appearance
Kitajima has an err, interesting appearance to say the least. Although estimated to be approaching forty, she dresses like a disco diva and is completely oblivious to her own appeal. Oh Uno Makoto, is there any kind of girl you won't design? (No.)
general
Kitajima is around
160cms in height (assumed to be slightly less, as this measurement takes
her heels into account) and can easily be distinguished by her silver glasses
and long, dark hair. Her eyes are blue, she wears little make-up and she fails to put any real emphasis on her appearance. The doctor is also the most well-endowed human member of the Dragonaut cast (Machina and Garnet are the only characters with larger busts - and they're aliens). Despite being physically stunning and frequently described as "sexy"
by various members of the crew, Kitajima seems to possess a basic comprehension of her own physical presence.
anime hair
Kitajima has long, black hair which lengthens over the course of her various appearances. As we see during the "nineteen years ago" flashback, when Kitajima was a young researcher she wore her hair in a loose ponytail that reached to the mid of her back. During the flashback with Yonamine "five years ago" her hair is slightly longer, but in a similar ponytail. This can also be observed when she discovers Atrum "two years ago".
During the "present" her hair is shown to be considerably longer, reaching to her backside when it is tied up and almost to the backs of her knees when it is down (as seen in episode one). After the one year time skip, her hair doesn't changed length to a noticeable extent.
So what does Kitajima's ever-lengthening-but-never-changing hair express about her character? When considered with her general attitude, it is reasonable to assume that she does not see traditional hair and beauty routines as a priority in her life (just ask her about perfume). Instead of cutting her hair should it get in the way, she simply ties it back and continues with her work. It is very fitting for her character to prefer spending time in a lab over a salon.
According to Hairstyle.com (a deeply insightful resource that offers up articles like "The Pob, Posh's Bob") your hair sends out SECRET SIGNALS, not unlike a follicle-based Nazi spy. Kitajima's hair is long (this "suggests confidence and sensuality"), wavy ("playfulness, warmth and carefree nature") and in a ponytail ("worn high on the head, it conveys a casual, energetic look"). So judging by Hairstyle.com's top secret analysis, Kitajima Yuuri should look not unlike Britney Spears:
Insert some joke about her drunkenly dropping egg babies here.
manga hair
Kitajima's hair is slightly different in the manga version of Dragonaut. While still dark and frequently tied up, it is considerably shorter - only reaching to her bust. Kitajima doesn't always tie her hair in the same manner either, she sports a couple of different ponytail-looks over the course of the manga. Most interesting of all is her appearance in the flashback to Kamishina Ai's death. During this time, Kitajima wore her hair in a rather short bob.
As much as I love the absurdity of Kitajima's near body-length tresses in the anime, her varying short styles in the manga are rather fitting (and charming). She's far less likely to trip on her own hair in the manga too, which is always a plus.
handbags
Kitajima is shown to use three different handbags over the course of Dragonaut. Fitting with her general attitude the one she carries at work is a small and simply designed affair: navy blue with only one visible pocket. Interestingly, the only contents made visible are items of make-up: lipstick and powder. As she does not carry perfume, Nanami lends her some from her own purse in order to cover up the smell of Yonamine's cigarettes. When Kitajima goes on her date with Nozaki, she uses a different handbag: brown, but of a similar size/lack of detail.
We are also shown a third handbag during the "five years ago" flashback. Again, this handbag is brown but unlike her other date handbag, it has a silver clasp at the top. It is also worth noting that Kitajima carries a (mostly unseen) brown handbag during her time in Akihabara with Nozaki (which we see when she returns from shopping in episode eighteen).
Can we take away anything useful from Kitajima's collection of handbags? Probably not, though their presence (complete with feminine accessories) does suggest that she lives a somewhat functional life outside her scientific pursuits.
stock outfits
the usual: Kitajima's standard attire for the majority of the series is a red drape neck cat suit with spaghetti straps, a lab coat, and some strappy yellow whore heels. One might argue that this outfit is less practical for serious science and more for hardcore pornography but regardless, Yuuri wears her unusual get-up with pride.
Now a skin-tight cat suit isn't the easiest thing to wear, (The Avengers' Diana Rigg once described her Emma Peel cat suit as "a total nightmare") which is why the tighter ones are generally reserved for fetishist attire. Between the fifties and seventies however, baggy cat suits with boot-cut legs and halter necks were rather popular. Kitajima's cat suit is generally animated as skin-tight, with the various lines of her body being visible through the material. In conjunction with her yellow ring belt and heels, the whole ensemble is clearly based on the style of confident seventies women.
the one year lateR: After spending time with Nozaki and eighteen dragon eggs, Kitajima opts for a new outfit; a scoop neck red sweater dress complete with purple leggings, big ugly belt, and boots.
Sweater dresses went through a popularity boom during '07 so, dragonaut's time-frame considered, Kitajima is a good couple of decades behind fashion with this second red number. We should not be surprised by this at all.
special outfits
the
science suit: This hygienically sealed suit is required attire when you're off to visit a giant dragon corpse in a jar. Off-white and with a helmet that leaves enough room for bouffant hair, the suit shields its owner's otherwise naked body from harm. Yeah, you heard me, she's naked under that.
the
dinner dress: A long, cross-strap black dress (with white shawl)
worn in episode nine during her dinner date with Nozaki. There's also another
hideous belt to go with this one too. This is not the most flattering thing
to wear if, like Kitajima, your hips are broad enough to shoot babies out
like a cannon (see here).
The
date dress: A flowing purple deep neck dress worn in episode eleven
of the anime (during a flashback to "five years ago"). On the
bust line there is a little white bow. Kitajima also opts to wear a simple
necklace with blue jewel inlay. Her dress is probably better remembered for this than anything else.
serious
explorer: A standard field outfit seen in various flashbacks to
Kitajima's meeting with Atrum. She's got gloves, a bust-supporting back-pack,
and various other VERY PRACTICAL SCIENTIFIC THINGS (like rather tight pants).
As one can clearly see in this diagram,
the whole ensemble is very complex.
isda
uniform: Seen only once (during the shuttle memorial) in episode
twelve's flashback sequence we can assume that this is Kitajima's actual
ISDA uniform. You know the thing she never wears? Yeah, that. The pink trim
could indicate department/rank or failing that, the winner of last year's ISDA wet
t-shirt competition.
serious
explorer (submarine version): The basic get-up we see Kitajima
wearing in the submarine during episode three's "nineteen years ago"
flashback. This might be cheating a bit but here
is an artist's impression to help aid in your visualisation of this
barely-seen costume. Art helps us learn!
skanky
school girl: The outfit Kitajima wears during the first segment
of episode twenty-six. A basic sailor uniform with white blouse, navy skirt
and navy/red highlights. Kitajima is the only girl to wear her uniform without
its default ribbon (a suggestion of individuality). feast
your eyes on the whole thing.
strapless
wonder: Kitajima's outfit during the final segment of episode twenty-six.
It consists of a strapless, skin-tight mauve top with fuchsia jeans, brown
belt, and strappy yellow heels. Colour combination isn't really her strength, is it? There's no bra under this outfit either, so brace yourselves when you watch the DVD.