Mink's YAKIN BYOUTOU
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We've had french maids, school girls, and mikos. But there's more to the otaku's fetish for uniforms and costumes: the nurse, policewoman, Catholic nuns, waitress, china girl, lolita, etc.
Whichever appeals more to fans depends on the genre. The nurse, for instance, appear frequently in hardcore gal games (Mink's infamous Yakin Byoutou series come to mind), while outfits like bloomers and school swimsuits are perenial favourites with creators of both adult and mainstream content.
Without delving too deep into the subject (go grab a book on psychology if that's what you want), uniforms help reinforce a sense of identity; and a girl in uniform is immediately associated with the values her uniform represents--purity for the nurse, authority for the policewoman, sanctity for the nun, naivity for the school girl, and so forth.
Fetishes aside, such associations are effective tools for escapism, as you can use them to reinforce certain values in the heroine.
Take the example of the nurse. Compassion, selflessness, and wholesomeness are some of the core values in her profession. Once the heroine puts on a nurse uniform, she becomes an extension of these values. The same applies to social steretypes like the teacher, kid/big sister, miko etc. She reflects society's order, so by going against what's expected of her role, you're giving fans an outlet to break free of society's strangehold.
it's nothing new in the west either. In Ducasse's controversial Les Chants de Maldoror, the anti-hero, Maldoror, sees crime against the family (incest, for instance) as equivalent to giving society--and all its rigid conventions--the finger. The same could be said of the otaku culture--it just so happens that the Japanese are more creative about it.
SAKURAGI MATSURI ÷–Øää»
(Ichigo Mashimaro)
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Besides uniforms and costumes, you also have to consider the heroine's accessories and hairstyle. Some otakus have a weakness for bespectacled women; others find girls with big ribbons tied behind their hair irresistable. Also, a french maid may look sweeter with braided hair, while long, black flowing hair suits a woman in kimono better.
Here are a few indispensible accessories for the "moe" heroine:
- Glasses - so popular is the bespectacled girl that fans have a name for her: "megane-musume". A bespectacled heroine projects a matured, booksmart image, yet at the same time may be naive and clumsy.
- Ribbon - Another indispensible accessory for the "moe" heroine, whatever its shape, size, or colour. It's not just for her hair but her school uniform as well.
- Hair Clip / Hair Band - The heroine's hair is too short for ribbons? There's always the hair clip and hair band to add some colour to her hair.
For hairstyles, here are a few suggestions. Do note that these are my own observations, and are thus subjective:
- Long hair- feminine, elegant, regal, mature, sexy. The "yamato nadesico" (ideal Japanese woman) always has long, black hair; western women often sport long hair too. The preferred choice of hairdo for women who are well-endowed, since it makes them look even more voluptuous.
- Short hair - active, energetic, adventurous, tomboyish, spunky.
- Shoulder-length - friendly, assuring, easy-going, homely. One of the more common hairstyles, though how her hair is combed or tied can give varying impressions.
- Double ponytail / pgitails/ buns - childlike, naive, energetic, fun-loving. Popular with bouncing prepubescent girls.
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