diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/type2type.dm b/code/__HELPERS/type2type.dm
index 1f788cf44526..b474915e1050 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/type2type.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/type2type.dm
@@ -218,21 +218,6 @@
 		. = "NONE"
 	return .
 
-/proc/ui_style2icon(ui_style)
-	switch(ui_style)
-		if("Retro")
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_retro.dmi'
-		if("Plasmafire")
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_plasmafire.dmi'
-		if("Slimecore")
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_slimecore.dmi'
-		if("Operative")
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_operative.dmi'
-		if("Clockwork")
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_clockwork.dmi'
-		else
-			return 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi'
-
 //colour formats
 /proc/rgb2hsl(red, green, blue)
 	red /= 255;green /= 255;blue /= 255;
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/action_button.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/action_button.dm
index 47cb76a978ba..4ae61169b7b9 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/action_button.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/action_button.dm
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
 
 /datum/hud/proc/get_action_buttons_icons()
 	. = list()
-	.["bg_icon"] = ui_style_icon
+	.["bg_icon"] = ui_style
 	.["bg_state"] = "template"
 
 	//TODO : Make these fit theme
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/ai.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/ai.dm
index 8d4aca5fbf18..92f141a532e6 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/ai.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/ai.dm
@@ -166,9 +166,9 @@
 
 
 /datum/hud/ai
-	ui_style_icon = 'icons/mob/screen_ai.dmi'
+	ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_ai.dmi'
 
-/datum/hud/ai/New(mob/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_ai.dmi')
+/datum/hud/ai/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/alert.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/alert.dm
index bb61f2218d6e..5e2747ec5ffb 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/alert.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/alert.dm
@@ -588,7 +588,6 @@ so as to remain in compliance with the most up-to-date laws."
 // Re-render all alerts - also called in /datum/hud/show_hud() because it's needed there
 /datum/hud/proc/reorganize_alerts()
 	var/list/alerts = mymob.alerts
-	var/icon_pref
 	if(!hud_shown)
 		for(var/i = 1, i <= alerts.len, i++)
 			mymob.client.screen -= alerts[alerts[i]]
@@ -596,9 +595,7 @@ so as to remain in compliance with the most up-to-date laws."
 	for(var/i = 1, i <= alerts.len, i++)
 		var/obj/screen/alert/alert = alerts[alerts[i]]
 		if(alert.icon_state == "template")
-			if(!icon_pref)
-				icon_pref = ui_style2icon(mymob.client.prefs.UI_style)
-			alert.icon = icon_pref
+			alert.icon = ui_style
 		switch(i)
 			if(1)
 				. = ui_alert1
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/alien.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/alien.dm
index 72d06a58e912..81dcbf0fdf17 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/alien.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/alien.dm
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@
 	desc = "Allows you to sense the general direction of your Queen."
 	screen_loc = ui_alien_queen_finder
 
-
 /datum/hud/alien
-	ui_style_icon = 'icons/mob/screen_alien.dmi'
+	ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_alien.dmi'
 
-/datum/hud/alien/New(mob/living/carbon/alien/humanoid/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_alien.dmi')
+/datum/hud/alien/New(mob/living/carbon/alien/humanoid/owner)
 	..()
 
 	var/obj/screen/using
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@
 //equippable shit
 
 //hands
-	build_hand_slots(ui_style)
+	build_hand_slots()
 
 //begin buttons
 
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/alien_larva.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/alien_larva.dm
index def88b7ed72c..38dddb92c677 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/alien_larva.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/alien_larva.dm
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+/datum/hud/larva
+	ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_alien.dmi'
+
 /datum/hud/larva/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/constructs.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/constructs.dm
index 729de9da4a79..d4f6b90ca645 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/constructs.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/constructs.dm
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-
 /datum/hud/constructs
-	ui_style_icon = 'icons/mob/screen_construct.dmi'
+	ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_construct.dmi'
 
 /datum/hud/constructs/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	pull_icon = new /obj/screen/pull()
-	pull_icon.icon = 'icons/mob/screen_construct.dmi'
+	pull_icon.icon = ui_style
 	pull_icon.update_icon(mymob)
 	pull_icon.screen_loc = ui_construct_pull
 	static_inventory += pull_icon
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/devil.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/devil.dm
index 0cd0b6a6a9d1..b30eeefc1b0d 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/devil.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/devil.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 //Soul counter is stored with the humans, it does weird when you place it here apparently...
 
