Image: Shueisha/ Hirohiko Araki/ Tite Kubo
Whether it’s during romantic dates or all out battles, these shows always put fashion first.
It’s true that anime as a medium has had incredible influence on a lot of other media, including fashion. Although most popular anime protagonists seem to wear the same clothes to make them more recognisable, it’s not true for every franchise. There are many manga and anime series which are either centered around fashion or design their characters with impeccable drip. From the high fashion costumes in Sailor Moon and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures to the amazing cosplay shown in My Dress-up Darling, these amazing shows made sure their characters had the best drip.
Princess Jellyfish
Image: Brain's Base
Despite its unique premise, Princess Jellyfish, based on Akiko Higashimura’s manga, has some amazing fashion moments. Tsukimi Kurashita is an otaku girl who absolutely adores jellyfish, especially the way they look. She helps Kuranosuke Koibuchi, her cross-dressing male roommate, hide from the other otaku girls in their building. However, when everyone comes together, Kuranosuke helps Tsukimi and the other girls find their passion and fashion. The outfits in the series are oftentimes girly and frilly, not only displaying the 2010s aesthetic, but also Tsukimi’s love for the jellyfish aesthetic. Sometimes, the characters also don on traditional Japanese clothing which brings a nice change of pace. Overall, if you love fun, colourful, and impactful outfits, then you should give this show a watch.
My Dress-up Darling
Image: CloverWorks
There are many talented artists who do cosplays based on beloved anime characters. But what happens when an anime character herself is a beautiful cosplaying otaku? Shinichi Fukuda’s popular manga, and its anime adaptation, delves into this exact theme. It follows Marin Kitagawa, a girl who loves cosplay but doesn’t have the training to make her own costumes, and Wakana Gojo, a hina doll maker, who dedicates himself to building the most beautiful and lore-accurate costumes for her. The result is a stunning array of cosplays which feature everything from ecchi outfits, to gothic lolita dresses, and even a perfectly-tailored three-piece suit. The bubbling romance between the main characters is just the cherry on top of an incredibly fashionable cake.
Rozen Maiden
Image: TBS/ Nomad
Much like My Dress-up Darling, Rozen Maiden also includes dressing up a cute girl, only this time, it’s a doll? Shut-in middle schooler Jun Sakurada one day receives a doll, only it can talk and has a bad attitude. She introduces herself as Shinku, one of the twelve legendary dolls made by Rozen. She and her sisters will have to battle it out to become ‘Alice’, and meet their creator. The anime, based on Peach-pit’s manga, is a treasure trove of Lolita Fashion. Different dolls embody different niche styles such as Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Classic Lolita, Princess Lolita, and more. The outfits, the accessories, and the makeup are all phenomenal, making it a must-watch for those who love alternative Japanese fashion.
Nana
Image: Shueisha/ Ai Yazawa
This Josei masterpiece is one of Ai Yazawa’s best works, and both the manga and the anime have their fashion moments. The series focuses mainly on the interpersonal relationship of the characters, especially the two Nanas. However, it’s also an ode to the iconic punk fashion and how the subculture presented itself in Tokyo. Ai Yazawa also used this manga to pay respect to the iconic designer Vivienne Westwood and her designs. Nana Osaki, especially, embodies the punk style with her confidence. She uses her clothes like an armour, which is also noted in her iconic finger ring, Vivienne Westwood’s ‘Armour’. Overall, Nana is a visual treat for those who want some representation of punk fashion in anime.
Cardcaptor Sakura
Image: Madhouse
One of the main reasons why Cardcaptor Sakura became such a hit amongst magical girl fans is the changing outfits. Unlike most superheroes, Sakura presents an array of wonderfully-chic and girlish costumes, which are sometimes inspired by designers. Other than her battle costumes and opening costumes, Sakura also has some really great casual outfits that make the series even more fun to watch. Some of her best costumes and costume changes are in the Clear Card Arc. Sakura’s clothes are mostly feminine with large skirts, frills, and a magical wand to match. CLAMP’s impeccable work in the series made her one of the most popular magical girls of all time.
Smile Down the Runway
Image: Ezōla
As the name suggests, Kotoba Inoya’s manga and the consequent anime series are centered around fashion. A short girl who wants to become a top model and a poor boy who wants to become a fashion designer are the center of this series. With their talent, the two start working with another model and a dressmaker to make all their dreams come true. The story focuses on the ups and downs of the industry. However, the heart and soul of this series is fashion. There are some incredible outfits that we see on the runway. The fact that the making process and behind the scenes are also well-done only add to its charm. If you want to pursue a career in fashion then Smile Down the Runway is a must-watch.
Bleach
Image: Shueisha/ Tite Kubo
Tite Kubo’s magnum opus is a well-known name in the anime community. Although both the anime and the manga feature some impressive outfits other than Soul Society’s black uniform, the fashion in Bleach doesn’t thrive there. Kubo’s excellent skills and love for fashion comes out in his character designs in the official arts, manga covers, and casual panels. He puts the characters in unique settings and dons them in high-fashion outfits that make them look like runway models. Although Ichigo is the central piece of most of these covers, there are also other characters who fans love to see outside of their uniforms and in fashionable designer clothes.
Sailor Moon
Image: Toei Animation
Naoko Takeuchi’s creation is hands-down one of the most fashion forward manga and anime of all time. The Sailor Guardians, especially Sailor Moon, have some incredible outfits in the series. Most of these aren’t battle outfits as the group has their own beautiful costumes for that. However, the most fashion-forward characters in the series are actually the villains. Takeuchi drew most of her inspiration from Thierry Mugler and dressed characters like Koan in iconic runway outfits. She also based her outfits on Dior, YSL, Christian Lacroix, Chanel, and many other world-class designers. Overall, Sailor Moon is an absolute treat for everyone who loves high fashion.
Paradise Kiss
Image: Shodensha/ Ai Yazawa
Much like Nana, Paradise Kiss is also one of Ai Yazawa’s works. And since the series revolves around fashion design students and a model, it delves even deeper into fashion than Nana does. The outfits in the series combine glam rock and dandyism, giving us some glamorous and well-tailored clothes that look stunning on and off the runway. The characters are also extremely well-dressed in their day-to-day lives, which makes the series even more gorgeous overall. Anybody studying fashion designing should at least watch this series once to see beauty being created from scratch.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures
Image: Shueisha/ Hirohiko Araki
Despite being a battle-centric manga and anime, Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures has solidified itself as one of the most fashion-forward pieces of media of all time. This is all thanks to the ingenuity of the creator, who doesn’t shy away from putting his characters outlandish yet fashionable and quirky outfits. Even the day-to-day clothes of the main characters are pretty eccentric and eye-catching. Moreover, Araki also draws the central characters, known as JoJo, in designer outfits in the manga covers and official arts. The most notable out of these will be Jolyne's iconic Gucci outfit. Whether they’re a male or female, every character in JJBA has a distinct style, which matches perfectly with their unique hairstyles, and makeup. Araki’s love for runway fashion and uniqueness makes both the show and the manga an absolute visual treat.
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