Is the New Gyaru Style Really Gyaru?

I've seen this topic everywhere and a lot of friends on facebook already KNOW my opinion on this subject but I decided to share my opinion with you lovely readers out there and what I think might have happened. I recently watched Kawaii International's episode that followed up on this topic:




Also a great blow I follow that has been super up to date on Japanese fashion trends also covered this subject recently and explained finally wtf happened to my beloved Popteen:

http://universal-doll.com/2013/10/popteen-new-gyaru-era-style-breakdown-and-reasons/

So after all of this I do have to say when *I* personally picked up my issue of Popteen this month for my birthday issue (I always pick up a Popteen on my birthday) I was automatically regretting my decision and wished I had looked through it first. Popteen's October issue from last year was beyond stunning and had some gorgeous Ank Rogue and Liz Lisa features in and I'm huge fan of Pikarin because I had faith that she was what I call a 'diverse' gyaru. She could pull of all styles and look young and fresh gyaru wise.

But when I picked up this year's October issue my heart fell as I saw super natural lashes and hardly any make-up. Matter of fact Pikarin looked like an AKB48 girl and not a glamorous cute gyaru that I once admired her to be.

The clothes were a lot more simple too. Something I've noticed is that brands are taking off a lot of print and detail of their clothes and making it more casual.

I've noticed all of this for awhile. Tsubasa Masuwaka once looked like a glamourous gyaru who everyone used to love and adore with her sexy clothes and bold make-up that created a huge statement. Everyone wanted to her. Now a day? I feel like Tsubasa despite her still holding the title of being the Queen of Shibuya-she looks like she's trying to look twelve. There's nothing to look up to in that aspect anymore.

I looked at Liz Lisa recently and was also a little disappointed in how granny looking their Spring collection was. The fall season my eyes can handle a lot better but I'm always debating if clothes that are so casual are worth my money or if I should try the replicate the style via Forever 21.

In all? I was pretty sad that the new style was considered gyaru. For a western like myself, no effort needs to be made to be that type of gyaru. Yes I still have to apply make-up but I can easily use my own green eyes and naturally long lashes to achieve that look. I can basically be considered a gyaru with effort anymore and I honestly don't find that appealing. I look like a trendy girl and not a unique gal that I was.

Does anyone else feel this way?

So what do *I* think personally happened? My friend Ashley definitely reminded me what happened. One of the answers? K-Pop took over. Don't get me wrong, I love K-Pop as much as the next person but when it seeped into my Japanese Pop Culture..it was time to say gtfo! I loved how separate they were honestly. I loved looking forward to something different from each of them and now; oh it's all the same thing.

You can't deny if you know Ulzzang and you know Gyaru-there used to be a HUGE gap between what that style was. Now? Natural is better and the more gyaru are looking like K-Pop Idols and Ulzzang than their own thing. The Hallyu Wave hit Japan pretty hard not only fashion wise but in their Oricon Chart as well. Back in the day BoA and DBSK were huge leaders in the K-Pop and J-Pop industry but when the second wave hit groups like Kara, Super Junior, 2NE1, SNSD, and 4Minute really took over Oricon side by side with Japan's megagroups such as AKB48 and KiMyFt2 who btw is based off of the Korean n drama 'You're Beautiful' that also had a Japanese rendition muchly similar to how Korea took ahold of Hana Yori Dango.



In generally there's been an idol swap. Before it was Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, and Tsubasa. Now it's 2NE1 and SNSD.

Another theory of mine?
 Perhaps the people who've always influenced gyaru from the older eras are now older. They've toned down their style with their age and the younger gen of gyaru have followed suit.

There's also been the theory of money going down and making gyaru or trendy clothes more accessible. A lot youth steer towards fast fashion brands like Forever21 and H&M and I'm equally as guilty of following this. Usually because trends especially in Japan change horrendously quick and the cheapest alternative to being on trend is Forever21 as they've adapted things that are gyaru-esque and very K-Pop trendy as well.