 
-/datum/hud/devil/New(mob/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/devil/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 	pull_icon.screen_loc = ui_drone_pull
 	static_inventory += pull_icon
 
-	build_hand_slots(ui_style)
+	build_hand_slots()
 
 	using = new /obj/screen/inventory()
 	using.name = "hand"
@@ -62,4 +62,4 @@
 
 /mob/living/carbon/true_devil/create_mob_hud()
 	if(client && !hud_used)
-		hud_used = new /datum/hud/devil(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+		hud_used = new /datum/hud/devil(src)
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/drones.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/drones.dm
index 8e39d96bf61c..bcdfa084d313 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/drones.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/drones.dm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/datum/hud/dextrous/drone/New(mob/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/dextrous/drone/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/inventory/inv_box
 
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/generic_dextrous.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/generic_dextrous.dm
index 39a79b108bc8..c42714ba7c90 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/generic_dextrous.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/generic_dextrous.dm
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //Used for normal mobs that have hands.
-/datum/hud/dextrous/New(mob/living/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/dextrous/New(mob/living/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 	pull_icon.screen_loc = ui_drone_pull
 	static_inventory += pull_icon
 
-	build_hand_slots(ui_style)
+	build_hand_slots()
 
 	using = new /obj/screen/swap_hand()
 	using.icon = ui_style
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@
 /mob/living/simple_animal/create_mob_hud()
 	if(client && !hud_used)
 		if(dextrous)
-			hud_used = new dextrous_hud_type(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+			hud_used = new dextrous_hud_type(src)
 		else
 			..()
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/ghost.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/ghost.dm
index 8cff8fe09e5e..ea78da5952a9 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/ghost.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/ghost.dm
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 	var/mob/dead/observer/G = usr
 	G.register_pai()
 
-/datum/hud/ghost/New(mob/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/ghost/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 
@@ -90,4 +90,4 @@
 
 /mob/dead/observer/create_mob_hud()
 	if(client && !hud_used)
-		hud_used = new /datum/hud/ghost(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+		hud_used = new /datum/hud/ghost(src)
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/guardian.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/guardian.dm
index 628efbffe59a..687d47c01744 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/guardian.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/guardian.dm
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@
 		if(dextrous)
 			..()
 		else
-			hud_used = new /datum/hud/guardian(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+			hud_used = new /datum/hud/guardian(src)
 
-/datum/hud/dextrous/guardian/New(mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/guardian/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi') //for a dextrous guardian
+/datum/hud/dextrous/guardian/New(mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/guardian/owner) //for a dextrous guardian
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 	if(istype(owner, /mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/guardian/dextrous))
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/hud.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/hud.dm
index 5678b144846b..b5b42e06e1d4 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/hud.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/hud.dm
@@ -4,6 +4,19 @@
 	including inventories and item quick actions.
 */
 
+// The default UI style is the first one in the list
+GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(available_ui_styles, list(
+	"Midnight" = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi',
+	"Retro" = 'icons/mob/screen_retro.dmi',
+	"Plasmafire" = 'icons/mob/screen_plasmafire.dmi',
+	"Slimecore" = 'icons/mob/screen_slimecore.dmi',
+	"Operative" = 'icons/mob/screen_operative.dmi',
+	"Clockwork" = 'icons/mob/screen_clockwork.dmi'
+))
+
+/proc/ui_style2icon(ui_style)
+	return GLOB.available_ui_styles[ui_style] || GLOB.available_ui_styles[GLOB.available_ui_styles[1]]
+
 /datum/hud
 	var/mob/mymob
 
@@ -45,12 +58,15 @@
 	var/obj/screen/internals
 	var/obj/screen/mood
 
-	var/ui_style_icon = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi'
+	// subtypes can override this to force a specific UI style
+	var/ui_style
 
-/datum/hud/New(mob/owner , ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/New(mob/owner)
 	mymob = owner
 
-	ui_style_icon = ui_style
+	if (!ui_style)
+		// will fall back to the default if any of these are null
+		ui_style = ui_style2icon(owner.client && owner.client.prefs && owner.client.prefs.UI_style)
 
 	hide_actions_toggle = new
 	hide_actions_toggle.InitialiseIcon(src)
@@ -68,38 +84,19 @@
 	if(mymob.hud_used == src)
 		mymob.hud_used = null
 
