A Gyaru's Guide - An Introduction to Gyaru (30/10/2024)

Ah gyaru, wherever would I be without it? I've spent many years looking for a subculture that I really connected with - trust me, I really tried. It wasn't until just two years ago where I decided to try out this style popping up on TikTok called 'gyaru'. And although my first attempts at makeup and shopping for 'gyaru' clothes were questionable, I have now almost three years of being a gyaru and surrounding myself with people like me under my belt!

This is my first entry ever, so we'll just be briefly summarising what really IS gyaru to all you people interested in what it really is.

'Gyaru' is the romanized version of the word 'gal' - it started up popping up as a fashion in the 1990s, but people have been using 'gal' to refer to young women in Japan since the 80s (example, they started wearing bodycon dresses, similar to women in Europe.) Phrases like 'ike like gyaru' have been popping up, but it wasn't until the Heisei era where things really started taking off.

Japanese street fashion started skyrocketing like CRAZY in the 90s! There was all types of j-fashion subcultures, and it all took place in Shibuya. Shibuya also had this huge shopping centre/mall called Shibuya 109, which still houses some of the hottest Japanese trendy fashions to date.

After some time, 'kogals' started appearing (This is NOT a substyle btw, it's just a term referring to any gal in high school. The UK equivalent would be... secondary school I guess? But I'd say around late secondary to the end of your UK college days). Not only that, but musicians such as Namie Amuro started rising in fame because of that cool and hip sound that resonated with a lot of gals. I won't worry sooo much about this section, because there is a LOT to cover. Just let me know when you guys want some sort of entry going fully in depth.

Now, during the 2000s - 2010s is where I personally think is the golden age of gyaru. At this time, parapara has entered another popularity spike, and many parapara dancers were in the know when it came to gyaru. In fact, they made a whole entire team dedicated to singing eurobeat songs and dancing to them with good old fashioned parapara routines. This is where subcultures that we know and love started to really take off (think hime, rokku, tsuyome, and manba was still kind of active.) it usually consisted of matte makeup, tons of accessories, belts, branded clothing - you name it! Gyaru also started globalising, which thank god it did, or I'd be stuck in subculture hell for all of eternity.

Anyways, after the Heisei era, then came the Reiwa era. It's a more simplified version of gyaru which I won't delve into just yet, but I can try and go in depth in another entry!

Okay, that is a lot of words... but if you decided to read the whole thing, good on you! Gold star, pat on the back, high five, you name it. I honestly hope that within the coming decade gyaru makes a pretty big comeback - I'd kill to see D.I.A belts for less than £200 again...

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog! See you next time, and remember to get wild and be sexy!