✧ a deep dive into the idolm@ster: shiny colors' fashion: a thread by a fashion student ✧

✧ FOREWORD ✧
as i think we all know, the idolm@ster: shiny colors is the undisputed god of the idolm@ster series' fashion-wise
i've also heard that they hired actual women on the art/design teams so that's why? the fashion is very unique and modern

✧ FOREWORD 2 ✧
this thread will focus on the "casual-wear" of the girls, and not their stage costumes as those don't really reflect their personal styles
however, unit-wise i'll talk about their unit aesthetics as i think that's really important!

✧ illumination STARS ✧
being the protagonist-like unit of the series, they have a "classic idol" image. this is seen in their very typical but meaningful costumes, embellished in stars. the bow-tie and "marching-band" bodice are seen as usual idol-like details to stage costumes

✧ illumination STARS (cont.) ✧
besides their image colors, the other main colors in their costumes are white (main) and navy blue/black (accent). the white alludes them to "illuminating" the idol world, while the accent color reminds them of the room they still have to grow.

✧ illumination STARS (cont.) ✧
perhaps the most interesting thing about iS, is that their costumes also reflect their individual quirks.
mano: no socks, shorts - pureness, naivete
hiori: ankle socks, blue - matureness, elegance
meguru: tube socks, yellow - active, positivity

✧ mano sakuragi ✧
mano often wears lace patterns, muted earth colors, cardigans, and skirts. this style of dressing is common with japanese women, as it combines the feminine aesthetic with mature "mother-like" feeling. alludes to mano's laid-back, down-to-earth character.

✧ mano sakuragi (seasonal) ✧
in her seasonal-wear, she opts for for feminine patterns with baby yellow & pink being main colors and frills, birds, and flowers being main motifs.
baby yellow is often symbolic of baby birds, which can be tied to mano's personality and character.

✧ hiori kazano ✧
hiori normally wears navy blue/black, sweaters, black stockings, and doesn't wear skirts. her fashion style is closer to pedestrian/casual wear, as she is a very grounded and determined character and probably doesn't think about fashion often.

✧ hiori kazano (cont.) ✧
additionally, hiori dresses very mature for her age. she often wears sheer clothing, trench-coats, and patterned shawl/scarves. alludes to her charm of being the "cool beauty" and her tendency to be cool-headed, despite her bouts of low self-confidence.

✧ meguru hachimiya ✧
because her mother is american, she tends to wear a lot of american trends! this includes flannels, zipper skirts, varsity jackets and ringer tees/jackets. she tends to wear shorts and skirts instead of long pants, alluding to her free-spiritedness.

✧ meguru hachimiya (stars) ✧
out of the three, her outfits have the strongest star motif; she always wears star jewelry! being the mood-maker of the group and constant encourager to mano and hiori, her presence makes the unit shine as brighter as ever!

✧ l'antica ✧
l'antica is known by most players as the "steampunk unit." with gears as their main motif, their initial unit costumes are inspired by a mix of the industrial revolution and the victorian era of history, as seen by the buckled bodice and the style of the bustiers.

✧ l'antica (cont.) ✧
through their other costumes, they branch out of their steampunk look & amalgamate with other "historical aesthetics." while featuring anachronistic steampunk items like googles & wings, the ruffles & leather detailing call back to the 17th/18th centuries.

✧ l'antica (cont.) ✧
their recent unit costumes branch out to other victorian sub-cultures, mixing steampunk with gothic punk elements. this can be seen in the veil-like headpiece, the crinoline-like leather on the outside of the skirt, and the garters connecting the pieces.

✧ kogane tsukioka ✧
kogane dresses with a mix of dressy casual & retro, opting for patterned sweaters for her top & circle/pleated skirts for her bottom. as her charm point is her slender figure, she often wears this combo as it makes her legs appear longer & her waist smaller.

✧ kogane tsukioka (cont.) ✧
her like for vintage fashion can be seen in the bow headbands she often wears, as well as the style of dresses she wears. influenced by the 50s/60s, her silhouettes also imitate Dior's famous "New Look," with a small, nipped waist and a full skirt.

