I actually use the elezen pants as part of my RP gear pretty regularly, but it fits the character and looks good with the rest of the stuff I use for him. Â Considering he's a caster, it's not too farfetched that he could also use it for battle as well, since most pants mages seem to get are.. basically very simple pants with little armor value to speak of. Â (At least from what I've seen so far.)
In general, I think using parts of the starting gear, or even all of it, for RP makes perfect sense, and considering aesthetics, it's one of the things that does have a lot more design elements in it should it fit the character well.
My only cringey thing about the starting gear is the lack of stats on it; but that's entirely from a fear in previous games (though a little, this one too) where your gear is the source of all a character's 'strength', and if I should be caught by a high level monster out RPing somewhere, I'd be murdered. Â Currently, this fear is pretty unfounded; in fact, I've beat on things forgetting I was in RP gear for a while, so unless I go into a higher dungeon unawares, this is just something I need to get over. Â Doesn't stop me from using the gear for RP though. (Plus there are always glamours!)
In general, I think using parts of the starting gear, or even all of it, for RP makes perfect sense, and considering aesthetics, it's one of the things that does have a lot more design elements in it should it fit the character well.
My only cringey thing about the starting gear is the lack of stats on it; but that's entirely from a fear in previous games (though a little, this one too) where your gear is the source of all a character's 'strength', and if I should be caught by a high level monster out RPing somewhere, I'd be murdered. Â Currently, this fear is pretty unfounded; in fact, I've beat on things forgetting I was in RP gear for a while, so unless I go into a higher dungeon unawares, this is just something I need to get over. Â Doesn't stop me from using the gear for RP though. (Plus there are always glamours!)