You’re stuck in the school uniform. It’s the first thing you notice in Paldea, and honestly, it’s kinda frustrating. Whether you chose Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, the game locks you into those academy colors for the majority of your journey. But that doesn't mean you have to look exactly like every other NPC wandering around Mesagoza. The Pokémon Scarlet clothes shop system isn't about changing your shirt or pants—since those are restricted to the four seasonal uniform variants—it’s about the "everything else." We’re talking shoes, bags, hats, glasses, and those oddly specific leggings.
Paldea is huge. Really huge. If you’re sprinting through the province on the back of Koraidon, you might completely miss the fact that the fashion boutiques are concentrated in just three main hubs. You won't find a high-end sneaker store in the middle of the psychic-type gym town of Alfornada. You’ve got to head to the cities. Specifically, Mesagoza, Levincia, and Cascarrafa. Each of these spots serves a different "vibe," and if you’re looking for something specific like a pair of cool pom-pom gloves or a leather backpack that doesn't look like a preschooler's bookbag, you need to know which door to walk through.
The Mesagoza Hub: Where Your Journey Actually Begins
Mesagoza is the heart of the game. It’s where you’ll find the widest variety of entry-level gear. Most players stumble into Rough & Tough or Paldea Real Estate early on. Rough & Tough is basically your one-stop shop for the outdoorsy look. It’s got those chunky trekking boots and sporty caps that make you look like you’re actually ready to climb a mountain instead of just falling off one by accident.
Then there’s Bagged-In. This is a big one. Since you can’t change your uniform, your bag is the biggest canvas you have for personal expression. You’ll find canvas backpacks here in a dozen different colors. It's simple stuff, but it helps. You also have Sock Quarter, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a bit weird that there’s a whole store dedicated to socks, but in a world where your trousers are non-negotiable, a bright pop of color between your shoe and your hemline is one of the few ways to stand out.
Don't sleep on Spec-tacular. Glasses in Pokémon Scarlet aren't just for aesthetics; they really change the "face" of your character model. From rimless frames to thick-rimmed hipster glasses, this is where you go to look smart while your Fuecoco misses another tackle. Mesagoza is the foundational stop. It’s where you set your base look before you get enough LP or Poké Dollars to afford the designer stuff in the coastal cities.
The Cascarrafa Oasis and High-End Luxury
Cascarrafa is arguably the most beautiful city in the game, sitting on those tiered waterfalls. It’s also where the fashion gets a bit more... sophisticated. This is where you find Seguro Style. If you want biking gear or something that looks a bit more "technical," this is your spot. It’s a bit more expensive than the shops in Mesagoza, reflecting the wealthier vibe of the city.
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But the real crown jewel of the Pokémon Scarlet clothes shop circuit in Cascarrafa is Verandah. Verandah is where you go when you’re tired of looking like a generic student. They carry the more elegant accessories. Think silk scarves and designer sunglasses. It feels more "boutique" and less "department store."
What’s interesting about Cascarrafa is how it’s laid out. You’ve got shops on different levels of the city, and if you aren't using the elevators or jumping across the streams, you’ll miss half of them. Most people just run to the Gym, beat Kofu, and leave. Big mistake. Take five minutes to check the shop icons on your mini-map. The selection of legwear here—tights, leggings, socks with patterns—is significantly better than what you’ll find in the early game.
Levincia: The Electric City’s Streetwear Scene
Levincia is the Tokyo of Paldea. It’s bright, it’s neon, and it’s the home of Iono, the superstar streamer. Naturally, the fashion here is the most modern. If you’re looking for that "streetwear" aesthetic, you’re heading to the Pokémon Scarlet clothes shop locations in the north and south plazas of this metropolis.
Rough & Tough has another branch here, but the real draw is Zapchu. It’s trendy. It’s loud. It’s got that Electric-type energy. You can find items that lean into the tech-wear aesthetic, which fits the city's skyscraper backdrop. Levincia is also the best place to find high-end footwear. We’re talking about sneakers that actually look like they belong on a human and not just clunky plastic boots.
Something many people miss: the inventory in these shops actually updates. It’s not a massive shift, but as you progress through the three main storylines—the Gyms, the Titans, and Team Star—you’ll find that your options expand. It’s tied to your progress. If you go back to Levincia after getting five or six badges, you might see colors or styles that weren't there when you first arrived with a level 15 Pawmi.
