Sakura Kinomoto's story is a typical one, like the litany of well-dressed magical girls before her: an elementary student must use her recently awoken powers to prevent the catastrophe she inadvertently caused. In Cardcaptor Sakura, this threat takes form in the Clow Cards, mystical cards with immense power and varying, sometimes volatile, personalities. In order to fix her mistake, Sakura is tasked with hunting them down to confine them to the safety of their card forms once more.
Sakura's dangerous task might've also been a lonely one without Tomoyo, her best friend. After learning Sakura's secret, Tomoyo agreed to film all the Cardcaptor's exploits and create a new outfit for every card captured. As if this weren't enough, Tomoyo designed the clothing to be functional as well. Depending on the situation, they ensured Sakura's safety as well.
10 The Jester Outfit Was Wonderfully Waterproof
The Watery Card was the first Elemental card Sakura faced as the Cardcaptor when it attempted to drown her while visiting the aquarium. Returning with Tomoyo later that night, Sakura lured Watery to the basement and sprung her trap; after a few minutes, and a short stint in the freezer, Watery met its icy end before being sealed successfully into its card form once more.
The outfit Tomoyo had created for Sakura was an ocean-blue leotard beneath a loose, white top. Resembling a jester outfit with floor-length tails ending in rounded, yellow balls, the sleeveless dress made movement easy. It was also completely waterproof, no doubt providing perfect protection against the Watery card.
9 Sakura's Kitty Costume Prevented Electrocution
Sakura donned the kitty costume while chasing the Thunder card, which rampaged through their hometown before being tracked down. The Thunder card took the form of a wolf with its body composed entirely of electricity. By working together with Syaoran, a fellow magician, Sakura sealed the Thunder card.
Equipped with a frilly skirt and matching sleeves, Sakura's dress was layered over a black long-sleeved turtleneck. In preparation for facing the Thunder card, Tomoyo made the pink kitty frock and shoes from rubber, effectively preventing electrocution. She later admitted the ears served no other purpose than to make Sakura look cuter on camera.
8 The Witch Ensemble Had Free-Flowing Fabric
The Storm appears in Season 1, Episode 15, "Sakura and Kero's Big Fight." After escaping its card, it took the form of a tornado, wreaking havoc on a park inside the city. After hitting it with a lightning bolt straight into its eye, the Storm returns to its visible form and is quickly sealed away by Sakura's Clow Wand.
Sakura's battle outfit, meant to resemble a witch's cloak, is a black turtleneck vest over a pair of waist-high, dark blue shorts. The cape, hood, and accompanying hat are made of blue and red fabric and are bound at the neck with a golden Clow wing. The entire costume was made with flowing fabric to allow for easy movement when capturing the Storm card.
7 The Alice-Inspired Dress Worked Well With The Little's Power
The Little was a Clow Card with the power to shrink people and objects to miniature size; it proved incredibly playful when it shrunk Sakura to the size of a crumb in Season 1, Episode 24, "Sakura's Little Adventure." After nearly getting eaten by the cat, Sakura managed to size up the Little and seal it away after being restored to her normal size.
Sakura's battle outfit was a long-sleeved, sky-blue dress with a white shirt beneath. The maid apron resembled the one Alice wore during her adventure in Wonderland, as do the stockings and blue Mary-Janes; like Alce, Sakura also learned the frustrations of constantly changing size, making this dress an inspired choice against the Little.
6 Sakura's Rabbit Outfit Increased Speed & Agility
Sakura encountered the Dash in Season 1, Episode 30, "Sakura and the Injured Card." The Dash evaded capture by seeking refuge with a girl from Sakura's school, who nursed it back to health after mistaking the Dash for an injured cat. Sakura was alerted to its hiding place during a track meet, where she was forced to seal it away.
While pursuing the Dash, Sakura wore an orange coat atop a lime-colored turtleneck with matching shorts. She wore thigh-high stockings and a hat meant to resemble rabbit ears. The outfit, trimmed in gold, was made of flowing fabric to ensure rapid movement and increased agility.
5 The Blue Warrior Costume Was Made Completely Of Elastic
During Season 1, Episode 31, Sakura faced and sealed two Clow Cards: the Big and the Create. After locating and defeating the Big, which could enlarge objects, Sakura was forced to fight against the Create. The card made an enormous dragon that threatened Tomoeda; but after using the Big to enlarge herself, Sakura subdued the dragon and sealed the Create away as well.
Luckily, Tomoyo had made Sakura's costume completely from stretchable, blue elastic. A one-piece complete with yellow, winged shoulder pads, the outfit included two gray tails with red circles on either end. Sakura's chest and headpiece were designed to resemble Keroberos' wings and paired perfectly with Sakura's fire-breathing foe.
4 The Bunny Jumpsuit Was Both Warm & Adorable
Sakura encountered the Snow during the start of the school year when the Clow Card buried all of Tomoeda beneath an unseasonable snowstorm. Sakura was forced to battle a blizzard to protect her friends, making quick work of the Snow's attacks with help from the Firey card; after melting it away, Sakura sealed the Snow without issue.
Sakura's bunny suit consisted of a hooded red coat over a yellow shirt and puff skirt. She wore red boots, each with a white wool ball attached to the front, and long cream tights. The entire costume was made to retain heat, making it as functional as it was adorable.
3 The Costume For The Twin Card Was Perfectly Symmetrical
The Twin was able to produce duplicates of objects and people and used its power to cause chaos in Sakura's hometown. It was the only Clow Card ruled by two entities. After learning they both had to be defeated with two simultaneous attacks, Syaoran and Meiling used their martial arts to give Sakura her chance to seal the Twin card away.
Sakura's battle outfit was a long pink dress, split at the waist to reveal a pair of jet black shorts; this matched the lining of the dress, as well as her black gloves and boots. On either side of her pink hat and dress, Tomoyo embroidered identical yellow flowers to create a perfectly symmetrical outfit.
2 The Final Judgement Dress Was Iconic
During Cardcaptor Sakura's Season 2 finale, Sakura faced the Final Judgment: a ritual where magicians were forced to battle Yue, the moon spirit, to become the master of the Clow Cards. Sakura nearly lost due to her reluctance to attack Yue, but she won when she learned the price for failure was everyone's memories of the person they loved most. By not giving up, Sakura managed to beat Yue and claim the title of Clow Card Master.
Sakura's Final Judgment costume consisted of a pink cape that overlapped a white-yellow bodysuit joined with a yellow bow. Her shoes were white with pink trim to match her hat and gloves, and her socks were purple. Tomoyo had first created the costume on a doll that she'd given Sakura one week before she encountered the Clow Cards.
1 The Rain Jester Costume Made Up For Sakura's Failing Powers
During "Sakura and the Mysterious Transfer Student," Sakura met Eriol Hirragizawa, a boy from England who transferred into her class. After a vision from Clow Reed, Sakura learns Eriol is actually a magician who will bring trouble. During the night, a magical storm takes place and Sakura investigates it; much to her distress, the Clow Card's power no longer worked.
The Rain Jester costume was designed to completely cover the skin; consisting of an orange bodysuit and blue cape, the materials used to make it were waterproof, but still breathable. On the end of her hood, cape tails, and rain boots, Tomoyo included red balls. The cape end was designed to resemble flowing water while still keeping Sakura dry.