Fashion styles are becoming a lot more wide spread. Even Harajuku and Shibuya have further blended. the term ShibuHara isn't use anymore apparently but I feel this describes the Harajuku and Shibuya street style more so than ever. That's what it is sole. Street style. I've alway felt like to be a Harajuku kid you were unique. I'm finding in Kera's street snaps that even lolitas and v-kei peeps are less polished as they were before and Gyaru just looks like an outright street style rather than glamorous.

Gyaru now is seen as an attitude. By no doubt it's always been but as the gyaru magazine EGG always started 'Get Wild, Be Sexy!'. Gyaru have always been bold and rebellious. Not to say that they aren't in their own way but the more and more I feel like the gyaru of today are looking up to 2NE1 rather than Namie and Tsubasa. If you're the cuter gal you've traded your Popteen models for A Pink and SNSD.

What I feel like gyaru should be? Still bold. Maybe not clothes wise or even with your hair but I still feel like contacts and make-up should always make a bold statement.  If you like the old style but still want to be trendy-this is a way I feel works to combat the trend.

Thick lashes, big circle lenses, and perhaps more pigmented make-up with such plain clothes. Think bright colors like gold, sapphire blue, black, lime green, and red versus the usual pink, cream, gold, and pink eye shadows. Lips? Go nude or go magenta or red even..vamp colors are really hot right now!. Even a earthy tone should be acceptable even!

Hair wise? French braids that could easily turn into crimped hair the next day, side sweeps, and jewel hair accessories. Less bows and more combs and berrets. If you want flat hair. Go straight, rock bangs. Hair color wise? Go all out with dip dyed hair or a really nice color.

If you're more of a sweet gyaru who is still in hopes of following Ank Rouge and Liz Lisa. Look less Ulzzang. Definitely go for bigger brighter circle lenses, thick lashes, and curled hair for a nice sweet doll effect.


If you're going sexy. Gold and black/silver black/silver/gold/navy. Think nude lips or red and the best way to go is Rock Gyaru right now honestly. Think Glavil/Tutuha/DIA even. That is as glam as it gets.

Anyway, I hope this explains a little of my opinion of what happened to Gyaru a bit! Does anyone feel the same way? Feel free to let me know!

Where the hell have I been? (lots of picture spam to explain wtf happened)

Quite a couple of things have happened for both the falls season for me. I seriously can't believe that it's almost the end of October already. All I have left to look forward to is Halloween before the stress of the holiday season falls upon us!

First off was Japan Expo way back in August? How just how was Japan Expo? It was pretty decent. I ended up doing more gyaru stuff than cosplay eventually. Hung out with lovely people-went to my first drinking party but didn't drink. Matter of fact after a certain point I got nauseated by it. In all though it was a good experience. I bought a couple wearable goodies from the con this year! I met lots of lovelies too and did a lot of food adventuring. Here are a couple pics...

The weekend after was SacAnime. I ended up doing Shiro Lolita that weekend. Despite is being an anime convention, I didn't cosplay at all. I ended up dressing super cute. Unfortunately tho the con wasn't kicking at all. I think I spent more time at the hotel and out of the con than inside of it. >_> Regardless here are some shoot pictures.

A little bit afterward a couple of inbetween adventures later was my 22nd birthday. It was pretty low key. I spent a lot of time being super frivolous if anything. But oh well. I earnt it/earn my money from work so I don't mind one bit. Ying took me out to SF the whole weekend and Rachel, Dennis, Tetsuro, and Mike joined us eventually. :) It was super fun. I enjoyed going to the beach a lot and hitting Crown and Crumpet for a fancy drinking party (I don't drink so I decided to celebrate as a lady should) and taking PuriKura ect. It was a very memorable birthday. Here are random pics from that weekend. I did gyaru and rock gyaru! Ying coordinated my look for Sunday with Sixh wear! 

