By Grace Laolao
You’re just an ordinary, magical teen girl fighting for love and justice when your enemy turns up in a stunning Versace ensemble, hot off a ‘90s runway. They might be your Monster of the Week, but you can’t help admiring them. They look good.
For fans of the beloved manga and anime series, Sailor Moon’s unabashed celebration of femininity, art and fashion in a superhero narrative sets it apart from its contemporaries.
“I was surprised to see that a lot of it was inspired by high fashion,” said Lisa Fevral, a visual artist and YouTuber who creates deep-dive videos analysing shows like Sailor Moon and reimagining the characters’ wardrobes for present day.
She notes that the show’s creator, Naoko Takeuchi, “doesn’t shy away from feminine design” despite the many roadblocks she faced in a time where this approach was practically unheard of.
From Sailor Mercury’s powder blue Chanel suits to villain Koan’s extravagant feather tutu Mugler bodysuit (1992 Fall/Winter collection), Takeuchi went to great lengths to ensure each character’s personality shone through a rotating wardrobe which changed every episode.
Fevral attributes a large part of Sailor Moon’s success to this diverse cast of female leads. This left a lasting impression on her, even as a child.
“It was the first time I saw a show that wasn’t trying to only have one girl or woman in the series,” said Fevral, noting that these characters were often relegated to secondary roles like the love interest or motherly figure.
Sailor Moon’s large cast of distinct and colourful characters naturally allows the show to explore a wider range of female expression.
Take Haruka Tenou, or Sailor Uranus, who is famous for her androgyny. She is often mistaken as a pretty boy by many characters on the show with her short hair, blazer sets and flirtatious masculine charm.
This representation of diversity in mainstream media meant that viewers from all different backgrounds could find pieces of themselves reflected in the characters.
“It was such a different experience,” Fevral said. “To see all those girls with their own colour, signature style, their likes and dislikes.”
For all its high-fashion inspiration, the girls’ everyday outfits are also “surprisingly wearable” and “accessible” she said, resonating deeply with the new generation of designers who are bringing the 1990s and Y2K era of their childhood back into style.
More than 30 years on from Sailor Moon’s 1992 television debut the dreamy, magical universe Takeuchi created continues to capture imaginations from around the world.
Today, you can find Sailor Moon-inspired fashion content all over YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, taking the girls – and their wardrobes – into the future.
Featured image: YouTuber Lisa Fevral with her interpretation of iconic Sailor Moon outfits. Photo: Lisa Fevral
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