✧ kiriko yukoku ✧
kiriko dresses in a very diluted "casual lolita" style, having more in common with the "preppy style," which simulates the american upper-class. this is characterized by her collared dresses, tartan-patterned pleated skirts, & thin bows, and knee-high socks.

✧ kiriko yukoku (cont.) ✧
kiriko's "trademark" are her bandages, though no one knows why she wears them. bandages came as a fashion trend around the mid-2000s when people started wearing them across their nosebridge! bandages symbolize mystery and secrets, which fits kiriko.

✧ mamimi tanaka ✧
the punk girl of the unit, mamimi wears a combination of the pop punk and street punk subcultures. the mismatched stockings, pattern-clashing, & purple hair are undeniably pop punk, while the leather jacket, statement jewelry, & overall black are street punk.

✧ mamimi tanaka ✧
while punk is her main style, she often likes to experiment with other subcultures as well, notably skater punk, grunge, and gothic punk (respectively). definitely one of the most interesting idols fashion-wise!

✧ yuika mitsumine ✧
perhaps the most versatile, yuika is...a strange case. she's into all sorts of different subcultures & her fashion definitely shows that. an eccentric style that features print/pattern-clashing & her love of baseball caps. (in third picture focus on mamimi)

✧ yuika mitsumine (cont.) ✧
while her style can be seen as weird, she definitely follows fashion trends really well. the maxi skirt + sneakers combo, white tee + distressed denim, & baseball jackets are in right now in japan! also changes her glasses to match her outfits. icon

✧ sakuya shirase ✧
known as the handsome lady of the unit, her masculine charm is accentuated by the way she dresses. opting for a unisex casual look, she often wears collared shirts, denim hoodies, and jeans or trousers. often wears jewelry to add to her feminine charm.

✧ sakuya shirase (cont.) ✧
when she dresses up, she goes for a smart casual look that boosts her elegance and suave demeanor. this can be seen when she wears blazers, adult prints (houndstooth), and matching jewelry.

✧ ALSTROEMERIA ✧
alstroemeria, or the peruvian lily, is the motif for this unit! in flower language, this flower symbolizes friendship & devotion. this unit's appeal is their femininity & floral aesthetic, which can be seen in the ruffles and edging, symbolizing flower petals.

✧ ALSTROEMERIA ✧
in their second unit costumes, they mix together the feminine subcultures of mori-kei (forest-kei) & lolita in the form of sleepwear. the colors, loose fitting, and flower motifs are taken from mori-kei while the ruffles, bows, and patterns are lolita staples.

✧ chiyuki kuwayama ✧
as the "mother" of ALSTRO, she dresses very elegantly. dark floral patterns, sheer patterns, & knee-length skirts are very popular with japanese women in their 20s. she also matches her jewelry together, which is a detail that speaks to her reliability.

✧ chiyuki kuwayama (cont.) ✧
in more casual settings, she dresses relatively simple, opting for solid color pieces with simple patterns/ruffles.

✧ amana osaki ✧
the gyaru of shiny colors, she dresses in the onee-gyaru subculture primarily, a more mature version of the gyaru aesthetic. her use of leopard-print, off-shoulder tops/dresses, flashy belts, and cropped tops are indicators of the onee-gyaru style.

✧ amana osaki ✧
as she is very into shopping and fashion, she often mixes other fashion styles into her wardrobe such as soft grunge, modern american, and boho. she can coordinate outfits very well!

✧ tenka osaki ✧
the gamer girl of shiny colors, she doesn't think about fashion that often. tenka dresses for comfort, not style admittedly. she often wears hoodies or pajamas usually as she hardly gets out of the house.

✧ tenka osaki ✧
amana is such a kind sister as she offers to dress tenka often! her outfits in some cards have hints of amana's style, like the bus boy hat & the short skirt. however, tenka's comfy modest style can also be seen forming in the simple prints & plush outerwear.