Right after I worked a lot and made a couple of big investments for myself to prepare for a really big shoot that I just now completed and is up on my tumblr page. A couple of these items are just causal clothes that I was in dire need of. I couldn't say no to Forever 21's Cats and Bats collection (aka Batman and Catwoman!) and a couple of pretty make-up products! Lots of Kat Von D, Urban Decay~

After my birthday I moved into a new house. So I was nearly dying between working and moving. OTL We had a limited time to get the hell out so it was a bit stressful for a couple of weeks. I'm so happy in this new house though. It's a lot brighter and less depressing. I'll have better pictures when the room is fully decorated but here's the picture of the room I have when I was first moving into it!

Right after Dennis, Ying, and I got straight to work on the photoshoot I had planned. Slowly we had been putting things together for the past two months to coordinate Alice and the Pirate's halloween lolita designed dress 'Ghost Town Merrymaking'. I had reserved the dress after the third try of doing so. After the first two times of getting fucked over on the black color, I grabbed it. I regretted not doing so the last two times and was DETERMINED to get my damn dress. I usually doing do lolita but this was a huge exception. Stars, purple, black, Halloween themed haunted houses and chandeliers with sparkles and chains? Oh hell yes I was determined to get this and shoot it. <3 I ended up getting the headpiece and a blouse. Dennis helped with the wig/contacts/boots/accessories/dress. It was a shit ton of team work but the results?

Ladies and gentleman I give you the best shoot I've done. Ever. Nothing beats this shit. I'm so happy I could cry on how GREAT this turned out. I'm pretty convinced that I need to do lolita more often and really step my game up in both the lolita and gyaru genre of fashion. For me, this isn't games anymore. I want to portray the visions I see when I look at the clothes for the first time and this actually turned out better than I imagined. :) 

IN ALL; thats all what I've been up to. Now that I'm settled into my new house and work isn't killing me nearly as much as it was; I'm seriously hoping I'll be able to do more and blog more for you guys. So until next time lovelies! 

Japanese Fashion Trends: Fall 2013

Hi you guys, I decided to blog it up while I had a bit of time on my hands. I had to grab at this entry and write it as I was doing so online window shopping through various brands this season! I have plenty to tell you about since I attended Japan Expo last weekend and made over the last couple of weekends a couple of crazy good investments that I will tell you about later on in another post. For now? Let me cover a couple key trends I've noticed in both gyaru and lolita fashion. 

Colors: 

This season is all about dark colors-especially warm ones. Think of cream, deep burgundy, deep browns and light browns. If you're going for 'cooler' colors this season consider emerald green and navy blue a must in your fall wardrobe! Here are a couple of examples. 

Liz Lisa

Tartan Print:

Tartan print is a HUGE fall staple this season. A couple years back we all rocked plaid as I remember of so well-this is like the warmer less punk-rock version of this though. I've seen this print TONS this fall season whether you are a lolita or a gyaru. Liz Lisa and Baby the Stars Shine Bright have exclusively been rocking this with their one piece dresses and skirts! 

 

Ank Rogue

Alice and the Pirates

Liz Lisa

Pearls:

Pearls have been a HUGE accessory.Whether you wear them dangling off of a bow hair piece or around your neck. Using pearls as a key accessory will make many outfits look very elegant and lady-like!

Ank Rouge

Berrets: 

I'm not talking about those trashy loose knitted ones either. I'm talking about the real deal! Baby the Stars Shine Bright and Ank Rouge have lovely examples. If you add bows/pearls/dangly things? Props to you!

Alice and the Pirates

Ank Rouge

Make-Up Looks/Colors:

Because the colors are so dark and warm this season consider using warm colors for your make-up. Think cranberry colors, creams, and golds for your eye colors. Brown and black eyeliner is always acceptable. Blush wise think rose or cherry red-though I think NARS Super Orgasm/Orgasm blush is always crazy acceptable no matter what the season! Lip tint wise? Go all out with red, plums, or if you're on the lighter side-browns and nudes for lip colors! 

Mac's Indulgence Line has TONS of warm colors. Don't let the advert pic fool you! Go to the counter and look!

