History Main / FrillyUpgrade

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,]] 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 ''Anime/SailorMoon'' [[http://moonsticks.org/17-sailor-moons-amazing-transformation had gone]] for five more seasons.)

Probably stems from the target audience's idealization of princesses and [[ErmineCapeEffect fancy clothes]].

Contrast their EvilCounterpart, EvilCostumeSwitch, which changes frills out for leather or SpikesOfVillainy. Goes quite well with a PowerCrystal accessory. Compare with: NextTierPowerUp, the approach more common in {{Shonen}}; MechaExpansionPack, the HumongousMecha equivalent; and RainbowPimpGear, when you're in a video game and this trope is [[InvokedTrope invoked by the player]] because the frillier pieces have better stats.

A SubTrope of FrillsOfJustice and CostumeEvolution.

Compare PimpedOutDress.

* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': Another unusual ''male'' example: Seiya. At first, Bronze Cloths were fairly utilitarian pieces of armor: a chestplate here, shoulderguards there, shinguards over there, maybe asymmetrical gauntlets for style or protection. But as the Cloths were consecutively damaged, destroyed, repaired, and revived, they steadily became flashier and prettier. Most full-head helmets became tiaras, for instance. It all culminated in their transformation into "[[AGodAmI Divine Cloths]]" that came with wings, intricate (and pointless) decorative engravings on continuous surfaces, and curvy loops at the end of what used to be spikes or sharp edges.

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

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/MoonSticks https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/17_evolution_sailormoon.png]]]]

%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1315780287066484000
%% Please see thread to suggest a replacement image.

Contrast their EvilCounterpart, EvilCostumeSwitch, which changes frills out for leather or SpikesOfVillainy. Goes quite well with a PowerCrystal accessory. Compare with: NextTierPowerUp, the male version, MechaExpansionPack, the HumongousMecha equivalent, and RainbowPimpGear, when you're in a video game and this trope is [[InvokedTrope invoked by the player]] because the frillier pieces have better stats.

** 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 first [[Anime/SailorMoon anime]] 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.

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

Probably stems from the target audience's idealization of [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princesses]] and [[ErmineCapeEffect fancy clothes]].

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 ''Anime/SailorMoon'' [[http://moonsticks.org/17-sailor-moons-amazing-transformation had gone]] for five more seasons.)

-->'''Wombat''': In season 2, your items and designs always change. That is the law of the universe! The providence of nature! And it's not just how they look! You've also powered up, and you boast a far more vivid design, invoking the taste of the 'now' and the 'young'!"

* Anime/CuteHighEarthDefenseClubLove: After their [[TransformationTrinket Lovracelets]] are destroyed by [[MonsterOfTheWeek the Sand Clock Monster]] at the start of season 2, [[TheHero the]] [[MagicalGirl Battle]] [[GenderFlipped Lovers]] get [[GirlinessUpgrade True Lovracelets]] from [[MentorMascot Wombat]] who lampshades their frilly upgrades.

** 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/SailorMoon 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.

* Rare quadruple male example in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'': the Light Warriors aquired class changes. These changes included new costumes, that looked suspiciously similar to their old ones, despite being clearly different.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** The Ribbon in the series is traditionally the best armor against StandardStatusEffects. If it will protect against poison, blindness, confusion, paralysis, and unconsciousness; even the most badass, scarred, fully armored BloodKnight will wear a Ribbon ''and like it''. Proof: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDfpdeQGs0 I pity the foo' who don't think I'm pretty]]
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'', Ribbons are only wearable by female characters... [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Cloud]].
** In the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' series, the Ribbon is part of a series that increases in frilliness and power along the line: starting with a simple alice band, stepping up to a hair clip, and ending in a poofy hair ribbon. Each level up protects against more status effects, culminating in the Ribbon which protects against '''everything'''. To discourage the Ribbon being spammed, though, only female characters can wear it or its partners. Male Humes, Bangaa, and Moogles can learn a passive ability that will let them wear Ribbons in the sequel though.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Elizabeth Bathory gains this upgrade during third ascension that is turned UpToEleven.

* ''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. Starting from season 5, each new season brings two new power ups, and with them, more frills and intricate details. Season 5 has Harmonix and Sirenix, season 6 Bloomix and Mythix, and in the upcoming seventh season, Butterflix and Tynix.

* ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'': When the title girls get new powers in the erm... 'New Powers' arc of the show, they get new outfits, with neat gloves, their own personal symbols on the costumes, bigger wings and RapunzelHair. As a bonus feature the new uniforms can actually defend the girls from attack by moving their many [[CombatTentacles strips of cloth]]. Heck, they even accessorize with new weapons later on.

* In ''Anime/CutieHoney Flash'', Honey unlocks her upgraded "Hyper Honey" form after the power of her device combines with Seira's. In this form, her costume becomes white and red, the opening in the chest becomes wider, and a pair of ribbons extend from her choker.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''PowerRangers'':
** Often occurs, though the most common example is when the red ranger of the season, and sometimes one or two extra rangers of the team, receives the "battlizer", which is a set of extra armor which they wear over their regular costume.
** The most "extra frills"-esque example is the Red Mystic Ranger in ''Mystic Force''. When he becomes the Red Dragon Fire Ranger, much of his new form is simply extra frills.
[[/folder]]

** The Ribbon in the series is traditionally the best armor against StandardStatusEffects. If it will protect against poison, blindness, confusion, paralysis, and unconsciousness; even the most BadAss, scarred, fully armored BloodKnight will wear a Ribbon ''and like it''. Proof: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDfpdeQGs0 I pity the foo' who don't think I'm pretty]]

* ''Webcomic/{{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:

* ''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.

* ''SaintSeiya'': Another unusual ''male'' example: Seiya. At first, Bronze Cloths were fairly utilitarian pieces of armor: a chestplate here, shoulderguards there, shinguards over there, maybe asymmetrical gauntlets for style or protection. But as the Cloths were consecutively damaged, destroyed, repaired, and revived, they steadily became flashier and prettier. Most full-head helmets became tiaras, for instance. It all culminated in their transformation into "[[AGodAmI Divine Cloths]]" that came with wings, intricate (and pointless) decorative engravings on continuous surfaces, and curvy loops at the end of what used to be spikes or sharp edges.
* Parodied in ''LightNovel/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!"

A SubTrope of FrillsOfJustice.