In FF7 Remake, Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa each have three possible dresses to wear as candidates in front of Don Corneo, the ruler of Wall Market.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake not only kept the game portion from the original that features Cloud in a dress, but Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith all have three different dresses that they can wear when going to meet Don Corneo. The dress that each character wears is the result of which side quests players have done in certain chapters prior to reaching this section of the game. Events that affect the dress options begin as early as chapter 3, so it helps if players know which dresses are the best and how to get them.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Remake.]
When Aerith and Cloud spot Tifa being taken to Don Corneo in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, they decide it's too dangerous for her to go alone and prepare to join her. Corneo is a crime lord and the ruler of Wall Market in Sector 6. Each night, he chooses a "bride," and Tifa is becoming one of the bride candidates for the chance to interrogate Corneo, who recently sent some of his people after Barret. Since Aerith and Cloud decide to join her for safety purposes, they have to find a way to become bride candidates themselves to ensure that nothing happens to Tifa, and that they are able to get answers from Corneo.
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Corneo has made a deal with Shinra, an evil FF7 company that's crucial to the game's story, but Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa need to dress up before they can find this information. Of the nine available dresses, Tifa's offer the most player control, while Cloud's are more difficult since some of the variables that factor into deciding which dress he'll have remain unknown. The dresses range from being on the plain side to being extravagant. If players take the time to unlock all of them, they'll receive an achievement titled "Dressed to the Nines."
The ability to choose Tifa's dress takes place in a scene called "Alone at Last" that is unlocked if players complete all the side quests in chapter 3 as a mercenary for hire. It plays in Sector 7, the home of Avalanche in FF7 Remake, after Cloud goes to receive his pay. If players choose the refined option in the scene, the result is a fairly plain cocktail dress. Its most prominent feature is that it's very revealing. Out of the nine dresses, this one isn't as unique, and Tifa's other options seem more suitable for her.
If players complete two or fewer side quests in chapter 8, Aerith will wear a simple, pink summer dress. Similar to Tifa's cocktail dress in FF7 Remake, this one is more on the plain side. Aside from a bit of a floral design by the neckline and some silly frilled cloth over her shoulders, this dress is very modest compared to other character designs in FF7 Remake and not as eye-catching as the other dress options also in the game.
If players complete three or four side quests in chapter 8, Aerith wears a pink dress with a halter style neckline. This dress is a lot like Aerith's summer dress in overall design, with a lot of the flare to it being found in the neckline and the hem. Aside from the halter neckline, this dress' hem is frilled. It's short in the front, then grows longer as it reaches the back, creating a cape-like image. The positive side is that this dress would provide mobility for an escape from FF7 Remake Whispers, which often attack Aerith.
If the player doesn't do any side quests in FF7 Remake chapter 9, then Cloud will wear this layered dress complete with bows tying off his braids. This dress is bicolored with an inner and outer layer, both of which are plain in design. The most flare this dress offers is in the white section of the sleeves that flare out and the bow settled at the waistline.
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If players are looking for the fastest path through the Wall Market section of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, this would be the most desirable option. Since no side quests have to be completed for this dress, it saves time to choose Cloud's simple black dress in FF7 Remake. Also, players still get to see the Beehive scene regardless of which dress Cloud wears.
In FF7 Remake's "Alone at Last" scene, if the player chooses the sporty option, Tifa will wear a cheongsam. This dress is form-fitting with a leopard print design and a large flower on one shoulder. Instead of her usual hairstyle, Tifa has her hair tied up into two side buns.
This dress for Tifa is reminiscent of Chun-Li's outfit from Street Fighter. The design of this dress is focused more on the cut and the accessories instead of decorations on the dress itself, which creates a mix of sportiness and elegance. Tifa has changed a bit in FF7 Remake, but she still has a brawler fighting style. The cut of this dress allows her the mobility to beat up her enemies in style.
Players who complete all Madam M side quests in chapter 9 of Final Fantasy 7 Remake will see Cloud don a full gown with plenty of frills and a tiara on top. Where the default dress for Cloud is on the plain side, this gown is much more elaborate. It's also the only gown where Cloud isn't wearing braids.
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The lavender cloth also has a metallic quality to it for this dress. The skirt for this dress is wide and layered, and for someone like Cloud who makes a living by fighting in FF7 Remake, it is likely cumbersome to move while wearing it. However, it has a lot of detail added to it that could draw the eyes of Don Corneo.
Players who complete all side quests in chapter 8 will see Aerith in her red dress. This is the closest to the dress Aerith wears in the original FF7, but updated to fit the higher quality of graphics in the remake. The cloth looks to have a velvet quality, which adds an air of elegance. The top of the dress is form-fitting, but the skirt flares out with layers of ruffles and features a slit on one side to show her leg. There aren't a lot of decorations on the dress aside from a bow on the back, and this allows the cut to take center stage.
Selecting the exotic option in "Alone at Last" results in what is possibly the most unique option of Final Fantasy 7 Remake's nine dresses. This dress is a black kimono with a short skirt and a couple of red decorations added. The simple pattern on the sleeves is accented by the obi and silver bows on her waist. The black and silver color scheme makes the red on the kimono and in her hair pop. The third dresses of both FF7 friends Tifa and Aerith draw attention, and have some complementary coloring.
If players complete Chocobo Sam's side quests instead of Madam M, Cloud will wear a black and blue dress with a corset. It doesn't have the same level of extravagance as the lavender gown, but the dark colors of this dress provide a contrast to Cloud's light hair color, eyes, and pale skin. The cut of this gown is modest, but the top is more elaborate and form-fitting which draws the attention away from the plain skirt. It provides a balance between Cloud's other two dresses in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and shows that he'd dedicated enough to this mission that he's willing to wear a corset.
Parts of the original FF7 have been changed in FF7 Remake, and players were wondering if Cloud would still don a dress, or if that section wouldn't make it into the game. However, this scene has not only been included, but elaborated upon and given more than one dress option. The game's story deals with some heavy topics, including the potential death of the planet, the extinction of an ancient race, and unethical experimentation. The inclusion of portions like Wall Market help add levity, and fashion decisions, to Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Melissa Sarnowski is a recent graduate from UW-Madison with an English degree and an emphasis on creative writing. She has been a lifelong gamer, enjoying games of all types from the Sims and Stardew Valley to Halo, Resident Evil, and Final Fantasy. With a vivid imagination and endless creativity, writing is both a job and a hobby for her.