✧ houkago climax girls ✧
after-school climax is a unit all about youth, energy, & imagination! their concept is basically the fun one has after school, seeing school as traditional & boring. their outfits are corruptions of the standard uniform, adding fun patterns and colors.

✧ houkago climax girls (cont.) ✧
their 2nd unit costumes have them wearing yankee & ko-gyaru fashion, two styles that were seen as frowned upon in traditional japanese society. the costumes allude to being a symbol of rebellion against tradition, which fits into HCG's concept.

✧ kaho komiya ✧
as she is 12 years old, her style is still very juvenile and youthful. she often wears colorful tops & bottoms with graphic prints and denim skirts/shorts. she also doesn't wear jewelry, as most children don't think of accessories when picking what to wear.

✧ kaho komiya (cont.) ✧
the most interesting thing is about kaho's fashion is that her tops & bottoms don't mesh together well, color-wise and sometimes style-wise. children don't really think about the outfit as a cohesive whole yet, as they only focus on individual pieces.

✧ chiyoko sonoda ✧
the sweets girl of the bunch, chiyoko likes wearing outfits of the pastel casual-kawaii style! adorning bright contrasting colors, short skirts and detailed edging and patterns, her clothes are just as sweet as her!

✧ chiyoko sonoda (cont.) ✧
additionally because of her professed love for sweets, she often wears candy/chocolate jewelry accessories! some of her outfits' main color is brown instead of pastel, probably referring to her love of chocolate.

✧ rinze morino ✧
as her parents own a kimono shop, rinze normally wears a kimono. as she doesn't know much about the outside world, she hopes that being in an idol unit will expand her fashion horizons!

✧ rinze morino (cont.) ✧
through being with the other girls, she starts to wear clothes that aren't traditional. she wears modest and formal clothes; buttoned blouses, cardigans, long skirts, and collared-dresses are some of the main things in her wardrobe.

✧ juri saijo ✧
the tomboy of the group, she goes for a very pedestrian/casual look! she likes wearing hotpants (booty shorts), hoodies, t-shirts and boots. she also wears jewelry, most times mismatched.

✧ juri saijo (cont.) ✧
likes to stick with wearing her usual clothes and gets embarrassed when wearing feminine clothes.

✧ natsuha arisugawa ✧
from a wealthy family, natsuha's fashion is very luxury-brand upper-class. she often wears designer belts, expensive jewelry, and simple dresses and blazers, almost never wearing patterns. she also often wears fur in her casual-wear, a sign of the rich.

✧ natsuha arisugawa (cont.) ✧
additionally, her style is very proper! she never really wears casual clothing as she is a symbol of her family name, which she is proud of. even in swimwear, her outfits have a sense of elegance and power to them.

✧ straylight ✧
the newest unit of shiny colors, straylight's unit costume takes inspiration from cybergoth, raver, and rivethead subcultures! their music is very electronic, which fits right into their concept.

✧ asahi serizawa ✧
my personal favorite style-wise, her style is very 90s inspired. she wears mainly athleisure, such as the biker/track shorts, pastel windbreakers, and colorblock trainers. she also wears 90s casual clothing, as seen in the nostalgic-colored polo shirt.

✧ fuyuko mayuzumi ✧
a bubbly exterior with a complex interior, fuyuko dresses mostly in monochrome casual-kawaii. while her outfits are very aesthetically pleasing, the style of her clothing paired with the sombre colors allude to a conflicting duality in fuyuko's personality.

✧ mei izumi ✧
the other friendly gyaru of shiny colors, she wears onee-gyaru style that is influenced through american trends. this can be seen through her leopard print shorts, cropped shirts, and distressed denim. in her uniform pic, you can see that she rolls up her skirt.

AND THAT'S THE THREAD!!!
thank you guys so much for reading through it and enjoying it! it's so nice to apply one of your passions to...another one of your passions aha
if you haven't already, please support, play, and listen to shiny colors! have a good day/night