Ask John: What’s the Best Anime Costume?

Question:
If you were a girl and entered a cosplay contest, what anime outfit would you make for the contest that you’re pretty sure would win because it was the best looking one there, even if it was hard to make? And it can’t be metal, and it can’t be too big to walk in it.

Answer:
If I was a girl, I’d probably have other things on my mind besides cosplay, but that’s an entirely different topic. Being serious, this is a somewhat difficult question to address because so often anime characters dress in clothes not far removed from the average daily attire you or I would wear. Even the distinctively Japanese “sailor suit” girls’ school uniform is, after all, just a Japanese school uniform and not a distinctly anime outfit.

In a hypothetical situation in which you would be able to create a perfect replica of an anime character’s costume, which is by no means impossible, just possibly expensive, some of the most elaborate and distinctive anime girl costumes that I can immediately think of- costumes that are based entirely on the clothes with no relation to the girl wearing them, include the native Jurai robes worn by Ayeka and Sasami of Tenchi Muyo; the cat, rabbit and panda themed attire of Dijiko, Rabi-en-Rose and Piyoko of DiGi Charat; the Russian inspired coat and hat of Galaxy Express 999’s Maetel and Emeraldas’ Harlock inspired pirate regalia; Card Captor Sakura’s massive wardrobe of elaborate battle costumes; the native gowns of the Ah! My Goddess divinity; the distinct school uniforms of the Akihabara Cyber Team; the elaborate, multi-layered dress and gigantic sword of Momotenshi from Dancing Blade; the instantly identifiable bikini uniforms of the classic Dirty Pair (in either TV series open collar or OAV version closed collar version); the equally immediately identifiable costumes of fighting game gals Chun-Li and Mai Shiranui; and Saber Marionette J’s combination of traditional and futuristic Japan evident in Bloodberry’s outfit.

I’m sure that there are good suggestions that I’ve forgotten, though. Insightful readers who would like to suggest additions to this list may do so through the AnimeNation Forum.