My Dress-Up Darling

Today I’d like to introduce the romantic comedy manga My Dress-Up Darling, which was also adapted into a popular anime. I might be reviewing a lot of rom-coms lately, but that’s simply because I’ve been binging them myself. My Dress-Up Darling is a love story between Marin, a high school girl fascinated by cosplay, and her classmate Gojo, an aspiring hina-doll craftsman. After a chance encounter, Gojo ends up making cosplay costumes for Marin, and their relationship gradually deepens as they spend more time together. This series was one of the first to popularize the now-trendy setup of pairing a flashy gyaru with a shy, introverted boy who seems worlds apart from her. Recent hits like More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers and My First Girlfriend Is a Gal carry on this gyaru-romance formula, but it was My Dress-Up Darling that really lit the spark. (Note: In Japan, “gyaru” refers to stylish, high-energy girls—often with dyed hair, flashy fashion, and piercings. While they may look rebellious at first glance, gyaru are surprisingly sincere, loyal, and warmhearted.) Marin’s endlessly positive attitude and bright personality captivate readers—especially male fans. Judging by how popular gyaru-romance manga have become, you get the sense that Japanese guys secretly dream of dating a gyaru (laughs). Another charm of the manga is the abundance of cosplay knowledge woven into the story. With anime conventions now held all over the world in places like Korea and the U.S., filled with cosplayers, this series also conveys the passion and joy behind cosplay culture itself. If I had to point out a flaw, it would be how the story shifted midway. While the early and middle parts focused heavily on the romance, the later chapters became unexpectedly philosophical, diving deeply into themes of costume-making and artistic dedication. It was so different in tone that I honestly thought, “Wait, am I reading the same manga?” Once the romance picked up again, the story suddenly ended, which left me with a bit of an incomplete feeling. That said, it was probably better than dragging things out unnecessarily. Overall, with its anime adaptation and huge influence as the manga that kicked off the gyaru-romance trend, My Dress-Up Darling is a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you like gyaru characters, this is a must-read series.

August 26, 2025