The stereotypical image of an otaku is an overweight or underweight person wearing a t-shirt sporting an anime character on the front and possibly the back. Pants-wise, he’s wearing some kind of jeans or shorts or something. Maybe this is draped in a beat up black trenchcoat in an attempt to look cool. Otaku tend not to be known as very fashionable people unless they’re in the midde of cosplay. One look at anime-themed clothing however, and you begin to realize that it’s pretty much all t-shirts. I think the problem lies not with the otaku’s lack of fashion sense, but simply the fact that there is not enough variety in clothing for otaku to proudly display their fandom.
Uniqlo, with its Shounen Sunday 50th Anniversary, and the recent Pokemon 151, have both been attempts to push this kind of geek apparel into higher fashion, but in the end they’re still t-shirts. You also have the clothes which only vaguely hint at their relationship to anime, and those are fine for what they are, be they from Hot Topic or a super nice Eureka Seven t-shirt (seriously I love those). What I want to see though is clothing that clearly shows its anime roots that can be worn for different sorts of occasions and for different effects.
Why not some polo anime shirts? Why not pull the anime logos and character away from the shirt and towards the pants and skirts and dresses? Then, change up the types of pants. Why not have pair of capris pants with Kenshin on the side or something, for you Hitokiri Battousai fans? Rather than having a Lucky Star t-shirt with a school swimsuit on it, why not have a vest which when buttoned up resembles that swimsuit? You have the Hello Kitty business suit, but why not the Golgo 13 business suit, made to look just like Mr. Togo’s?
I have no intention to hate on the anime t-shirt. I simply lament the sad and lonely state of its existence. If only some kind-hearted designer would take its proverbial rib and create for it an Anime-Clothing Eve, all would be well.
And no, the shoulder bag is not Anime-Clothing Eve.
OGIUE MANIAX 
‘cuz I don’t want an anime character or logo on my jeans.
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I think that’s a very interesting idea. Although my main wardrobe consists of t-shirts and jeans, I think it would be nice to have a change of pace.
I could really see anime apparel beyond just t-shirts as something very marketable. Even if it’s a subtle patch of a character or a logo on the left-side of a polo shirt, I think that would be fine.
Personally, I like anime t-shirts that aren’t obviously anime t-shirts. For example, if I were to get a Bleach t-shirt, I would want one with Ichigo and/or whoever else in monochrome instead of full, bright color. That to me is a kid’s shirt.
There’s my two cents. Now I’m .001% further away from getting a $2,000 car, lol!
TheAndySan
http://www.theandysan.com
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Cospa does a lot of jackets and stuff. Shit’s expensive, but it’s… not t-shirts.
You can also get Eva sneakers and flip-flops and shit.
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I think you’re overlooking the most important piece of clothing in any respectable otaku’s wardrobe: THE CLUB SHIRT!
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Hey, we do make anime polo shirts. Well, Domo-kun…
http://www.jlist.com/search/shirt-domop1_or_shirt-domop3_or_shirt-gfp1
They’re rather nice.
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I should grow overweight just to support the stereotypical otaku image. Anyway, nice ideas.
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@wildarmsheero – You can also get Eva sneakers and flip-flops?! My friend Eriopolis would kill to have stuff like that. He’s an Eva nut.
@kransom – True dat! I even designed t-shirts & logos for my club, Genshiken UU.
@Peter Payne – Now that’s what I’m talking about! It’s definitely a good start, and I can’t wait to see more.
TheAndySan
http://www.theandysan.com
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It’s not that there are no anime related appeal other then tshirts, it’s just most of the otaku are too broke to afford any of it. =^,_,^=
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Hear hear! I completely agree with you, 90% of anime apparel is t-shirts which can look stale on your wardrobe (the reason I don’t buy any).
I recently acquired a sewing machine and I have been thinking like you, trying to recreate or modify some anime costumes for regular wear. Since I’m just a beginner I don’t have anything good, but it’s a lot better than just a shirt ^^
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Q: I’m an Asian college guy looking for cool clubbing clothes that I can also use as casual wear on campus. Have any suggestions?
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If there was more variety in anime themed clothes I would be a happier girl! I don’t like to wear T shirts all the time so that’s why I don’t have a lot of anime tees.
But in the US anything Japanese looking is considered anime themed dressing to my friends. Or heavily anime inspired.
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