They say if you live long enough, you’ll see your heroes fall. I say you’ll also see them rise, like with the cultural return to Sailor Moon and the Sailor Moon aesthetic.

There are so many reasons we’ve decided to become obsessed with Sailor Moon again. Some of it is good ole nostalgia. But I’d argue that Sailor Moon is still popular because it’s aggressively feminine. The show was not perfect, but wow. These girls fight evil, patriarchy, and prejudice with the power of love and makeup. It’s a whole mood.

Of course, that’s why I wanted to work some fashion magic on one of the best shows in the 90s. Keep reading to see how you can incorporate some of that soft girl power Sailor Moon vibe into your wardrobe.

A Little About Sailor Moon

I’ll admit, I wasn’t into Sailor Moon during its heyday. I was too far into my teenage internalized misogyny to even bother with it. When I finally did watch it (the Live-Action version at that), it was only “ironically.” You know, like the millennial hipster I was.

It sucks because in an anime wasteland of “action girls” who are only there to be a pair of boobs, Sailor Moon and her cohorts were an exception. They loved, cried, and obsessed over “girly” things, but it never made them less effective as heroes.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, written by mangaka Naoko Takeuchi, was first published in 1991. Before Sailor Moon, the most popular “magical girl” series had a male audience in mind. The 80s in particular featured girls transforming into the more… um, grownup version of themselves.

Sailor Moon isn’t a western feminist manifesto. It’s very gendered, the uniforms are impractical, and Usagi and Mamoru have a toxic relationship. Plus the Freudian AF relationship between Chibiusa and her dad is an issue. But ultimately Sailor Moon is a story that celebrated female friendships and being a girl.

As BitchMedia points out, “One of the more interesting subtexts of the old anime is how often consumerism is used to take advantage of young women… When Usagi transforms into Sailor Moon to defeat Jadeite, she accompanies it with a speech about the evils of “taking advantage of young girls’ dreams” for selfish, harmful gains.”

So while mainstream media (and the SM bad guys) ridicule feminity, an entire generation of children and young adults were watching and buying Sailor Moon products. That helped it to become one of the most successful series today, with over 35 million copies sold.

The Looks of Sailor Moon

Right, now that I’ve geeked out about the history of this series, it’s time to get down to business: Sailor Moon Fashion.

If you were a baby weeb in the early 2000s, Sailor Moon’s 90s fashion seemed dated to your Lizzie McGuire eyes. Luckily for us, we’re in the middle of a 90s-early 00s revival, which means Sailor Moon is V I N T A G E.

Late 80s and Early 90s Fashion

The Senshi outfits are timeless because they’re exaggerated school uniforms. Naoko Takeuchi was influenced by her high school experiences, so the Senshi’s uniforms were inspired by her 80s school uniform. Turns out when the whole point of an outfit is conformity, the style changes at a glacier pace.

Usagi and her friend’s street fashion is a whole other story. They were 90s cutting-edge fashion. We’re talking shoulder pads, high-waisted shorts, white sneakers, and so. many. turtlenecks.

Unlike most American cartoons where the characters wear the same thing, Sailor Moon had a different outfit every time. That means E N D L E S S inspiration and customization.

Aggressively Feminine

The best thing about the outfits isn’t just that they changed, or that they were fashionable. It was how feminine they were.

I remember being confused about Mamoru’s streetwear because of the colors he wore. I was twelve, and I’d never seen a male character wear so much pink, let alone a romantic lead.

This kind of gender fluidity, favoring the feminine even while emphasizing masculine lines (Chibiusa is the only one who goes hard on the ruffles), is what makes Sailor Moon so interesting from a fashion perspective.

In fact, the only time they go with traditional colors and gendered costumes is when they’re fighting. That transformation from pinks and pastels to basic colors is our indicator that while they’re fighting in short skirts and heels, they’re still a serious threat to the forces of evil.

(have I mentioned I’m here for this? I am H E R E for this)

How to Dress Like Sailor Moon

I’d love to break down individual character styles for all my favorite shows and movies. For the time being, I’m going to stick with the broad aesthetic of the show. It’s gonna save us time, especially once you start factoring in the Outer Senshi and their streetwear.

The Basic Ingredients: 90s Power Babes

If you’re looking for some quick and dirty ways to bring the Senshi Babe Look into your life, draw inspiration from late 80s/early 90s valley girls.

Casual Looks

• Mom jeans and shorts
• Cropped polos in pastel or light colors
• Cropped athletic wear in pastel or light colors
• Tennis skirts
• White high-socks with white or light-colored sneakers
• Astrological and celestial themes (moons, stars, and star signs) are all a powerful part of the Senshi aesthetic
• Loose t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up, tucked into jeans
  • bonus points if it’s a cute but unrecognizable 90s logo or character

Business Casual Looks

• SHOULDER PADS
• Turtleneck sweater or sweater vests
• Pleated Pants and trousers
• Pleated skirts, longer lengths for work

A True Transformation: Babes with the Power

Listen, you can copy any outfit on the internet, but it won’t be yours until you can take that Fashion Magic and make it your own.

I mentioned it already, but Sailor Moon is girly. The bad guys are feminine, the love interest is feminine, everything about this show screams femininity.

So if you want to truly embody that Sailor Senshi energy, I challenge you to embrace that femininity in whatever way you see fit.

I am not someone who is naturally drawn to overtly feminine things. My color palette stays within the black and white ranges with pops of primary colors. But pink power suits? Floral denim jackets? Bright pink workout gear? Hell. Yes.

Not ready to embrace pink? No problem. Shades of purple are also featured in the show, from lavender to maroon to Luna’s beautiful purple fur. Black Lady is also like, That Bitch, in Sailor Moon fashion and I love every second of it. You can also channel your favorite Sailor Scout by incorporating their colors into your look.

Ruffles in any color can be dramatic and feminine, but they don’t have to overpower your Look. I’d also use organza and lace to achieve a more feminine aesthetic.

Femininity That Works For You

Sailor Moon is a show with a strong feminine aesthetic, and a message of empowerment for femmes across the globe. With its recent cultural revival, plus the actual revival, this show isn’t going anywhere.

I hope you find a way to embrace that message of power, whether it’s in your wardrobe or in your life. I’m excited to see where your Fashion Magic takes you.

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