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Why the Uniform Restriction Exists (and Why It Sucks)
Let’s be real for a second. The biggest complaint about fashion in Scarlet and Violet is the uniform. In previous games like Sword and Shield or X and Y, you could buy entire outfits. You could wear a leather jacket, a hoodie, or a summer dress. In Scarlet, you are a student at Naranja Academy. Period.
Game Freak made a specific design choice here. They wanted the "school" theme to be central to the identity of the game. You have four options:
- The Spring Uniform (Shorts and a short-sleeved shirt)
- The Summer Uniform (Even shorter shorts and a vest)
- The Autumn Uniform (Pants and a sweater vest)
- The Winter Uniform (Pants and a thick blazer)
Because you are stuck in these orange-heavy outfits (or purple if you were in Violet), the Pokémon Scarlet clothes shop ecosystem had to over-compensate with accessories. This is why there are more hat, bag, and shoe options than in almost any other entry in the series. It’s a trade-off. You lose the torso and leg customization, but you gain a granular level of detail in the "add-ons."
Some fans speculate this was also a technical limitation. Paldea is a seamless open world, which was a huge jump for the developers. Reducing the number of clothing models the game has to render on the player character might have saved some precious processing power to keep the frame rate from dipping even further than it already does. It’s a bummer, but it’s the reality of the engine.
Tips for Mastering Your Paldean Style
If you want to actually look good, you have to work with the orange. Orange is a loud color. It’s hard to pair with certain blues or greens without looking like a walking traffic cone.
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- Go for Neutrals: Black, white, and grey accessories are your best friends. A black backpack and black sneakers from Rough & Tough help ground the bright orange of the Naranja uniform.
- Lean into the Contrast: If you want to be bold, look for teals or deep blues. Blue is the complementary color to orange on the color wheel. You can find some great blue headwear in Levincia that makes the uniform pop in a way that looks intentional rather than accidental.
- The DLC Factor: If you have the "The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero" DLC, you get access to even more uniforms. These aren't just color swaps; they have different cuts and styles that feel a lot less "school-ish." The Jinbei outfits you get in Kitakami are a massive breath of fresh air for anyone tired of the blazer-and-slacks life.
- Don't forget the Hair: Fashion isn't just about the Pokémon Scarlet clothes shop you visit; it’s about the Salon Renne locations. Changing your hair color to match your new accessories is the final step in the process. It costs 3,000 Poké Dollars, which is a steal compared to some of the 40,000 Poké Dollar bags in Cascarrafa.
The Hidden Complexity of LP vs. Cash
When you’re shopping in Paldea, you’ll notice two prices. One is in regular money, the other is in LP (League Points). LP is incredibly easy to farm by doing Tera Raids or just touching the glowing sparkles on the ground.
Honestly? Save your cash for items that actually help you in battle, like Mints or Vitamins from Chansey Supply. Use your LP for the clothes. Since LP is a "secondary" currency, it feels a lot less painful to drop 15,000 points on a pair of cool sunglasses than it does to spend your hard-earned tournament winnings.
Shopping is a bit of a chore because there's no "preview all" button that works across different stores. You have to go into the shop, try the item on, and then commit. But it’s worth it. Even within the confines of a school uniform, you can tell a lot about a trainer by whether they’re wearing "Cool" glasses from Levincia or a "Sporty" cap from Mesagoza.
Actionable Steps for the Fashion-Forward Trainer
Ready to fix your look? Here is exactly what you should do next time you fire up the game. First, fly to Cascarrafa (North). Check the shops on the upper levels specifically for the Verandah boutique. Look for the gloves and scarves there; they have the highest "detail" count and look the most "premium" on your character model.
After that, head to Levincia and find the Zapchu store. Grab a pair of high-top sneakers. They look way better than the default school loafers. Finally, if you’re sitting on a pile of LP, go to Bagged-In in Mesagoza and buy the leather backpack. It’s the most versatile bag in the game and fits all four seasonal uniforms perfectly.
Don't let the academy rules stifle your creativity. You might be a student, but you’re also the person who’s going to catch the literal gods of time and space, or at least a very angry prehistoric salamander. You might as well look decent while doing it.