Best Fashion Anime

For many people, anime is most commonly associated with giant robots, superhuman martial artists, and magical schoolgirls. While there are many, many titles in existence that depict all of the above, the reality is that anime can cover hundreds of topics, some of which are based on everyday life.

The world of fashion is among these topics, and there is no shortage of anime depicting it. Some titles are light-hearted comedies, while others are more realistic dramas that use fashion as an in through which the human condition can be explored. Here are some of the best fashion anime.

Updated on October 8, 2024 by James Gates: Fashion anime might not be that common, but there are a couple of shows that cover this subject.

9 Kotonoha no Niwa (The Garden Of Words)

A Tender Examination Of Connection And Intimacy

Before anime hotshot Makoto Shinkai gained international acclaim with his feature Your Name, he made this short film set in Tokyo, a romantic drama which mostly plays out in Shinjuku's Gyoen National Garden. The story concerns Takao Akizuki, a 15-year-old high school student who yearns to be a shoe designer and regularly skips school to sketch out ideas in a public park.

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While seeking shelter from the rain, he encounters a mysterious older woman, and the encounter has life-changing implications for both of them. The film contains many of Shinkai's favorite themes; human connection, the changing seasons, and the importance of honesty. With sublime visuals and a gorgeous soundtrack, the 46-minute film is short but sweet and one of the best anime about life in Japan's capital.

8 Shikioriori (Flavors of Youth)

Chasing Success For The Sake Of Another

Flavors of Youth is an anime anthology movie with highly emotional stories and a beautiful art style. One of the movies titled "A Little Fashion Show" is all about fashion and the difficulties of the modeling world.

It follows a beautiful young model Yi Lin, one of the most popular fashion models in China but is afraid that she'll be replaced. The story shows her efforts to stay on top, so she can support her little sister Lulu, who dreams of becoming a successful fashion designer. It is a glamorous but grounded trip into the fashion industry with a bittersweet story about adulthood.

7 Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)

Confidence Through Self-Expression

Princess Jellyfish is one of the best josei anime series with a creative and inspiring story. It's a charming and colorful romance anime about fashion, with the story mainly being set in an apartment complex where no males are allowed to live and it follows the adventures of a young shy girl Tsukimi, who is obsessed with jellyfish.

While Tsukimi is a kind person, she's also insecure and has very low self-esteem. However, her life changes when she meets a super stylish Princess who helps her become more confident while also helping her learn more about fashion and find her own style.

6 Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story)

Popping With Color And Teenage Friendship

From the mid-90s, considered by some to be the high point of Japanese animation (after all, it gave the world Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion), comes this slice-of-life drama concerning the bond between two friends, aspiring fashion designer Mikako Kouda and her bestie, Tsutomu Yamaguchi.

The show centers around their daily lives while attending Yazama Art Academy, and how they seek to refine their craft while navigating the ups and downs of life, love, and friendship. With a great script and a parade of eye-catching vintage mid-90s J-fashion, Neighborhood Story is one of those titles that makes for a great comfort watch.

5 Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (The Wallflower)

A Sweet-Natured Comedy About The True Meaning Of Beauty

A comedy set in mid-2000s Japan and based on the manga of the same name, The Wallflower centers around four handsome high-school students who are handed a task by their landlady. They must transform her teenage niece, Sunako Nakahara, from a moody recluse into a stylish young woman considered beautiful by the wider world. If the boys succeed, the mansion they live in will remain free of charge. If not, they have to cough up a ton of cash or leave the premises forever.

A classic example of shojo anime, the series takes an alternate look at how fashion impacts people's lives via the many makeovers that Sunako must undergo to be considered fashionable. The comedic elements in the story contain a deeper dramatic subtext about beauty standards, acceptance, and people's capacity to change.

4 Urahara

J-Fashion Meets Alien Invaders In This Underrated Gem

The Harajuku area in Tokyo is a bustling locale synonymous with cutting-edge style, so it makes sense to set an anime connected with fashion there. Three teenage besties run the trendy boutique store that the anime takes its name from. When aliens suddenly invade their beloved streetwear mecca, they must find a means of fighting back while still looking fabulous.

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A fun twist on the Magical Girl genre made famous by Sailor Moon, Uruhara has great character designs and each of the three friends has their own special set of magical powers unique to their appearance and personality. The Harajuku scene is lovingly recreated, and the show has a unique, esoteric art style all its own.

3 Paradise Kiss

Emotions Run High In A Tale Of Self-Discovery

Moody high-schoolers are a common sight in anime, and one in particular is the star of the show, in more ways than one, in Paradise Kiss. When Yukari Hayaska has a chance encounter with a group of fashion designers on the way home from school, she is stunned when they ask her to model for them and their brand, the Paradise Kiss of the title.

As Yukari dives headfirst into the world of fashion, she embarks on a journey that takes a deeper look not just at clothes, style, and beauty but also at how people strive to be themselves in a world that is continually asking them to be something, or someone, else. Yukari does her best to succeed as a fashion muse while trying to placate her demanding family and also navigate true love with the introverted designer George "Joji" Koizumi.

2 Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru (My Dress-Up Darling)

A Heart-Warming Story About Connection and Cosplay

My Dress-Up Darling centers around Wakana Gojo, an introvert who experiences social anxiety and isolation while indulging in his passion for making traditional hina dolls. His life changes forever when he starts chatting with classmate and polar opposite Marin Kitagawa, a popular extrovert who loves anime and video games. When she discovers that he knows his way around a sewing machine, she enlists his help to make striking cosplay outfits.

Warm and cheerful, My Dress-Up Darling closely examines what it takes to make a winning outfit and how collaboration, friendship, and honesty can inspire friendships and help others thrive, even when dealing with past trauma. The show has proved to be a hit and a second series, along with a live-action adaptation, is on the way.

1 Runway de Waratte (Smile Down The Runway)

Two Friends Aim For The Top In The Fashion Industry

A more realistic look at the world of fashion, Smile Down The Runway follows the ups and downs experienced by two high school students, each of whom dreams of making it in the fashion industry. Chiyuki Fujito has her sights set on being a catwalk model, despite her only being 158 cm tall. Her friend Ikuto Tsumura wants to be a designer, even if he struggles with the confidence needed to make it big.

The two combine forces to make a bid for glory in the fashion world, and their friendship inspires each of them to persevere as they grapple with internal as well as external obstacles. More dramatic than other entries on this list, Smile Down The Runway focuses on the importance of resilience and never giving up on a dream, no matter what twists and turns life takes.

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