History Main / FrillyUpgrade

* In ''RevolutionaryGirlUtena'', Utena goes through a transformation sequence prior to each of the many duels after her first, and it gets pretty damn elaborate later on; however, the only visible change in her outfit is the addition of a frilly trim and epaulets.

* In the ''PrettySammy'' OAV, Pretty Sammy transforms into Hyper Sammy before casting her Pretty Coquettish Bomber.

* Akazukin from ''FairyMusketeers'' has [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess Mode]], which creates cuffs of lace before it creates the sword.

* The heroine of ''HyperSpeedGranDoll'' gets the PoweredArmor versions of this trope for her two power-ups.

''[[TropeCo/FrillsOfJustice This item]] is available in the TropeCo/TropeCo catalog.''

* ''CityOfHeroes'', with its ridiculously extensive costume creator, encourages this. As you level up, you unlock additional alternate costumes and extra costume pieces.

* Parodied in ''KoreWaZombieDesuKa'', where Ayumu's Masou Shoujo outfit keeps sprouting more ribbons and bows as he (yes, [[DraggedIntoDrag he]]) powers up, eventually prompting Haruna to scream, "Stop! You mustn't get any cuter!"

* ''{{Megatokyo}}'': Reversed and lampshaded in strip [[http://www.megatokyo.com/strip/1074 #1074]]: after becoming a MagicalGirl, [[http://megatokyo.com/strip/1041 Yuki]] puts on a {{Meido}} dress and a pair of cute {{Meganekko}} glasses; later, Largo gets her a combat outfit and a pair of CoolShades. Yuki then responds like this:

* If [[spoiler: Madoka becoming a goddess]] counts in ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Then that form is much frillier (and skirt shorter) then when she was a regular magical girl.
** In ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'' when [[spoiler: Homura undergoes a similar upgrade, the EvilCounterpart of Madoka's goddess, she undergoes a much skimpier "sexy" EvilCostumeSwitch.]]

* ''FinalFantasy'':

Contrast their EvilCounterpart, EvilCostumeSwitch, which changes frills out for leather or SpikesOfVillainy. Goes quite well with a PowerCrystal accessory. Compare NextTierPowerUp, the male version; and MechaExpansionPack, the HumongousMecha equivalent.

* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' has a variation due to the target audience: the upgrades showcase additional metal pieces on the uniform and occasional sharp additions of fabric trim, and after the timeskip, shorter skirts. Though Fate Testarossa's initial upgrades add frills to her outfit as well, her last-resort Sonic Form reverses it, leaving her with nothing but skin-tight clothing "to make her faster".

* ''{{Shinzo}}'': A rare ''male'' example is Mushra. His most powerful form is, in fact, his regular orange armour with pink frills added.

* ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' : Variation due to target audience: The upgrades showcase additional metal pieces on the uniform and occasional sharp additions of fabric trim, and after the timeskip, shorter skirts. Though Fate Testarossa's initial upgrades add frills to her outfit as well, her last-resort Sonic Form reverses it, leaving her with nothing but skin-tight clothing "to make her faster".

* ''MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'' gave its heroines a FrillyUpgrade in the middle of the first season, ''before'' their power drop in the second.
* ''FutariWaPrettyCure Max Heart'' gave them more frills, and also covered up Black's stomach -- the consensus is that parents had probably complained, as it wasn't until ''[[YesPrecure5 Yes! Precure 5]]'' that Dream wore another midriff-baring costume.

** An odd twist occurred in ''FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar''. The powerup happens as normal to Cures Bloom and Egret as they become Bright and Windy. However, when they relinquish the new powers to their original owners, ''their'' Bright and Windy costumes are rather plain. This brings up the horrifying notion of what adequately detailed costumes would have done.
** In the ''YesPrecure5'' movie, the team becomes butterfly-winged Super Cures, and true to form, they have too many frills to count. Dream, of course, has her own "special" touches as team leader. And in ''Yes! Precure [=5GoGo!=]'', the wings are gone, but they get jackets instead. Cure Dream's stomach goes the way of Cure Black, but parents probably didn't complain, since Milky Rose fills the niche there instead.

** In ''FreshPrettyCure'', the girls' outfits are frilly before they even ''get'' a power-up. In fact, they are so frilly they could be compared to ''MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'''s up there. In fact, once Cure Peach gains her power-up during TheMovie, her outfit will end up as a mess of frills and angel wings, reminding one of [[YesPrettyCure5 Shining Dream]]'s.

