I've noticed a lot of people have issues with Yugi's outfits shown in DSOD. There's been an influx in that opinion recently, which as a guy who absolutely adores Yugi's fits, I solely have to disagree.
I understand where it's coming from, of course. Yugi spends the whole series dressed up in sick (/positive) clothing. Belts and chokers. Tight vests and studded cuffs. Modifying clothes and uniforms like a true little punk trying to express himself.
And suddenly, when he has the freedom to wear ANYTHING he chooses plain options. Vests. Shirts. Business wear, almost.
It's jarring. It's a weird change. And despite being graduated he still wears his uniform around. Which we all know is a habit he has. (Note: Jounouchi telling Yugi not to wear his uniform on weekends in the manga!) but considering he's a post graduate, I've seen people I speak to complain about how we couldn't see him in more than three outfits (school uniform, the waistcoat and vest and the navy? Shirt).
"He should've been wearing cooler clothing!! Wheres the belts!" and yes it is a crime that he didn't wear like. Any belts. That I am against.
But I think people don't remember that Yugi wears other clothing.
Beginning of the manga before Yami, he wears plain shirts. You don't SEE the bondage vest under his shirt till Yami shows up. Yes Yugi's clothes are modified (belt straps on sleeves) but he isn't actively putting the chokers and vests underneath like as shown post Yami.
And need I show yall this cute little fit he was depicted in on a few reference sheets AND on the bunkoban cover of volume 10 of ygo DM??
His studded, fucking awesome outfits ARE cool and definitely on some level because of him and his active choices in fashion but THERE IS AN INFLUENCE.
Yami. Atem. Maoh. Whatever you like calling him. Is a direct influence on how Yugi dresses. He's the one putting party city ankh things on his sleeves. The one wearing the bondage vest. Lookin like how I imagine the boogeyman to look. He's the one encouraging Yugi to try flashier jewelry.
And this isn't bashing the general consensus that Yugi's outfits in dsod are kinda ass for his character because hell yeah. His outfits in DM and the manga are iconic and I wish we could've seen him wearing. Fkin. Demonia heels or something. (..wait..i gotta draw that.. Heh)
But when speaking to someone on discord (no shade obv. Ily 8) today, they went on to talk about how "Yugi doesn't wear anything else!! Why would he suddenly wear more standard clothing in dsod!!" as if he hasn't been shown in regular, non belt covered outfits in the past.
You can wear both. Suddenly wearing a waistcoat doesn't make the character depiction any worse. If anything, this solidifies something about Yugi's character.
Yugi was influenced by Yami in his choice of dressing. They chose the clothes together. It didn't become me or you, it became US. and they both expressed themsleves through how they dressed.
Inseparable souls. And for Yugi, this could've been a comfort. Wearing a tight choker, a restrictive vest.. It's like a reminder that Yami is with him. Like a hug. The only way for Yami and him to truly touch.
Yugi has spent the past years knowing a few things. He has to help Yami. He doesn't want Yami to leave. And all he has to do is play card games. Suddenly, everything stops. He's out of school. Time to work, become an adult. Thrown out into a fuckin scary ass world with no knowledge on how to handle it.
He spent years being a global hero in some cases. But playing duel monsters isn't going to bring him back. And it certainly isn't doing to help him get a job or even KEEP a job.
He's grieving for his partner. Probably extremely empty inside. And yknow what would make it worse? Wearing Atem's clothing.
The bracelets they picked. The vests he loved. The choker he'd always slip on way too tight when Yami was in charge of dressing for the morning because Yugi spent all night playing games and pretending he didn't have to sleep.
Maybe he needs to get out of the mourning hole hes dug himself. And the constant reminder that he lost someone he loved is strong enough considering they shared a face and a body. The mirrors in his home would be hard enough to look at, let alone wearing the clothes that still feel like his..
I know that in itself is a common statement in the fandom. And (obv. As told by my art.) is my favourite depictions of Yugi post dm. Alone. Grieving. Learning. Fighting.
But might I also suggest that Yugi just.. Wants to find who HE is?
He's been intertwined with Yami for so long. As is my main point, Yami affected how he presented himself in many forms. But he can't hang onto Yami forever. He needs time. Space. Life.
He needs to do a bit of self discovery.
Trying new clothes. New makeup. Maybe new hair. Introducing new people into his life. New hobbies. Things far away from what he knew with Yami. Change. Positive AND negative change. Because everyone's moving forward and he's standing still.
And someday, he'll come back. Maybe he'll put his old clothes back on, but he won't be the same as how he was as a kid with Yami holding his hand. He will have changed, likely for the better.
He's Yugi. Not just the other half of Atem, now.
It's time to find who "Yugi" really is.
I think it's so neat that we all have such vast opinions on Yugi's dressings from DSOD tbh. I remember, back a decade (? Or so?) ago when I was a young idiot on amino, how everyone didn't think of ANYTHING other than. "Yeah Yugi is so cool!! He's older now!! That's cool!!". Everyone had one opinion. It's not like now.
These days the interpretations of Yugi as a character are fucking BEAUTIFUL. The fact that I managed to live long enough to get to see every heartbreaking take on Yugi's life and clothing and soul as a whole makes me so proud.
I'm always going to defend Yugi's dsod clothing though. I'm sure some know that the waistcoat is my favourite outfit on Yugi. It's so attractive and pretty to me. As I said, it beautiful as proof of change and grief for his character. And it's also just adorable. He looks like a lil business man 🥹 also ugh hhhhhhh his eyes in dsod.. The sharpness of them... I could go on a whole other rant about them.
And I think no matter what he wears, Atem is proud of him and is always watching him from Aaru (and complaining to the gods and his family that Yugi isn't putting enough flashy jewelry on).
And that, in of itself, is a beautiful thing.
TLDR: Yugi's dsod clothes are commonly dunked on, but I think they're cool and represents not only grief but change and self discovery for his character.
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