calendar_monthMarch 2026calendar_monthFebruary 2026calendar_monthJanuary 2026calendar_monthJune 2025calendar_monthMarch 2025calendar_monthFebruary 2025calendar_monthJanuary 2025calendar_monthDecember 2024calendar_monthOctober 2024calendar_monthSeptember 2024calendar_monthJuly 2024calendar_monthMarch 2024
one of my favorite miku module's is her "vintage dress" look, because it simultaneously evokes a lot of the ideas as seen in her original design, while also bringing a lot new to the table!


i'll go from top to bottom of things i love about it!
i love how the X shaped straps from her shirt evoke the tapered triangular shape of the top of her typical vest. it's not an exact match, but the eye draws an invisible line where the straps would be if they weren't in their criss cross shape (that happens to be the same shape as her original vest). and the bow at the center of her choker evokes her usual tie. even the laces at the center of her shirt, and the parallel contrast trim on either side continue this idea. it's like - this top and her usual are so dramatically different in terms of area they cover, but because of how it's been styled it evokes the other so effortlessly.
then her arm covers, they're asymmetrical here, with the one on her left arm more obviously being similar to her typical - but the one on her right arm obviously starts at the same point at the top of her arm even if it doesn't go as long. again it's bringing something new to the table while evoking her original design. i like the use of chains on her left arm as well, to me it it pairs well with the lyrics of romeo and cinderella (which is where this module is typically used)
then the skirt! the multiple layers are genius. they evoke the way that her vest overlaps her skirt in her original design, with the burgundy layer evoking the bottom of the vest, and the lighter pink evoking her original skirt.
again, same with the top; this is so different from her original look.... but the shapes calling back bridge that gap.
and then the shoes. in place of her usual OTK boots, she's got these overlapping ribbon heels. in terms of evoking her original design, same with the ribbon on her right arm - up top it starts in a similar place to her usual boots (a little lower but it reads nevertheless). and on it's own merit: i love how this ties together the ribbon straps of her top, and the ribbon on her right arm.
and again its like... think of all the things that are different here. such a defining element of miku's original design is how color wise she's just got gray, black, her trademark miku teal, and tiiiiiiiiiiiny hints of hotpink/red. but here the whole look is burgundy, red, pink.
if this wall of text describing this doesn't make sense, here's a silly draw over i did lol.
the bottom line is i love this look! it's so quintessentially miku while also doing it's own thing. it's so beautiful.
i also love the texturing they give it in some games (future tone for example) the ribbons being given this satin-y look (more striking red undertones), while the other dark parts are matte (almost velvet looking?) beautiful!
anyways! this is all pretty general character design stuff right? i like thinking about it though. i've been thinking of it a lot recently because i've been really into the artistry behind street fighter 6 (lol). all the characters getting new looks was done very well. straight up highly recommend looking up a "all street fighter 6 costumes" video on youtube even if you don't gaf about the franchise/game (but do care about character design/art) because of how well done it is.
for this silly journal though, i'll call out cammy cause i like how they were able to give her such a different look while still making her so identifiable. (and also i'm biased, when i was big into street fighter in highschool i mained her)
her hair is short now, but it's slicked back in the same way it was in her braids, she still has the little wispy bits up front, and the long jacket straps evoke the shape of her braids. the light lines of her pants create a similar V shape to her leotard before... her gloves being the same, her boots being the same shape but inverted. like there's obvious tools they utilized here to make this work. and it paid off! i'm a huge fan. character design is so awesome.
i've made up a lot of stories and characters in my life, and i have remnants from when i created and cared about them saved, even if that stopped at some later point - and this is true whether they originate from when i was 8, or 18.
except for one! when i was 12 and fell in love with shoujo (through works that have remained beloved to me like kodocha, but also things that fell to the wayside like special a), i started making up this story that i wish i remembered more about.
i don't think i ever wrote down the ideas, i just tried to draw how i imagined the characters to look, but became quickly (and extremely) frustrated in my own artistic limitations. which made me go: "oh, this is unrealistic for me to expect myself to be able to make this story if i can't draw them even once" and give up.
but now i wish i had written the details down! i haven't even been able to find those old attempts to draw the characters (maybe i threw them out? i didn't typically do that, but maybe i did in the intensity of my disappointment). all i remember is that the main couple was a timid goody-goody guy with round glasses, and a delinquent girl with a buzzcut.
i only remember those details because i was worried the guy was too obviously inspired by tsuyoshi sasaki, and the fact i couldn't DRAW a buzzcut (which was somehow story important to the girl, so i was unwilling to compromise and give her some other style) was one of the things that frustrated me.
i wish i could sit with my younger self, hear her explain the whole thing. try to capture them on the page, and teach her how approach it herself. but i feel like that's what everyone wishes they could do!