** ''HeartcatchPrettyCure'' actually averts the FrillyUpgrade as both the Rainbow form from ''PrettyCureAllStars DX 2'' and the Super Silhouette forms from the series proper are just modified (if not modest) variations of their normal costumes.
** They come back in full force in ''SuitePrettyCure'', especially the Symphony Melody form.
** And to disturbing levels in ''SmilePrettyCure'' with their Princess form and the upcoming "Hyper Princess" form.
** Finally, ''PrettyCureAllStars DX 2'' and ''3'' both feature all of the previous super forms returning, with the addition of little gold wings.

* ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'': The uniforms in ''Sharp'' bear some resemblance to the ''S1'' uniforms. This is averted starting with ''Motto''.

** The Super forms added heart buttons, wingy skirt details, gauzy shoulder pads and humongous back bows for all, as well as extra skirt colours, brooch details and hair accessories for the lead. Eternal Sailor Moon was the frilliest of all, with flying ribbons and wings everywhere. An episode of the show actually plays with it, when Usagi is unable to navigate a small room with many people (The Inners, Uranus, Neptune, The Starlights, two members of the QuirkyMiniBossSquad and the MonsterOfTheDay for a total of 13 people) without knocking things over. The sounds of objects breaking [[LampshadeHanging can be heard]] as she does her InTheNameOfTheMoon speech (Though not seen due to stock footage). Thankfully the room in question is her family's dining room.

* ''SailorMoon'', as mentioned above.

** In a twist, everyone on the team (except Moon and Chibi Moon) gets more and more uniform as time goes by. Their super form takes away their (semi) unique chokers, brooches, and sleeves. Their manga-only third form (Which goes un-named in the manga) finishes the job by getting rid of their unique earrings and shoes, and makes their back bows all a lighter shade of their primary colors. Although each solider still has her own color scheme, their uniforms in the Stars manga are otherwise identical.

* As per the link above ''Webcomic/MoonSticks'' a ''SailorMoon'' [[GagPerDayWebcomics gag per strip]] [[FanWebComics fan webcomic]] parodies it [[http://moonsticks.org/17-sailor-moons-amazing-transformation/ here]].

Magical girls' [[PowerMakeover powerup outfits]] are easy to tell from their originals, because the original always looks plainer. The more seasons that the show goes on, the more [[EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry jewels]], [[PimpedOutDress ribbons, frills, lace,]] [[HairDecorations bows, hair clips]], [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia tiaras]], [[PrettyInMink fur trim]], [[FluffyFashionFeathers feathers]], and even ''[[PowerGivesYouWings wings]]'' will be added to the uniform. This goes double for the leader, who has to look unique and special anyway. Still, there comes a point where it can't possibly be useful anymore. (Imagine if ''SailorMoon'' [[http://moonsticks.org/17-sailor-moons-amazing-transformation had gone]] for five more seasons.)

You're a MagicalGirlWarrior or two or five, huh? And you've made it to a second season and [[SoLastSeason powered up accordingly]]? You've got to show it. But your old costume is too useful, [[ClothesMakeTheLegend too iconic]] and just [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes too cute]] to get rid of. Get a FrillyUpgrade!

** In addition to giving TheMessiah [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic the power to save the world from evil]], the [[MacGuffin Holy Grail]] causes new hairclips to appear in Sailor Chibi Moon's hair upon its first use by Sailor Moon. Only in the Anime though, she had those clips since her first appearance in the manga.

* ''FushigiboshiNoFutagoHime'' powers up its titular twins all through the two-season series, ending with a mess of lace and cute accessories.

* ''OjamajoDoremi'' avoids this late in its run by giving them all-new costume themes instead of adding on to the accessories.

Contrast their EvilCounterpart, EvilCostumeSwitch, which changes frills out for leather or SpikesOfVillainy. Goes quite well with a PowerCrystal accessory. Compare ShonenUpgrade, the male version; and MechaExpansionPack, the HumongousMecha equivalent.

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' added brooches and purses to the fairy outfits for their first power up (Charmix). In season 3, however, they [[SoLastSeason completely abandoned the Charmix]] and gave the girls totally new Enchantix outfits and powers, which meant a fresh start for the uniform. And in season 4, they once again abandon the Enchantix, replacing it with the Believix. There are also 2 sub-transformations, Sophix and Lovix, and no doubt seasons 5 and 6 will bring their own outfits - the episode guide for Season 5 mention Harmonix and Sirenix.

* As per the link above ''Webcomic/MoonSticks'' a ''SailorMoon'' [[GagPerDayWebcomics gag per strip]] [[FanWebComics fan webcomic]] parodies it [[http://moonsticks.org/page/52/ here]].