-	qdel(hide_actions_toggle)
-	hide_actions_toggle = null
-
-	qdel(module_store_icon)
-	module_store_icon = null
-
-	if(static_inventory.len)
-		for(var/thing in static_inventory)
-			qdel(thing)
-		static_inventory.Cut()
+	QDEL_NULL(hide_actions_toggle)
+	QDEL_NULL(module_store_icon)
+	QDEL_LIST(static_inventory)
 
 	inv_slots.Cut()
 	action_intent = null
 	zone_select = null
 	pull_icon = null
 
-	if(toggleable_inventory.len)
-		for(var/thing in toggleable_inventory)
-			qdel(thing)
-		toggleable_inventory.Cut()
-
-	if(hotkeybuttons.len)
-		for(var/thing in hotkeybuttons)
-			qdel(thing)
-		hotkeybuttons.Cut()
-
+	QDEL_LIST(toggleable_inventory)
+	QDEL_LIST(hotkeybuttons)
 	throw_icon = null
-
-	if(infodisplay.len)
-		for(var/thing in infodisplay)
-			qdel(thing)
-		infodisplay.Cut()
+	QDEL_LIST(infodisplay)
 
 	healths = null
 	healthdoll = null
@@ -112,15 +109,8 @@
 	alien_plasma_display = null
 	alien_queen_finder = null
 
-	if(plane_masters.len)
-		for(var/thing in plane_masters)
-			qdel(plane_masters[thing])
-		plane_masters.Cut()
-
-	if(screenoverlays.len)
-		for(var/thing in screenoverlays)
-			qdel(thing)
-		screenoverlays.Cut()
+	QDEL_LIST_ASSOC_VAL(plane_masters)
+	QDEL_LIST(screenoverlays)
 	mymob = null
 
 	return ..()
@@ -239,6 +229,19 @@
 	if(!mymob)
 		return
 
+/datum/hud/proc/update_ui_style(new_ui_style)
+	// do nothing if overridden by a subtype or already on that style
+	if (initial(ui_style) || ui_style == new_ui_style)
+		return
+
+	for(var/atom/item in static_inventory + toggleable_inventory + hotkeybuttons + infodisplay + screenoverlays + inv_slots)
+		if (item.icon == ui_style)
+			item.icon = new_ui_style
+
+	ui_style = new_ui_style
+	build_hand_slots()
+	hide_actions_toggle.InitialiseIcon(src)
+
 //Triggered when F12 is pressed (Unless someone changed something in the DMF)
 /mob/verb/button_pressed_F12()
 	set name = "F12"
@@ -254,7 +257,7 @@
 //(re)builds the hand ui slots, throwing away old ones
 //not really worth jugglying existing ones so we just scrap+rebuild
 //9/10 this is only called once per mob and only for 2 hands
-/datum/hud/proc/build_hand_slots(ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/proc/build_hand_slots()
 	for(var/h in hand_slots)
 		var/obj/screen/inventory/hand/H = hand_slots[h]
 		if(H)
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/human.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/human.dm
index bc369e5943b9..58d84c6678df 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/human.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/human.dm
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@
 
 /mob/living/carbon/human/create_mob_hud()
 	if(client && !hud_used)
-		hud_used = new /datum/hud/human(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+		hud_used = new /datum/hud/human(src)
 
 
-/datum/hud/human/New(mob/living/carbon/human/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/human/New(mob/living/carbon/human/owner)
 	..()
 	owner.overlay_fullscreen("see_through_darkness", /obj/screen/fullscreen/see_through_darkness)
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@
 	inv_box.screen_loc = ui_oclothing
 	toggleable_inventory += inv_box
 
-	build_hand_slots(ui_style)
+	build_hand_slots()
 
 	using = new /obj/screen/swap_hand()
 	using.icon = ui_style
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/monkey.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/monkey.dm
index c469c1ef20c0..479fd59dae23 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/monkey.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/monkey.dm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/datum/hud/monkey/New(mob/living/carbon/monkey/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_midnight.dmi')
+/datum/hud/monkey/New(mob/living/carbon/monkey/owner)
 	..()
 	var/obj/screen/using
 	var/obj/screen/inventory/inv_box
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 	using.screen_loc = ui_drop_throw
 	static_inventory += using
 
-	build_hand_slots(ui_style)
+	build_hand_slots()
 
 	using = new /obj/screen/swap_hand()
 	using.icon = ui_style
@@ -152,4 +152,4 @@
 
 /mob/living/carbon/monkey/create_mob_hud()
 	if(client && !hud_used)
-		hud_used = new /datum/hud/monkey(src, ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
+		hud_used = new /datum/hud/monkey(src)
diff --git a/code/_onclick/hud/robot.dm b/code/_onclick/hud/robot.dm
index 769cdb224412..7cc51fade144 100644
--- a/code/_onclick/hud/robot.dm
+++ b/code/_onclick/hud/robot.dm
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@
 	R.toggle_ionpulse()
 
 /datum/hud/robot
-	ui_style_icon = 'icons/mob/screen_cyborg.dmi'
+	ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_cyborg.dmi'
 
