Anime has been growing into the mainstream since the 1990s, and shows like Sailor Moon, Pokemon, and more can be pinpointed as the start of its popularity globally. The medium comes in many genres and styles, and though the fashion sub-genre is quite niche, it is in no way nonexistent.
Many creators of anime and manga, such as Ai Yazawa, are fashion fans, and there are quite a few anime that focus on fashion as a plot or incorporate it through the characters’ outfits. If you’re into both fashion and anime, these are some picks for you.
9
Princess Jellyfish
Number Of Episodes: 11
Princess Jellyfish follows an 18-year-old girl named Tsukimi with a love for jellyfish. She moves to Toyko to become an illustrator, though her job search ultimately ends up failing due to her social anxiety. One night, she meets Kuranosuke, and after a very messy introduction, the two end up teaming together through their love of fashion.
Fashion is what the show revolves around, mostly on Tsukimi’s goal of bringing to life the dress her mother wished to see: a dress with lace inspired by the legs of a jellyfish. It’s a very lighthearted show, and it’s great to watch Tsukimi and her friends grow out of their shells.
8
Nana
Number Of Episodes: 47
Written by Ai Yazawa, Nana is the anime that may first come to mind when you think of fashion. It’s about the friendship between two girls, both named “Nana.” The protagonist, Nana Komatsu, meets Nana Osaki on a train during her move to Tokyo for a job. Though the story isn’t about fashion as such, it’s a major component of it.
Since the show’s release, it’s influenced quite a few fashion trends. Punk fashion is strong in this anime and is the style worn by Osaki in the episodes. It also frequently mentions popular real-world brands like Viviene Westwood. And not only are the outfits great, but the story writing is realistic and mature.
7
Paradise Kiss
Number Of Episodes: 12
Paradise Kiss is another story by Ai Yazawa, but it differs in tone from Nana. Compared to Nana’s edgier vibe, Paradise Kiss can be described as more chic. It focuses on Yukari, a high school student preparing for her college entrance exams. After meeting a group of Yazawa Art School students, she gets introduced to the worlds of fashion and modeling.
Paradise Kiss includes a mixture of styles, including Lolita fashion, which can be seen being worn by the student Miwako. The characters are diverse in both style and personality, and the anime is the definition of fashionable.
6
A Sign Of Affection
Number Of Episodes: 12
A Sign of Affection is about a deaf college student named Yuki Itose. During a train stop, she meets the student Itsuomi Nagi, and the two soon fall in love. With Yuki’s communication through Japanese Sign Language and Itsuomi’s multilingualism, the story mainly centers around relationships, languages, and university life.
However, Yuki is a lover of fashion, and she uses it as another way to express herself. Throughout the show, she can be seen dressing in various outfits. Her outfits are simple yet stylish, and she has a light, soft style.
5
Smile Down The Runway
Number Of Episodes: 12
Smile Down the Runway starts off by telling the story of Chiyuki Fujito, the daughter of a modeling agency’s president, who dreams of becoming a fashion model. She meets Ikuto Tsumara, an aspiring fashion designer who is caring for his three younger sisters while his mother stays in the hospital.
The two pair up to work towards their goals, with Ikuto’s journey later being the main but not the only storyline. What makes it stand out from other fashion anime is that it’s not just about the clothes. Instead, it goes deeper into the fashion world and focuses on the struggles that come with it.
4
Lovely Complex
Number Of Episodes: 24
This is a feel-good, easygoing anime about two high school characters who have a 14-centimeter difference in height: Koizumi, who’s 170 centimeters tall, and the 156-centimeter Otani. Both Koizumi and Otani can be found wearing different outfits, with Koizumi often varying her hairstyle throughout the episodes as well.
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The two students are stylish in a way that shows what trends were happening during the mid-to-late 2000s. Lovely Complex may not be a fashion story, but the Koizumi’s and Otani’s outfits are realistic and nostalgic, and it’s overall a very hilarious and fun watch.
3
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Number Of Episodes: 194 And Counting
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an anime that started in the 1990s and is still ongoing. It’s one almost everyone has likely heard of or watched. The story is separated into parts, with each part focused on a new “JoJo,” a member of the Joestar family.
Though it’s very different from most anime in quite a few ways, it is undeniable that fashion is a huge part of the show. Almost every Joestar has a distinctive, flashy character design. This type of uniqueness matches the series’ at times bizarre plot, and it’s one of the many things that makes it so special.
2
Urahara
Number Of Episodes: 12
Urahara is centered around Rito and her friends Mari and Hotoko. The three girls run a pop-up shop in Harajuku, selling clothes and sweets they designed. One day, aliens invade their world, and a girl named Misa falls from the sky, along with the aliens’ former pet Ebifurya.
The friends are then trusted to fight and protect the district. From the clothes to the environment, the entire anime is colorful, and the pastel colors make everything feel cohesive. The girls’ outfits are cute and representative of Harajuku street fashion, with lots of elements from Decora. It’s a strange but lovable anime that twists the magical girl genre.
1
The Wallflower
Number Of Episodes: 25
After being rejected by her crush, The Wallflower’s protagonist, Sunako, becomes self-conscious. This leads her to develop a preference for darker things, such as Gothic fashion and horror. She soon moves into her aunt’s mansion, where four boys reside: Yukinojo, Ranmaru, Kyohei, and Takenaga. The boys are tasked by the aunt to change Sunako into a “lady,” or their rent will increase.
The show is almost built around fashion as the four boys restyle the protagonist’s appearance often. Other styles such as Gyaru are also present in the series. It’s a very silly comedy anime that brings a meaningful message by touching on self-love.
