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Dressed for a Long Journey: Unraveling the History of European Fashion in "Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End"
The hit manga "Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End" is about a journey through the world after the Demon King has been defeated. While the series' medieval German-esque world is one of its main draws, what historical periods and countries actually inspired its fashion and culture?
We interviewed Professor Rina Uchimura of Japan Women's University, an expert in the cultural history of European fashion, to find out. Together, we'll unravel the sartorial history hidden in the outfits of Frieren and her companions.
The World of Frieren: A Medley of Different Eras and Cultures
First, from your expert perspective, what eras and countries do you think served as a model for "Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End"?
Judging from the buildings and scenery, I got the impression that it's set in medieval Germany. It seems to be a mix of cultures from various times and places, spanning from northern to southern Europe.And what about from a fashion perspective?
I think the fashion is an even greater mix of different elements. I can see influences not just from Europe, but from modern Japan as well.Okay, let's dive into the characters' outfits. First up is our protagonist, Frieren.
The silhouette of her summer outfit reminds me of women's travel wear from the 19th century.
The concept of 'travel' as we know it became a boom among the general public in the 19th century. This was because railways were built across Europe, making it easier to get around.
From there, 'traveling clothes' began to be made specifically for train journeys. As a famous example, Louis Vuitton started out as a brand making travel trunks around that time.
Frieren's summer clothes bear a strong resemblance to the European women's coats from the dawn of the travel era. The silhouette of the cape extending from her shoulders is particularly similar.
Frieren wears the same outfit for a very long time. How durable was 19th-century travel wear?
I don't think it was durable enough to last 1,000 years, but I believe it was made to be quite sturdy.It's not unusual for old clothes to be preserved. There are still cases today of ceremonial robes of royalty and nobility, or the vestments of clergy, surviving for several hundred years.
Are there any other fashion details you feel are unique to a traveler?
The boots.It's not just Frieren; many characters in this series wear boots. It makes sense, as boots are well-suited for traveling on foot.
Frieren often wears white clothing.
Personally, I find this to be a very interesting point.Historically, white was a color sometimes used for mourning attire in Europe. White symbolizes 'light' and 'rebirth,' and it has a history of being used for burial shrouds and mourning clothes in line with the Christian belief that 'the dead will one day be resurrected.'
The fact that Frieren, who is on a journey to learn about the deceased, wears white might be in line with an underlying theme of the story.
Is there anything else about Frieren's fashion that caught your eye?
Among the main characters, Frieren seems to have many modern elements in her design.Her skirt length is especially modern. Skirts that show the knees appeared in the 1960s and later. Before that, even the shortest skirts were below the knee, and historically, long skirts were the norm.
Frieren's outfit includes fashion points like these that would have been avoided in the Middle Ages, making her style feel influenced by multiple eras and places.
Fern's Schoolgirl-like Outfit and Stark's Relatable Boyish Clothes
Next is Fern, who travels with Frieren.
Fern's outfit looks a lot like what female students in 19th-century Europe would have worn.
Back then, schoolgirls lived in dormitories and went to class in these exact kinds of clothes. The border on her skirt's hem is a nice detail; sometimes, patterns like that were used to show what year a student was in.
Wearing her hair down, like Fern does, was also typical for schoolgirls. They'd wear their hair down in their teens and then put it up in an updo once they became adults.
Fern wears darker colors than Frieren.
Wizards have historically been depicted in dark colors, so I'm guessing Fern's outfit is a nod to that tradition.Fern's jacket looks a bit short.
It reminds me of the boleros that were popular in the 19th century. Garments with fur trimming, like the one Fern is wearing, were real things, too.On the other hand, lace-up boots with a small heel were the norm in the 19th century, which is a detail Fern's design omits.
Next up is Stark, the warrior who travels with Frieren and Fern.
His color palette and silhouette give him the impression of a regular, down-to-earth young man.
His look is very similar to modern outdoor fashion, which I think is a great fit for his character.
Stark wraps a cloth around his waist. Was that a real practice?
European soldiers did sometimes wear cloths like that around their waists. Maybe Stark just wears it because he thinks it looks "cool."Himmel's Outfit is Modeled on Medieval Royalty
Now let's talk about the characters Frieren traveled with in the past, starting with the hero, Himmel.
Himmel is dressed like a prince straight out of the Middle Ages.
The combination of a cape and jacket is what really sells the princely look. This was a common pairing in European countries like Germany and France. A cape, in particular, was the mark of a knight during the medieval period.
Capes have a long history, dating back to before the 10th century. The jacket has a long history, too; it was called a 'justaucorps' in the 17th century and an 'habit à la française' in the 18th century.
The jackets worn by real royalty and nobles had folded-back cuffs, which makes them a bit different from Himmel's, but the overall vibe is very similar.
