MDUD has a so-so storytelling. Despite of every element happening in this series are positive values to learn from, not to mention admire as your inspiration in fashion design within the healthy side of otaku subculture, I feel it's too clichéd to be interested in whatever the main characters are doing. Story-wise, it's nothing special. Just the typical outgoing girl knows shy boy's existence, their interactions lead to respecting each other's personal hobbies, and an appropriate amount of slightly heavy female fanservice due to the series being officially labelled as "seinen" demographic & "ecchi" being the main subgenre.
While I feel Gojo has some character development in terms of coming out of his introvert shell, his depiction of being traumatised of breaking gender stereotyping roles and portrayal of an introvert feel like a bland stereotype with the former happening for the sake of happening; because if it never happened, he wouldn't have met the main heroine of this story. The good thing is that I like how Gojo is written that defies negative stereotypes of a self-insert male protagonist whom most of them give in to become a toxic hypocrite.
As for Marin, while it's indirectly mentioned that she feels lonely & that her gyaru friends don't understand the joy of her cosplaying hobby, this reveal sounds more like a "whatever I don't care" statement instead of an indication of a more complex personality of the most popular girl in high school. Thus, I see her as a Purity Mary Sue where she's too likeable that I see her as uninteresting that leaves me sitting on the fence, but will let her avid fans enjoy the positive side of her.
As for the major supporting female characters, I feel they're the usual characters who can be relatable to the most of the viewers watching how they interact and/or come to realise their renewed inspiration after meeting Gojo & Marin. There was this bathroom fanservice scene featuring one of them, and it was ridiculously uncomfortable seeing how this "lucky to see a woman naked" trope is written with insensitivity. I'm just glad there weren't any more similar scenarios happening in later episodes.
TL; DR My Dress-Up Darling is an okay story. I can only recommend if you want fanservice that doesn't go overboard and that you want to watch the most simplistic teenage romcom story where the main couple has healthy interactions with each other. Another plus of this series is there's no romanticised toxic behaviour between Gojo and Marin that I was able to appreciate their romantic love for each other being. Just do know that I won't be watching its season renewal, but I do support in letting sincere fans loving the upsides of this healthy fictional couple.
