armory

These are the phases of costumes Umi wears during the duration of the manga.

school uniform

First appearance in volume 1 This is Umi's basic school uniform. She retains this costume throughout the entire manga except when she turns into a true Magic Knight. She wears a blue headband in her hair. Her school jacket is a navy blue and doubled breasted with a collared white shirt on the inside. The necktie Umi wears varies in each art book image, but it's usually orange. Umi's skirt is an aqua blue accompanied by black stockings and laced up navy blue boots.

1st armor

First appearance in volume 1 Guru Clef gives the girls their first magical armor. It is simple armor that goes right over their school clothes. The armor protects their left shoulder and is attached to a breast plate with an elaborate gem, which matches the color/element of each Knight. Umi also gets wrist guards with the same elaborate gem decoration. Her boots are gone and are replaced with thigh length white boots with the same gem designs.

2nd armor

First appearance in volume 2 Guru Clef's armor was evolving armor. The armor would evolve with the heart's strength of the owner. This 2nd transformation happens when the girls retrieve the legendary Escudo. The breast-plate is the only difference from the previous armor. Two shoulder pads have appeared and the breast plate covers the entire chest. The armor also has a more elaborate design that matches Umi's element color.

3rd armor

First appearance in volume 3 There are actually 2 phases to this armor. Each time the girls find their mashin the armor changes bit by bit. Basically, the shoulder armor protrudes further out and the girls are now wearing armor that is fully in their coordinating color. The armor reaches to the waist and changes to a white cloth, which surrounds the waist. Then it takes a skirt/robe like appearance to cover up their dresses and reaches about knee length with the front remaining open.

final armor

First appearance in volume 3 The final armor appears when Hikaru proves her heart's strength to Rayearth. Umi's school uniform finally disappears. Her head is adorned with a headband with four spikes that look like dragon spikes. She is wearing something like a black jumpsuit with a high oriental collar, which is covered with blue shoulder and breast armor. She gains princess gloves instead of just wrist guards. She also wears white thigh length boots. To top it all off there's a huge blue cape that trails behind Umi, which is attached to her armor.

off armor

First appearance in volume 4 While in Cephiro as Legendary Magic Knights, the girls' armors do not have to evolve anymore. This is permanent off armor when the knights aren't in their mashins. It looks a bit like a cross between armor 1 and 2. Umi also loses her black tights in this armor. When the girls take control of their mashins they automatically change back into the Final Armor.