The use of blue—a color associated with nobility, as in the term 'royal blue'—and the ornamental looped cord fastenings, which are common on military dress uniforms, also add to his princely aesthetic.
Is Himmel wearing trousers?
What was worn under a jacket varied depending on the era. In the 16th century, it would have been hose or tights; from the 17th to the 18th centuries, breeches; and in the 19th century, long trousers.Since Himmel is wearing traveling boots, I personally think he must be wearing long trousers underneath.
What materials do you think his clothes are made from?
For a medieval cape, the outer fabric would likely be silk velvet, with a fur lining. Incidentally, most jackets in the Middle Ages were made of silk.Next is the dwarf warrior Eisen, who also traveled with Himmel and Frieren.
Eisen's look is very similar to that of a Viking from the 8th or 9th century.
One detail that's easy to miss is the "nose" of his helmet. Like Eisen's, iron helmets from the early Middle Ages often had a strip of metal extending down over the nose to protect the glabella, a critical weak spot.
Next up is Heiter, the party's priest.
Heiter's robes are very similar to what actual priests wear. You can see this kind of clerical vestment in both medieval and modern times.
Real-life versions are also typically black and are called a "cassock" or "soutane."
Was it common for clergymen to wear black?
It depends on the denomination, but it's a style seen across Europe. They wore simple, unadorned woolen garments to signify their separation from the secular world.Heiter's personality might not be very priest-like, but it seems he still follows the dress code and wears the traditional black robes.
Finally, let's talk about the outfit of Frieren's master, Flamme.
Flamme's outfit is similar to an ancient Greek garment called a "chiton."
It's an outfit made by wrapping a single piece of cloth around the body to create folds called drapes. While Flamme's attire isn't perfectly historically accurate, the silhouette and overall vibe are remarkably similar.
Beyond the clothing, she also wears leather sandals, an armband, and a bracelet, all reminiscent of those worn in ancient Greece. Her attire truly evokes a mythological world.
Are there any differences in attire between the current party of Frieren, Fern, and Stark, and the Hero's party of Himmel, Eisen, and Heiter who defeated the Demon King?
It feels like Himmel's party wears clothing from an older time period.I noticed that Himmel dressed like medieval royalty, Eisen like a medieval Viking, and Heiter in clerical robes similar to those worn from the Middle Ages to today. In contrast, Fern's clothes look like they're from the 19th century, while Stark's outfit appears quite modern.
Amid all this, it's fascinating that Frieren, who has lived for over 1,000 years, is the only one whose clothing seems to be a blend of elements from various eras and countries.
Finally, do you have any overall comments on the series?
It's a truly wonderful series, and I found it fascinating to analyze from the perspective of costume history.The clothes we wear are interwoven with the technology, trends, and daily lives of their time. Similarly, I feel that the characters in "Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End" are each clad in the 'era they lived in' and the 'memories of their journey.'
I hope this interview helps readers to better appreciate their long journey and the feelings woven into it.
Header Caption: © Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe / Shogakukan
PROFILE
Rina Uchimura
Rina Uchimura graduated from the Department of Clothing, Faculty of Home Economics at Ochanomizu University, where she also completed her master's degree in Clothing Science. She studied abroad in the DEA program for modern and contemporary history at Lumière University Lyon 2 and later completed the doctoral coursework in Comparative Culture at Ochanomizu University's Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, earning a Ph.D. in Humanities. After serving as an associate professor in the Department of Clothing at Japan Women's University's Faculty of Home Economics, she was appointed professor in 2021. Her research focuses on the history of French fashion and the cultural studies of dress.
Her major publications include "モードの身体史―近世フランスの服飾にみる清潔・ふるまい・逸脱の文化―" (2013, Yushokan), "マリー・アントワネットの衣裳部屋" (2019, Heibonsha), "名画のドレス 拡大でみる60の服飾小事典" (2021, Heibonsha), "名画のコスチューム 拡大でみる60の職業小事典" (2023, Sogensha), and "名画のプリンセス 拡大でみる60の衣生活事典", among others.
＜Announcement＞
Japan Women's University, which boasts a top-tier national reputation in the field of clothing and textiles, has announced the planned opening of the "Faculty of Fashion Design (tentative name)" in April 2028 (currently in planning). Under the banner "Leading the future of fashion from a foundation of knowledge," it is set to become a new hub for fashion education.
Faculty Name: Faculty of Fashion Design (tentative name)
Department Name: Department of Fashion Design (tentative name)
Enrollment Capacity: 85 students
Opening: April 2028 (planned)
Location: Mejiro Campus, Japan Women's University
Press Release: https://www.jwu.ac.jp/unv/news/2025/eu1rc1000004sqql-att/PRESS_RELEASE_20251117_2.pdf
Text by Maishiro
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