Report Blog Entry
Author's Note: Good day gals! Sorry for the very late upload - this past week has been hectic. For starters, I've basically never been free or available to actually sit down and write a blog. I mean, I'm basically going out everyday at this point - this Saturday I'm getting my friend's eyebrow pierced and I'm also taking my bf on a date since he treated me last time. Soooo... sorry for the late upload! But now, it's time to talk about gyaru fashion.
DISCLAIMER:
Yes, I'm fully aware that I made another blog about Gyaru fashion. But this is a full guide for gals and gyaruos who want to read and get the full scoop. If you're one of them, thanks for reading! If you're not, I also thank you for reading! Make sure to give kudos and comment, and sub to the blog if you want more.
Gyaru fashion. You know it, you either love it or hate it - but one thing's for certain is that it is iconic. You can instantly look at it and pretty much recognise that yes, it's gyaru fashion. From tsuyome gyarus and gyaruos rocking their killer belts to hime gyarus with their pretty pink bows, if you're reading this blog there's a pretty big chance that you want to shop that style and rock whatever style you want.
Anyways, before we really get into it, let's just get started with some basic tips for you baby gals just starting out.
- NEVER EVER SHOP FAST FASHION! NOT EVERRRRR!!! If you can, thrift as much as possible. Fast fashion is so harmful to people across the world - I mean, I'd rather not wear clothes that are made by children who should be playing outside with their friends and siblings and won't be good for the environment, just for them to not even last a wash. And there are zero excuses. You should not be getting £100 SHEIN hauls. There is absolutely no excuse.
- You don't need brands. It's not a necessity.
- Have fun with your clothes. The whole point of partaking in a subculture is to have fun with your clothes.
- Don't let gyaru elitists get in the way of your fun. If it helps, some people won't like either of you either way, so they're certainly not a better gyaru than you.
- Don't listen to non-gyarus. They don't know anything about gyaru, unless they were an ex-gyaru. But seriously - no gal = no opinion. Your opinion doesn't matter, sorry!
Okay, I hope you guys read all of those tips. They are basic yes, but they're still very useful. Always make sure to read through my tips to get through my blog, because a few points will be beneficial to remember, not just for my blog. With that out of the way, let's get started!
So... what even IS gyaru fashion, huh?! My personal definition is:
The clothing that people taking part in the 'gyaru' subculture wear.
That's it. Yep. Nothing fancy, nothing much really. What, you thought it was all glitter and glam and belts and stuff like that? Well, that's a major misconception with gal fashion - the makeup is the most recognisable part of gyaru. In my opinion, it's exhausting dressing up all the time. Just do a good ol' gal make, and you'll honestly be fine. But, if you're thinking about outfits, there are a few elements that you need to keep in mind. Here are some:
- Make it sorta sexy if you partake in a style that celebrates being wild and sexy. Think short shorts, miniskirts - you know the deal.
- If it isn't sexy, make it cute! Hime gyaru is a big example. It's all about being cute with an element of gorgeous. There really isn't much 'sexy' in that.
- If it isn't cute, make it bright! This is where amekaji and yamanba come in. Make people see you, like a big ball of neon rainbow!
- And if it isn't bright, make it cool. Rokku and goshikku are great examples of these. You can honestly get away with not bleaching your hair in these styles since they're so dark.
- And if it isn't cool... just do your own thing. That's it.
Good tips huh? Now, to figure out your substyle, read up on my blog on substyles, where I delve deep into substyles. If any of you want, I can make a quiz all about gyaru substyles if you're still unsure. Don't be shy - dress up for yourself! The fun thing about gyaru is that it was literally made to rebel against what Japanese people expected of women - it's essentially a feminist subculture. So, when you dress gal, always remember that it's never for a man or anyone that you like - it's for you.
Now, we're gonna go from top to bottom on what you should wear and maybe even what you don't want to wear.
The top: Head accessories and jewellery
- People tend to underestimate the power of accessories. They're the things that tie the whole outfit together.
- You can wear caps that cool rappers wear if you wanna go into the sort of amekaji vibe, or maybe a cute bow for a more hime-look.
- Softer styles like roma-gyaru can get away with soft berets and wooly beanies.
- You can also add accessories to your hairstyles to make them look more detailed.This can be added to sujimori, or maybe just a regular hairstyle if you didn't feel like doing your hair that day.
- Gyaru has an emphasis on bling - but it doesn't have to be real. You can find some or make some yourself - there are a few tutorials if you need any sort of inspiration. I mean, you can make a fake bling necklace with some rhinestone studs.
- Bling up everything - I'm gonna bling up my new phone case once all of my charms arrive. There are tutorials.
