You'll likely either embrace or disregard that age-old idiom. Clothes are sort of a strange thing, excluding the presence of Kill la Kill. For many, myself included, they're an armor of public confidence and I'd feel practically naked outside without a self-coordinated outfit.
Nevertheless, I believe there's this universal feeling present in everyone, one of self-satisfaction from being in a nice-looking and fitting set of clothes.
Oh, you got that DRIP drip 😏
Don't let the fashion aspect of this series gate-keep you. If You're Gonna Dress Up, Do It Like This is an ample slice-of-life depicting the comedic relationship between an unfashionable older brother and a haughty fashionable younger sister, and how fashion becomes a device to colorize something as frustratingly endearing as a sibling relationship. Yuusuke, an ordinary office worker and gamer otaku, takes unsteady baby steps into the fashion world hand-held by Tamaki, after realizing how unfashionably out-of-place he is during a class reunion party.
Yuusuke being unfashionable is a key point of the story. Had this been about an already-fashionable protagonist talking through and offering tips, the series would've been considerably more gate-keeping. Reflecting back to middle-school, the days when I frolicked about with my baggy Gap sweatpants, "Like a Boss" graphic t-shirt, muddied Nike Roshes and a standard overgrown buzzcut, not many things could be more annoying than someone preaching to you about taking care of your appearance and whatnot. However, with a relatable casually-nerdy guy whose fashion curiosity is piqued, the story takes on a much more welcoming approach to introducing the audience to something they may consider esoteric, ie. fashion.
Expanding more on the preceding statement, it's comforting how beginner-friendly this series is. It somehow manages to address every skepticism, question and misunderstanding that I and many beginners had and have regarding the foreign and new concept of fashion. The first chapter captures the indifferent attitude many have towards fashionable appearances, the disarray one may feel when surrounded by the exquisitely-dressed and a meek, shameful desire to learn about fashion. The sibling duo dynamic works great to answer and dispel common misconceptions about fashion, such as Yuusuke believing more expensive is better and Tamaki correcting him through easy-to-understand explanations. In conjunction with quelling common misconceptions and addressing common beliefs regarding fashion, the series, of course, teaches the audience about the technicalities of fashion.
That said, the series doesn't confuse its audience right off the bat with esoteric fashion terminology and industry jargon. It starts off depicting Yuusuke awkwardly stumbling and discovering what looks good and bad, with very basic terms and tips. As the story progresses, and Yuusuke interacts with more fashionistas and finds himself in different situations, it drops more, yet still easily comprehendible, technical explanations. I've repeatedly mentioned that this is an excellent entry-point for beginners, but just about any degree of fashionista will find an enjoyable takeaway, as well. Admittedly, I came in believing there wouldn't be much to digest and learn, and to my pleasant surprise, I've learned some neat tips, slightly redefined my style and even changed my outlook on fashion. Truly, if you're willing to take away something from this series, you're sure to find something.
Side note: This series is essentially a massive Uniqlo advertisement and focuses on Japanese street/minimalist fashion, and considering that I'm a shill for all of those, this review is wholeheartedly biased.
Conclusion
Fashion is likely one of the most esoteric genres across manga. However, * If You're Gonna Dress Up, Do It Like This* takes kindly to any skepticism and indifference towards it. It's neither condescending or gate-keeping in advocating the word of fashion. Rather than being reminded of your mother's scolds of maintaining a clean appearance, the series gently guides you and addresses common doubts through the lens of an ordinary office worker and gamer who becomes interested in casual fashion one day. Hell, the author herself mentions that she isn't even interested in fashion, and that she has an advisor to fill in the fashion aspect of her story. Though * If You're Gonna Dress Up, Do It Like This* is told from a beginner's perspective, anyone with any degree of interest in fashion will surely find something useful to take away and apply to their own wardrobe.
Being about fashion, one would expect exceptional art. Detailed doesn't describe this series' art, but it certainly depicts fashion much more conscientiously than the vast majority of other manga out there. After seeing characters in hundreds of different series wearing the exact same outfits for the entirety of the story, it's very much a refreshing sight to see the varying outfits and styles present in each chapter. Honest-to-God art otaku won't find anything exceptional here, but it's a pleasant sight for anyone with an interest in fashion. The volume covers are certainly an aesthetic pleaser, as well.
Fashion aside, the story is a pleasant slice-of-life regarding a sibling duo you'd find just about anywhere. As someone with an older sister and a former disinterest in fashion, I found their bickering, supportive dynamic an amusingly relatable one. Though not quite on par with much more slice-of-life oriented series, it's still a great supplement to the fashion aspect of this series. Though, likely not sufficient enough for those completely disinterested in fashion.
To close off, my key point here isn't about fashion. Rather, you'll often encounter stories with an esoteric focus, such as shogi, bouldering, cooking, etc. The plot themselves may be appealing enough for readers' enjoyment even with that obscure focus present. However, I believe that if you're willing to open up to it, you can find some sort of takeaway. Not exactly a full-blown interest, but an idea applicable to your life.