In all of Ai Yazawa’s series fashion plays a major role in shaping identity, reflecting the characters’ journeys, aspirations, and self-expression. Each character’s unique sense of style serves as a visual representation of their desires, struggles, and identities. Yukari, the protagonist, undergoes a transformative journey as she discovers her passion for fashion and embraces her individuality. When we are first introduced to Yukari she wears her school uniform with no accessories or even a distinctive hairstyle. This shows us that she is just a normal girl and doesn’t have a sense of personal style yet. Initially, she adheres to societal expectations and conforms to the path that her parents want for her.
In the first episode, Yukari admits to herself that she doesn’t know what she wants to do and calls life monotonous. Since doesn’t do anything outside of what her parents want which is for her to do well in school. Through her encounters with the members of Paradise Kiss and their avant-garde fashion designs, she begins to question her beliefs and explore her desires.
The members of Paradise Kiss wanted Yukari to be a model for them since she is tall, thin, and very beautiful but she kept denying their request because she never thought of other things she could do besides school. When she goes with George to their fashion school, Yukari gets a new haircut with micro bangs. This is an edgy unique style she would have probably never considered to try otherwise. They give her a dress to try on, she loves the way it makes her feel to wear the dress. She feels disappointed when she has to leave but because of this, she agrees to be a model. After this point, we start to see Yukari start to think more about how she wants to dress and we see her dress with something other than her uniform.
Spending time with the members of Paradise Kiss is having an impact on Yukari because she starts to think of what she wants outside of school. Even when she is wearing her uniform now she wears accessories and tries to style herself to show her uniqueness. Once Yukari realizes that she doesn’t want the path that her mom has planned for her and that she wants to be a model. Yukari doesn’t have her own identity outside of what is expected of her which makes her want to change her path in life.She tried to tell her mother but when her mother did not approve she stands for herself and we see that she is becoming her person. Yukari decides that she will be independent and stop attending school to become a model.
Finding her identity
She starts to stay with some of the members of Paradise Kiss and modeling for Happy Berry. The members of Paradise Kiss mainly dress Yukari but she starts to try different hairstyles but she hasn’t fully found her style or herself. During this time we can see how Yukari is finding her identity and she is still lost but tries to be herself.Until she finds an agency for models she considers joining but is told she can’t be accepted without her mother’s permission.
During the time Yukari was away from her house she was still not deciding things on her own but George was a big influence on her when he continued to say to her that she couldn’t live her life for someone else is when she realized she had to make her own decisions. This is when she realizes that she has to come home and reconcile with her mother, they come to an understanding and Yukari can pursue her modeling career but only if she continues her school. When Yukari finally comes home she starts to dress herself and start to go to school and modeling we can see that she has her own identity and she isn’t changing her goals for anyone.We finally see her start to find her style and think of what she truly wants without influence from others.
Read more about Ai Yazawa’s characters and how their style changes
