Some design variations for Sunset. Pre-redemption poncho fit, casual fit, and post-redemption charro fit.

Lots of design notes for this.

Casual Sunset is easy. I wanted to do her leather vest from the show + a Han Solo reference.

Post-redemption Sunset. For starters, in the AU, whenever a witch undergoes a big change in their life/turns over a new leaf, they cut their hair. Hair is the source of their magical power (that’s why Thea has hers in locs. Hair is important for witches) and cutting it greatly reduces their power. Luna cuts her hair short and Sunset will too. But I don’t want it to seem like Sunset’s restraining herself or bottling up her emotions, so she wears her hair in a ponytail. It’s bound, but can be released at any time at her choosing. She’s keeping it under control.

Sunset’s wearing a charro suit now rather than her poncho. There’s literally less stuff weighing her down or covering her body. She still wears a serape over her shoulder; an old remanent of her poncho and past that she carries with her. Only now as a bright statement piece rather than a veil to hide herself inside of. The serape + shoulder pads are also meant to give the silhouette of a cape, making her look more knightly and heroic. The suit jacket is meant to look like her leather jacket in the show too.

I wanted to do a charro suit too cuz of how it symbolizes Mexican pride, showing how Sunset’s learned to connect with her identity as a human/Mexican rather than chase her identity as a Canterlotian. It’s also a symbol of personal pride. Compared to her previous outfit, the new clothes are detailed and embroidered and regal. They demand to be maintained and cleaned (especially because she’s wearing a more formal, gala-esque charro suit). She cares more about her presentation now and is less utilitarian. Wearing nicer clothes as a representation of self-love, basically.

Her witch hat-sombrero now has a sunflower symbol rather than an incomplete sun (all the witches have a flower associated with them. Luna’s is a epiphyllum oxypetalum, for example). And lastly, with the short hair + suit and pants, I wanted her to look very androgynous. I dunno why, but my rendition of Sunset has always felt very trans/genderqueer coded to me just by vibes, so I wanted to reflect that in her post-redemption look. That plus how she’s no longer wearing draping/baggy clothes and now wears a tucked shirt, pants, and sash belt that defines her figure. She’s more comfortable being in and showing her body.

Comparison.