Usagi/Serena's White High Top Sneakers

I'm conflicted on this outfit which, as far as I can tell, is the only one Usagi/Serena wore these sneakers with (and wore it in multiple episodes, according to Sailor Civilian). I have mixed feelings about layering (especially with strappy summer dresses), but it ALWAYS looks killer in the animes. I just don't think it's practical in real life. Maybe it's the short sleev-ed-ness with the hood that matches the over the top sneakers that makes it work. Whatever it is, I dig it but probably wouldn't rock it. I do love these shoes though! I mean, check these out!

            

 

I recently bought a pair of these from Target to add to my vast shoe collection. It's going to drive me up a wall trying to keep them in pristine, like-new condition, but they're pretty fly!

They were also available in black with a gold zipper, but they were nearly sold out and didn't have my size when I went to check them out.

Personally, I think Usagi/Serena should have worn these shoes a lot more often with a lot more outfits. For example, I will be wearing these shose IRL with this outfit of hers instead of with the black loafer shoes she normally wore them with:

 

Super cute oversized cowl neck sweater with black skater skirt. I personally might not rock the cowl neck, but generally the long(ish) sleeved loose pink tops goes quite well with the black mini skirt and of course if you keep the shoes and the pink matching socks with this look it's super matchy matchy and a little too cutesy for my taste, but visually it works well.

Hotaru Tomoe (Then and Now, Sailor Moon Crystal)

The new look for Hotaru has been revealed for Sailor Moon Crystal, and I love it! I've always loved it, actually. But this time it's different! A variation of the old made new. It's been updated to be less 90's, as the shirt is looser fitting, lighter colored, and no longer a mockneck (a half-length style of turtleneck) from what I can tell.  

Here's an example of the old, for immediate visual reference: 

As you can see, it's much darker and monochromatic than the new version. Also, note that those are house slippers, and usually she was wearing black(ish?) ballet flats, but I couldn't find a pic for reference. She has another very similar outfit which she wears with her grey gauzy shawl and black boots similar to those Sailor Uranus wears. I've always loved this casual look of hers but felt like it was too dramatic to pull off in the real world (I'm also tall, pale, and blonde, so I felt like it would be really striking in an awkward at school way). Here's an example of those pieces in real life:

I think the skirt could be more mini, and maybe more flouncy like a true skater skirt of the 90's (and today) but you get the idea. 

I always though that the color schemes in the original Sailor Moon were used to convey texture or signify different articles of the same color more than a completely different color (I thought of her skirt as washed-to-many-times black, instead of 90's anime navy blue). That's why I like the new version so much, it casts new light on what is essentially the same outfit. Even though the new outfit doesn't use the same color twice (unless you count the shoes), it still goes together perfectly in pseudo monochromatic bliss. Now THAT is an outfit I can wear to school!

I plan on pairing a navy blue knit mini skater skirt with thick black tights, black ballet flats, and a long sleeve dark grey knit shirt (neckline TBD, but I'm partial to V-necks, or maybe for this look a looser fitting dark grey long sleeve with a crew neck).