Best Manga About Fashion

Although many people cherish watching anime, they often forget that most anime serve as adaptations of the original source material. While there are some instances where the anime is better than the manga, those instances are few and far between.

With the amount of manga released on a daily basis, it could be hard to cut through all those books to find the “Best of” for any chosen topic.

Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable manga through the years. For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best manga, our attention this time turns to those with a strong focus on fashion. From stellar dramas to goofy rom-coms, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.

Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them!

Nana – Ai Yazawa

Nana is a remarkable manga that showcases the vibrant world of fashion through its engaging characters and wonderful narrative. Firstly, Nana delivers a compelling exploration of the fashion industry highlighting its creative process, trends, and the impact it has on individuals. The manga follows the lives of two girls named Nana, who become close friends in Tokyo.

While one Nana pursues music, the other aspires to a romantic affair. As for how fashion plays a role in this tale, Ai Yazawa manages to capture the essence of fashion trends by blending them into Nana’s narrative. Her artwork beautifully depicts the characters’ unique fashion choices, from vintage-inspired ensembles to avant-garde runway looks.

The attention to detail in her illustrations brings the fashion world to life, immersing readers in a visual feast of stylish outfits and accessories. If you’re after a tale that depicts fashion as a form of art and self-expression, check this out.

Smile Down The Runway – Kotoba Inoya

Smile Down The Runway is a phenomenal manga that delves into the fashion world to a great extent. It showcases the struggles, ambitions, and triumphs of its characters. The story follows Ikuto, an aspiring fashion designer, and Chiyuki, a determined model with a height disadvantage. The manga explores the challenges, sacrifices, and determination required to succeed in this industry.

Additionally, it highlights the fashion industry’s competitive nature, showcasing the characters’ hardships and their quest to overcome obstacles and realize their dreams. With its detailed depiction of fashion design, runway shows, and the inner workings of the industry itself, Kotoba Inoya provides readers with an immersive tale with insightful knowledge.

My Dress-Up Darling – Takashi Sano

My Dress-Up Darling is an interesting rom-com that explores the unconventional world of cosplay and its connection to fashion. The story follows the unlikely bond between an introvert named Wakana and an outgoing cosplayer named Marin. Through their shared love for fashion, the manga delves into the complexities and creativity involved with cosplay.

Moreover, My Dress-Up Darling tackles the emotional and psychological sides of fashion. The manga explores its cast’s motivations and insecurities through their experiences with fashion and cosplay. Wakana and Marin face numerous obstacles regarding identity, self-esteem, and social acceptance. mirroring the struggles faced by many people in the real world.

At the same time, Takashi Sano indicates how pursuing cosplay and fashion can bring people together. You’ll get to see characters attend conventions, gatherings, and workshops, places known for having people who dabble in costume-making and role-play. Through these interactions, the story emphasizes the importance of friendship, support, and collaboration.

Tokyo Juliet – Miyuki Kitagawa

Tokyo Juliet is a great fashion manga that centers around modeling and the challenges models face. The manga follows Kayano, a determined girl who wants to become a model. The story is set in Tokyo and Miyuki Kitagawa does an excellent job at capturing the competitive nature of the field within that region.

Readers can expect the runway shows to evoke strong tension and for the models themselves to make tough decisions to further their careers. It all culminates into a glamorously fast-paced experience. It provides readers with a look at the hopes and struggles models encounter on the job.

On top of making Miyuki a likable protagonist who defies societal expectations, Tokyo Juliet is a compelling fashion-themed tale worth checking out.

Princess Jellyfish – Higashimura Akiko

For those who grew up with classic tales like Cinderella and love tales with a fashion theme, Princess Jellyfish will appeal to you. This manga delivers a lighthearted tale of fashion, gender identity, and self-growth. It follows Tsukimi, a girl who grew up with five unemployed women who treated her like dirt because she chose to become an artist.

Despite her saddening circumstances, Tsukimi starts encountering a fashionably attractive woman who turns out to be a male college student named Kuranosuke. The tale follows these two characters as they gradually establish a solid connection with each other. This is a tale that knows how to push and pull back its tension.

