Summary
The Straw Hats are the central protagonists ofOne Piece, so, naturally, they have gotten the greatest amount of screen time and focus compared to the rest of the characters in the series. Because of this, they have gone through a plethora of different looks which often differ based on the land that the current arc is based around. Throughout the run of the story, fans have both loved and hated some of the various looks of the Straw Hats.
Though some are definitely more beloved than others, they’re all almost equally iconic and important for theOne Piecestory and have gone down assome of the best looksin the entire anime industry. So, in this article, let’s go over the best look of each of the Straw Hats, going over exactly what works about this particular outfit and why it has an edge over the other looks of the particular character.
Story Arc
Wano
Luffy’s general fit in the Wano arc is very similar to what he has always worn; a red overshirt, a waistband, and shorts underneath it all. However, what made this different was the coat he draped over his shoulders, leaving the sleeves open to flap in the wind. This look gave him an incredible amount of aura and power that perfectly fit his status as one ofthe new Emperors of the Sea, as well as hearkening back to how some of the strongest and most important characters in the series dress, namely Shanks and the Admirals, to name a few.
I don’t want to conquer anything. I think the guy with the most freedom in the entire ocean is the Pirate King.
Return to Sabaody
An argument could be made that Zoro’s outfit while he was on Wano was the best since the white robes with a similar cloak to Luffy gave him a distinct visage. However, his black samurai robes during the Onigashima Raid were just perfect for him, as they played off ofZoro’s nature as a samurai swordsman. Before the time skip, Zoro typically just wore a shirt with pants, but after it, he was more often shown to be wearing long robes that just fit his aesthetic far better.
I have found that fancy titles mean nothing when it comes to fighting!
Wholecake Island
This look was quite different from anything that Sanji had worn before since it wasn’t a suit of any kind. While Sanji’s Wano robes and Onigashima suit were both quite cool, the look of the dress shirt along with the red cape gave a stark contrast to how Sanji typically dresses. Although he has a past that he would rather forget about, Sanji is aprince of the Germa Kingdom, something which is perfectly displayed by the royal look of his outfit from Wholecake Island.
I’ll do what you can’t do; you do what I can’t do.
Jimbei used to be one ofthe Seven Warlords of the Seabut eventually found his way to becoming the helmsman of the Straw Hat crew. However, Jimbei’s clothes have been almost identical for every arc he has been a part of, wearing simple robes that are further covered by a large cape from the shoulders. Although it’s largely the same for the Wano robes, those have just gone down as being the most iconic, so they take the place for Jimbei’s best look throughout his time inOne Piece.
What is gone, is gone! So ask yourself this; what remains?
Return To Sabaody
Usopp has always been one of the weaker members of the Straw Hats, so during the time skip, few fans expected to see him return to the story looking almost completely different. Not only did he finally get in shape, but this new look showed that Usopp had finally gotten stronger by realizing his true strengthsas a sniper for the crewvia pop-greens. This new look offered an entirely new perspective on the character as he was now stronger than he had ever been before.
From this moment on, I’m going to become your “Legendary Hero”!
Orange Town
As great as the character designs inOne Piecetend to be, Oda sometimes fumbles in a place that many mangaka do;the over-sexualization of female characters. Nami tends to be the main victim of this, which is why her pre-timeskip design is the best of all the ones she has ever had, mostly due to how different it was from everything else at the time. The white top with her short orange hair gave her a look that was entirely unique and different from how she is now.
If you think I’m just another cute girl, you’re dead wrong!
Water 7
Still considered to beone of the series' best arcs, Water 7/Enies Lobby was filled with mystery and suspense, which all built up to a payoff that remains one of the greatest in the entire story. Since Robin is the central focus of the arc, Oda really dialed up her character design, with her sporting an iconic look that is very different from how she and other female characters have looked in the past. Oda showed the perfect balance of how to create an incredible look for a female character without over-sexualizing her when it came to Robin’s Enies Lobby look.
Drum Island
Chopper has had many different looksover the years, all of which are pretty good. However, none have been able to trump the simple design of his original form, which also remains his most significant, since it shows him wearing the hat of his beloved Dr. Hiriluk. The hat is still present for the character under his helmet to this day, but to see this adorable reindeer wear it as his most prized possession is enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eyes. To this day, Chopper’s simple initial character design is yet to be topped.
I want to be the sort of man people can rely on!
Franky is one of the few characters who many in the community aren’t the biggest fans of his post-timeskip design. The original look of the character was undoubtedly amazing, sporting a hilarious and over-the-top hairdo, an open Hawaiian shirt, and wearing nothing underneath but a pair of underwear. While the post-timeskip version ofFranky still has these things, the overly bulbous look is something that some don’t like, stating that it doesn’t come close to how great the original look of the character was.
The time skip had not been kinder to anyone more than but Brook, since the musician of the Straw Hat crew became a worldwide phenomenonknown as ‘Soul King Brook’. Not only was this an amazing turn of events for his character arc, but his brand-new look was one of the best out of everyone in the entire crew, sporting a golden hat, some groovy heart-shaped sunglasses, and awesome orange fur along the collar of his suit. This incredible appearance made him stand out even more than he did before.
What keeps me alive in this world is neither bodily organs, nor muscle - it’s my soul!
One Piececan be streamed onCrunchyroll.
One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