The middle: Shirts, dresses, and belts
- Go for cute shirts and layer them with undershirts underneath. Example: a cropped off the shoulder top with a patterned undershirt, and with vest straps that compliment the whole outfit - that's a little extra tip for layering for you.
- Go for form fitting outfits. And no, there's no such thing as 'too fat' or 'too skinny' - that is an awful mindset. I'll be real with you readers - I have struggled with my body for years. It wasn't until I started wearing gyaru that was when I actually liked the way my body looked, And even I have off days. So no, it's not you or the way your body looks - it's just nonsense that you should throw out the window. Show off your clothes with confidence and style - you'll look hotter than most people anyways ;)
- Dresses are saved for formal occasions or if you're going for a more glamourous style like agejo. Once again, form fitting and jewel embellishments, Trust me, detail is key.
- You don't have to have exact D.I.A belts like you see on Pinterest. You can layer belts, hook some charms into any holes that you have on your jeans or make holes in the actual belt itself, and boom - your very own D.I.A belt! There was a video that I found a while back on TikTok whilst scouring the internet showing someone making a D.I.A belt since the actual sizes of real belts are too small on them. I haven't been able to refind that video since, but if you are the creator of that TikTok or if you know who made it, please comment below! I would love to hear from you!
The bottom: Skirts, shorts, more accessories and shoes
- Mini skirts. I usually get jean miniskirts that have a bit of flare, but this depends on your actual style. Cargo miniskirts for sure do work!
- Your shorts do have to be pretty short... I mean, mine is true low rise where my stomach sort of sticks out and reaches around 1/4 to my thigh. They are pretty cute though, so that's my excuse.
- There's no rule as to whether you should wear baggy or skinny jeans. For me personally, it depends on the top itself. For example, maybe I want to balance a jumper over with a short skirt, or maybe a tight top with some flare jeans. The choice is really up to you.
- Tights are always fun - I like patterned tights. I tend to find quite a few whenever I go out shopping, and I actually got some for my birthday in June. Thanks to all of my friends who got me some!
- Loose socks or fur legwarmers? I wear both. Why? Because I can.
- Most gals wear heels or boots, whereas it's mostly gyaruos who wear trainers. However, depending on your style, there's no rule saying that you have to wear one or the other. Just make it look cute.
- 'What about bracelets and earrings and' - DO WHAT YOU WANT!!! I'm not here to stop you! But, it's always nice to hear some advice. So, if a gal or gyaruo wants to give you some advice, just let them. Maybe you can exchange tips - just be nice about it.
That was a lot of text, wasn't it? I basically made all the important parts in bold, but I do highly suggest you read through the whole thing. It can be very helpful.
Anyways, now that you have that massive wall of text, where on earth do you find inspiration for gal looks?! Let me provide you a slightly shorter and less... wordy list of sources online.
- galkurabu on Instagram - this is mainly just models though. We can touch up on models later!
- Old FRUiTS/EGG magazine scans. These are found on either Pinterest or Instagram. However, please keep in mind a lot of these archive accounts on Instagram are inactive. If there are anymore on any social media sites, please comment!
- Model pics - they are actually a pretty good source of inspo since a lot of the models have been doing gyaru for years now.
- A few TikToK gals are actually really good inspo - you'd be surprised how many gems there are! My personal faves are Sunoo Is A Gyaru, nene cherie, sarina and Lavender/Lav. I used their display names, but I genuinely heavily encourage you follow them. Their outfits are seriously to die for.
That's uh... as much as I can think of right now. Sorry. But hey, just comment any sources, and I'll be able to credit them as a credible source. Please keep in mind that I will not be including any official accounts, since they are more model and marketing centred than outfit centred. But other than that, go right ahead and do what you want.
That's really it for this blog. Anyways, thank you all for letting me post about all this stupid stuff that somehow a small audience is listening to. I started out as a baby gal like a lot of us have, and I was scared of how the world perceived me. The fact that I can openly post about stuff like this online with full support from all sides makes me genuinely feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's such a weird feeling, isn't it? To feel supported even after all the times you were pushed down by people who didn't see you as an equal. I have a full group of friends, a boyfriend who completely supports my lifestyle, and you guys. In a way, knowing that even just one person out there is seeing this post and reading through it all makes me feel all weird and happy and confused - all at the same time. But my advice for you guys?
First of all, never ever give up. So what if they don't like what you wear? You don't like what they wear and you never complain, so what right do they have? Second of all, I know it feels scary, but that first leap of faith is what will drive you forward. So take it. Take that leap of faith and shove that middle finger right up their faces. You're the cutest, coolest gal/gyaruo around. No one should ever push you around.
Anyways, thank you all for everything. And remember, get wild, and be sexy! Lots of love!
Comments
Displaying 0 of 0 comments ( View all | Add Comment )