After many days of angsting over how people should dress in Gem, I have extrapolated the following, and will go with it.  If someone has better information, pleae had it off in the next few days or weeks, or this will become long term cannon for the Chronicle.<br/><br/>General:  Southerners favour silk and linnen.  Wool is for the poorest of the poor, and leather is bad luck, even in armor.  Men should wear close cropped and neatly trimmed beard, except for holy men.  In the deep deserts, shaven heads are not uncomon for both sexes.  THe well to do prefer to have their hair brushed by slaves and plaited to match their curent outfits.  (Exalted main book.)<br/><br/>Gem specific asumptions:<br/>Outdoor Wear:  When leaving the city of Gem, or to work in the fields, people wear typical desert robes and viels.  Field slaves are expected to display a badge on their shoulders when covering their collars with robes.<br/><br/>In city wear:  Given the shady but hot nature of gem, light fabrics and minimal clothing is the norm.  Well to do men might wear ornate but very light robes, perhaps open in front.  Well to do women are expected to wear a bit less, unless trying to fill a masculine roll in society, which is frowned on at best.<br/><br/>Slaves given important rolls by powerful owners may wear the same ornate garb as freemen and women, but with collars visible.  Slave men without important rolls are expected to go shirtless, and generaly in loinclothes.  Slave women without important rolls are expted to wear very little, usualy a tied halter and short loincloth or short wrap skirt with sandals or, if their masters are particularly important, a similar outfit of precious metals and gems.<br/><br/>As a rule of thumb, while no one dresses bulkily indoors, free people cover enough to make you want to see more, while slaves are already more or less on display.<br/><br/>Signs of Status:<br/>Silk and gems are fairly easy to come buy in Gem, and the wealthy will adorn their slaves in these things to emphesise their own wealth.  Precious metals and jade are a greater sign of status.  A rich man's slaves migth be adorned in silver, copper, or jade studded with gems.  Gold, however, is reserved for free people, and is the highest status symbol that can be worn.  Any free person who can aford gold may wear it.  A slave, however, will only wear gold in one instance.  If their collar is golden, they posses the athority to speak for their masters in certain buisness and legal matters.<br/><br/><br/>On the availabilty of Slaves:<br/>Slaves are readily available in Gem.  Slave populations are drawn from prisoners of war and criminals.  Fathers may also choose to sell their children into slavery.  This is usualy only done with daughters.<br/><br/>Marriage is a contractual affair, and free women are rarely bound to one man for their entire life, save by choosing to renew their contract.