits, situations (or heck, you can spot it even if the character appears as a silhouette) or they absolutely have that as a part of their character and it's either rare or looks strange if they are seen without one? As one would say, well, their "signature" or "trademark" in a form of design.
Do share as many characters as you want here, I'd love to know! (Also feel free to share if the said design trait is just an extra addition to their design or have a certain story or reason to them)
Prime examples would be: Any form of hats, plushes, hair clips/necklace/bracelets, maybe the character is always seen with a ponytail? And many others
The hairpin that she uses to hold the hairbun at the back of her head in place. It's both important to her storyline and personality, but most important to her design. I'm fine with outfits changing and hairstyle, but as long as the hairpin is somewhere in the pic, it's all good. XD
And for https://toyhou.se/1166115.elora it's the hairaccessory as well as the golden chain on her forehead.
Would probably be the feathers tied to one antler. Even if he’s in human form, the feathers are usually tied round his wrist.
Yuko always has a reptile with her no matter the situation! It's almost always her ball python, but occasionally she brings along a different pet.
Taeruin's outfits are all green due to a lore reason. Partway through his comic, he encounters a deceased buck and removes it's antlers (bucks/deer are significant to Taeruin's backstory and elven culture), and so he drills a hole in one of the prongs and wears it around his neck for the whole rest of the series.
Lumideyr doesn't remove the scarves around his hips, because they're enchanted to act as his legs! If he removed 'em, he wouldn't be able to walk. So, regardless of what he's wearing (or if he's otherwise naked), he keeps his scarves on.
Ollee always has his screen around his neck or slotted into his chest plate. He's selectively mute, and uses it to talk sometimes. He also shows pictures on it, or little emojis pop up while he's speaking. It's removable, but it makes him anxious to go without it.
Placebo's TV-head helmet is probably the most literal example that I have. It's his signature in-series; he's a celebrity and public figure who's known for his eccentric public persona. Few people have actually seen his face. There's merchandise of him and his helmet, copycat celebrities, etc.
I don't have any pics uploaded with them, but most (if not all) of Gideon's outfits involve ballet flats or no shoes at all. His favorite type of outfit is also very short shorts with a sweater, so he wears that often. His signature color is purple.
Most of Eastrolach's outfits are blue, and most of Luna's are purple, but sometimes they wear matching outfits of the same color. They're brothers, and royalty, so they wear their kingdom's colors.
Eni has... a few signature items. The rose on his eye covers up what he believes is his rotting right eye (really he's just blind in it). He wears band-aids because he thinks that worms are crawling out of his skin, so he covers them up. And then, the ceramic hand on his head... well, I haven't decided why he wears that yet, haha.
All of Poppy's outfits are going to involve the color pink.
I'm sure there are more, but it'd take a long time for me to go through them, haha.