While it contains fabulous lighthearted moments, it’s not afraid to tackle serious subjects. Some noteworthy topics include parental loss, social anxiety, and self-confidence. The characters have solid characteristics that help fans distinguish between them.

In addition to having compelling rom-com aspects, Princess Jellyfish is a great manga worth checking out.

Paradise Kiss – Ai Yazawa

Paradise Kiss is another fantastic tale from Ai Yazawa’s catalog you should read. It offers a distinct exploration of the fashion industry. It centers around Yukari, a high schooler who becomes entangled with a group of fashion design students known as Paradise Kiss. The manga delves into the creative process of fashion design and the passion required to succeed in the field.

Through Yukari’s journey, Yazawa showcases the highs and lows of fashion. With her vivid and detailed art style, she beautifully captures the essence of fashion in Paradise Kiss, making it a must-read for fashion fanatics and lovers of storytelling.

Never Give Up – Hiromu Mutou

Never Give Up is an exceptional manga that explores the world of fashion in an engaging manner. It follows Kiri, an underestimated fashion designer who wants to prove her naysayers wrong in the industry. Through her journey, Hiromu Muto delivers an in-depth look at the challenges and triumphs of the fashion world.

They examine the hard work, determination, and dedication one needs to succeed. Readers will enjoy observing Kiri’s progress throughout Never Give Up as she performs actions that will motivate readers to tackle their goals head-on.

With Kiri’s motivational persona and Mutou’s beautiful illustrations, you’re likely to fall in love with Never Give Up’s storytelling.

Shugo Chara – Peach-Pit

Shugo Chara is a fabulous magical girl series with a slight emphasis on fashion. In it, we follow Amu, a girl who embarks on a quest to search for corrupted mystical eggs called X Eggs. Fashion plays a central role in this tale as each character represents a different facet of Amu’s personality and style. Throughout the series, Amu undergoes impression fashionable transformations.

She experiments with a wide array of clothing styles, accessories, and hairdos. Through these transformations, Peach-Put shows how fashion can allow one to express their individuality and boost confidence. Additionally, Peach-Pit’s illustrations provide an inspiring and visually appealing exploration of fashion as audiences will love seeing Amu transform throughout the tale.

In addition to giving Amu a diverse range of outfit styles to try, Shugo Chara is a must-read manga that beautifully captures the essence and importance of fashion.

V.B. Rose – Banri Hidaka

V.B. Rose is an entertaining fashion manga that follows Ageha. She’s passionate about fashion and finds herself working at a bridal boutique alongside a group of talented designers. This story expertly captures the essence of the fashion industry, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of bridal fashion, design, and the challenges its workers face.

From its examination of the wedding dress creation process to the ever-evolving trends in the bridal fashion business, you’ll adore Banri Hidaka’s strong attention to detail in this work. Ageha is an exceptional female lead and her journey through the fashion industry is just as enticing to follow. She’ll face many hurdles and achieve many victories. It all leads to her achieving better growth and passion for her hobby.

If you’re after a fashion manga with great characters and accuracy, check out V.B. Rose.

Neighborhood Story – Ai Yazawa

Another Ai Yazawa fashion-themed tale worth checking out is Neighborhood Story. Our tale follows Mikako, a girl who dreams of being a fashion designer. She attends Yazawa Arts with her friend Tsutomu, who ends up attracting many girls his way due to his rockstar-like appearance. This entices Mikako to form a flea market club to escape her grievances with Tsutomu.

Unfortunately, she’ll need to try a bit harder if she wants that to happen. Mikako comes across as a self-centered individual throughout the majority of the manga’s run, making her a challenging character to resonate with. Over time, she and the rest of the cast receive enough development to warrant fans’ attention.

Moreover, the manga’s art style is visually pleasing despite being one of Yazawa’s older works. Readers will love seeing characters wear different outfits that represent different phases that took place in the early 90s.

In addition to having some compelling romance and comedic elements, Neighborhood Story is a fun shoujo series worth reading.

So, there we have it, our picks for the best fashion manga through the years!

What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!

Best Manga About Fashion | TheReviewGeek Recommends