It is crucial to know how to draw clothes because you will be drawing a different outfit (or several) for every character you have. Fashion magazines or fantasy games can inspire you to create a unique outfit for your character. Costuming is a huge subject that you can find many books about. It is fun to come up with designs or color combinations of your own. In this section we will review a few options.
This is a typical schoolgirl uniform. If you are drawing a school story, you should research the different uniforms that exist and pick one that best represents or supports the theme of your story. Choose different colors or designs that you find the most convenient and attractive for the characters. In this example, there are different tie choices.
This Japanese kimono showcases warm colors and a flower pattern. Flower patterns are common on kimono robes. You can research and find inspiration in the wide variety of designs that are available.
This suit can be used for an office employee. The color of a suit is usually dark with a white shirt underneath.
This is an example of an elegant dress you may create when your character is going to a party. When it comes to dresses, you have unlimited options and designs. Look for design inspiration from fashion shows.
This outfit is a good one for gothic/dark characters. It has elements resembling Victorian-era dresses, which are more challenging than most modern-day outfits because of their details.
Boys’ school uniforms are simple and consist of long pants, a button-down shirt and sometimes a suit jacket. A tie is worn in some schools but not in all of them. Study a lot of different uniforms! The more you expose yourself to different designs, the better your chances are of developing unique outfits. Unique outfits make unique characters, and unique characters are mostly loved and unforgettable.
This casual wear can be used for your nonfantasy stories. It is simple yet modern and stylish.
This is one of the most frequent outfits needed in manga stories. You will often find a man in a suit regardless of the theme, unless it’s not applicable to the era of your manga.
Rock/punk and even gothic characters are becoming very popular in manga. A rock star is usually characterized by ripped shirts, leather pants, boots and jewelry. The folds in the pants give depth and resemble the leather material. Hopefully this outfit inspires you to create your own rock star manga!
Armor can be challenging to draw, but it’s still a costume worth mentioning here. You’ll need it for more epic fantasy stories.