Yukari wants nothing more than to make her parents happy by studying hard and getting into a good college. One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-proclaimed fashion mavens calling themselves 'Paradise Kiss.' Yukari suddenly finds herself in the roller coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, art-snob extraordinaire. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends’ own exclusive clothing model.
Yukari "Caroline" Hayasaka starts off with a very high and mighty opinion but eventually grows as she is inexplicable drawn into the world of her newest friends. George Koizumi, Miwako Sakurada, Arashi Nagase, and Isabella. All four attend the arts school Yazagaku and have to enter into a fashion design contest for the senior years. They ask Yukari to be their model and walk down the runway in their dress. At first she very rudely declines but eventually comes around.
George is the charismatic designer whose fashion runs more haute couture than everyday. He's kind a difficult character to understand really. His hypocritical statements will give you some whiplash. His cold personality may be contributed from his mother though because she is in fact a "mistress" and not a first wife.
Miwako is the short, cute and bubbly figure in the group. She is a very loyal friend for Yukari and often helps her out. She doesn't consider herself a very good designer because she usually imitates her sister's colthing brand Happy Berry. So she fills more of a seamstress role within the group and even shows Yukari a thing or two. Miwako aslo happens to be Arashi's girlfriend.
Arashi is the boyfriend of Miwako and can eaily be spotted in a crowd with his numerous piercings and punk style clothes. He is the first one to notice Yukari and ends up chasing her as Yukari runs away from him without listening to what he has to say. Arashi is quite blunt and honest with people and is even the one to tell Yukari off when she laughs at them "playing with sewing machines". Eventually though he warms up to her and even Miwako notices how he doesn't want Yukari to get hurt.
Isabella is the motherly figure and is usually the one to make the tea and food when they take a break. Always there to dispense some advice or a venting wall for Yukari. Isabella always wears high fashion clothing and George's very first dress was made for her back in elementary school. Notably, Isabella is a crossdresser but is very much treated like a lady. He is also the one that makes the patterns for George's designs.
Overall I very, very much enjoyed reading this series. It really does take you on a rollercoaster ride and the comedy in it kept me laughing. Loved the artwork and I really liked alot of the fashion designs Yukari wore. The ending is bittersweet though but despite how I like/don't like it, it works out wonderfully and was really the right way to go. Just as a warning though, this comic does show nudity and adult themes so it is for mature audiences only. 18+ or if you're not into that.
Stars: 5/5
Mangaka: Ai Yazawa
Categories: fashion, drama, romance, shoujo, josei
Volumes: 5
Seinin/Josei are for mature audiences only. Specificly 18+. This stories are geared towards adults. May contain adult content and themes.
Yukari "Caroline" Hayasaka starts off with a very high and mighty opinion but eventually grows as she is inexplicable drawn into the world of her newest friends. George Koizumi, Miwako Sakurada, Arashi Nagase, and Isabella. All four attend the arts school Yazagaku and have to enter into a fashion design contest for the senior years. They ask Yukari to be their model and walk down the runway in their dress. At first she very rudely declines but eventually comes around.
George is the charismatic designer whose fashion runs more haute couture than everyday. He's kind a difficult character to understand really. His hypocritical statements will give you some whiplash. His cold personality may be contributed from his mother though because she is in fact a "mistress" and not a first wife.
Miwako is the short, cute and bubbly figure in the group. She is a very loyal friend for Yukari and often helps her out. She doesn't consider herself a very good designer because she usually imitates her sister's colthing brand Happy Berry. So she fills more of a seamstress role within the group and even shows Yukari a thing or two. Miwako aslo happens to be Arashi's girlfriend.
Arashi is the boyfriend of Miwako and can eaily be spotted in a crowd with his numerous piercings and punk style clothes. He is the first one to notice Yukari and ends up chasing her as Yukari runs away from him without listening to what he has to say. Arashi is quite blunt and honest with people and is even the one to tell Yukari off when she laughs at them "playing with sewing machines". Eventually though he warms up to her and even Miwako notices how he doesn't want Yukari to get hurt.
Isabella is the motherly figure and is usually the one to make the tea and food when they take a break. Always there to dispense some advice or a venting wall for Yukari. Isabella always wears high fashion clothing and George's very first dress was made for her back in elementary school. Notably, Isabella is a crossdresser but is very much treated like a lady. He is also the one that makes the patterns for George's designs.
Overall I very, very much enjoyed reading this series. It really does take you on a rollercoaster ride and the comedy in it kept me laughing. Loved the artwork and I really liked alot of the fashion designs Yukari wore. The ending is bittersweet though but despite how I like/don't like it, it works out wonderfully and was really the right way to go. Just as a warning though, this comic does show nudity and adult themes so it is for mature audiences only. 18+ or if you're not into that.
Stars: 5/5
Mangaka: Ai Yazawa
Categories: fashion, drama, romance, shoujo, josei
Volumes: 5
Seinin/Josei are for mature audiences only. Specificly 18+. This stories are geared towards adults. May contain adult content and themes.