-/datum/hud/robot/New(mob/owner, ui_style = 'icons/mob/screen_cyborg.dmi')
+/datum/hud/robot/New(mob/owner)
 	..()
 	var/mob/living/silicon/robot/mymobR = mymob
 	var/obj/screen/using
diff --git a/code/modules/client/client_procs.dm b/code/modules/client/client_procs.dm
index d5cdb30e53fd..35692e007ed9 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/client_procs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/client_procs.dm
@@ -197,7 +197,9 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(external_rsc_urls)
 			new /datum/admins(localhost_rank, ckey, 1, 1)
 	//preferences datum - also holds some persistent data for the client (because we may as well keep these datums to a minimum)
 	prefs = GLOB.preferences_datums[ckey]
-	if(!prefs)
+	if(prefs)
+		prefs.parent = src
+	else
 		prefs = new /datum/preferences(src)
 		GLOB.preferences_datums[ckey] = prefs
 	prefs.last_ip = address				//these are gonna be used for banning
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index 7c595a6618fc..feb7386be923 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 										//autocorrected this round, not that you'd need to check that.
 
 
-	var/UI_style = "Midnight"
+	var/UI_style = null
 	var/buttons_locked = FALSE
 	var/hotkeys = TRUE // yogs - Rebindable Keybindings
 	var/tgui_fancy = TRUE
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 	custom_names["cyborg"] = pick(GLOB.ai_names)
 	custom_names["clown"] = pick(GLOB.clown_names)
 	custom_names["mime"] = pick(GLOB.mime_names)
+	UI_style = GLOB.available_ui_styles[1]
 	if(istype(C))
 		if(!IsGuestKey(C.key))
 			load_path(C.ckey)
@@ -1502,11 +1503,13 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						clientfps = desiredfps
 						parent.fps = desiredfps
 				if("ui")
-					var/pickedui = input(user, "Choose your UI style.", "Character Preference")  as null|anything in list("Midnight", "Plasmafire", "Retro", "Slimecore", "Operative", "Clockwork")
+					var/pickedui = input(user, "Choose your UI style.", "Character Preference", UI_style)  as null|anything in GLOB.available_ui_styles
 					if(pickedui)
 						UI_style = pickedui
+						if (parent && parent.mob && parent.mob.hud_used)
+							parent.mob.hud_used.update_ui_style(ui_style2icon(UI_style))
 				if("pda_style")
-					var/pickedPDAStyle = input(user, "Choose your PDA style.", "Character Preference")  as null|anything in list(MONO, SHARE, ORBITRON, VT)
+					var/pickedPDAStyle = input(user, "Choose your PDA style.", "Character Preference", pda_style)  as null|anything in list(MONO, SHARE, ORBITRON, VT)
 					if(pickedPDAStyle)
 						pda_style = pickedPDAStyle
 				if("pda_color")
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index f29320baa65a..83c80035273c 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	//Sanitize
 	ooccolor		= sanitize_ooccolor(sanitize_hexcolor(ooccolor, 6, 1, initial(ooccolor)))
 	lastchangelog	= sanitize_text(lastchangelog, initial(lastchangelog))
-	UI_style		= sanitize_inlist(UI_style, list("Midnight", "Plasmafire", "Retro", "Slimecore", "Operative", "Clockwork"), initial(UI_style))
+	UI_style		= sanitize_inlist(UI_style, GLOB.available_ui_styles, GLOB.available_ui_styles[1])
 	hotkeys			= sanitize_integer(hotkeys, 0, 1, initial(hotkeys))
 	tgui_fancy		= sanitize_integer(tgui_fancy, 0, 1, initial(tgui_fancy))
 	tgui_lock		= sanitize_integer(tgui_lock, 0, 1, initial(tgui_lock))
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/inventory.dm b/code/modules/mob/inventory.dm
index d9598676dde7..7676ac91f086 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/inventory.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/inventory.dm
@@ -441,10 +441,7 @@
 	held_items.len = amt
 
 	if(hud_used)
-		var/style
-		if(client && client.prefs)
-			style = ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style)
-		hud_used.build_hand_slots(style)
+		hud_used.build_hand_slots()
 
 
 /mob/living/carbon/human/change_number_of_hands(amt)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/login.dm b/code/modules/mob/login.dm
index 7e7a86a9e41b..b99049a0143a 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/login.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/login.dm
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 		create_mob_hud()
 	if(hud_used)
 		hud_used.show_hud(hud_used.hud_version)
+		hud_used.update_ui_style(ui_style2icon(client.prefs.UI_style))
 
 	next_move = 1