That will be it for now my loves! I hope these trends are here to stay during the cooler weather. I'm glad that we get a gorgeous pop of color even for the cooler months! 

J-Pop Summit 2013

Between work and packing to move to a new house last weekend I actually managed to squeeze in J-Pop Summit both days. The line up of actual models this year and the musical performances were way too good to pass up. I had lovely ladies also coming up from SoCal as well so you know that I was going to make this happen after I got word of it. 

3 AM I WOKE UP AND GOT READY. You guys, never-a-fucking-gain. I went to bed at midnight planning shit out for the next day/next couple of hours and had to wake up at three to get ready to leave around 6/borderline 7 to beat traffic among beating other things. Being a gyaru I've learnt to accept the challenge of getting ready in a short amount of time and still looking good or making the sacrifice of hardly getting at sleep to look crazy glamorous for big events. I've always treated J-Pop Summit like a grand fashion week even though it's not. With fashion being my guilty pleasure and currently what everyone knows me for, I feel like I have to look my best. 

My coordinate for both days? Ma*rs limited LA collaboration designs! I didn't get hardly any coordinate pictures showing off the outfits but there's a make-up pic. When we hit Japan Town it was fucking COLD. Actually it was freezing the whole weekend. I should never trust weather reports. Especially for SF. Everytime I dress like a damn hooker it always turns out that it feels like fucking winter time. 

When my photographer friend Dennis (you all are familiar with him, he's kind of like a manager to me too. we always schedule things/events/do trips together because he does the photography for my stuff and does competitions) and I arrived at had Benkyodo for breakfast. I love the atmosphere and mochi there. I've talked about Benkyodo many times but I highly recommend it to everyone if you want good Japanese sweets and just a great atmosphere to relax in the morning time. The staff and even regular customers there are all so very sweet. I got a lot of non-judging 'You look really cute! Is that Juicy Couture?' as I left by a couple of older women who also wished me well in my day. YEAH I got that type of kindness. Totally made my morning.

I roamed around a bit and took some pictures with Dennis as I waited for opening ceremonies to start. He had to leave for a bit for another engagement so I was left in Japan Town alone for a bit. I roamed around for a bit and waited for Kinokuniya to open so I could grab up a couple of magazines. I have this unhealthy addiction towards gyaru and lolita magazines right now. Egg, Ageha, and Kera have been huge fixes lately. I for sure want to get September's issues of Ageha and Popteen for my birthday though! The cover girls are Ayumi Hamasaki and Sakurai Rina and that should say enough! 

In the end I ended up picking up an Ageha magazine because the cover really appealed me. The last Ageha I got had the same exact cover model on it so she must be pretty popular right now! I looked for the August issue of Kera that was there the weekend before J-Summit but it had sold already! Ahhh! I should have got it before it sold! 

While I roamed for a bit I got creeped on a bit. This one guy from outside LITERALLY followed me into the mall to bug me. I get that I was dressed weird in frilly short dresses and thigh highs but there was obviously an event going on and Japan Town has always been this amazing safe haven for me when it comes to cosplaying/doing Japanese fashion because everyone is so adapt with people dressing in it here. ANYWAY this awesome security guy intercepted the douche to ask for a picture. He told me that everytime he's seen me (I hit Japan Town pretty frequently) I'm dressed really nice so he took a picture and intercepted this guy who realized this person was mall security. I was secretly thankful. Ugh... As the day went on my clothes blended in painfully compared to the lolita girls around the area. I think I was one of the few gals there at the event.

However a fellow gal I ran into was Jobi! Jobi and I were in the Liz Lisa Fashion Show Contest last year and this lovely lady won second place! She totally deserved it and she was incredibly sweet and warm hearted so we continued to stay in contact after the event and say hello to each other. This year we actually decided to hang out! Me, Sarah, and Sarah's boyfriend waited for New People to open with the Harajuku Pop Up Shop. The line was long but we did eventually get in. 

The Pop-Up shop wasn't unfortunately what I expected. There were a lot of cute clothes but nothing that was my style. I was hoping Hellcatpunks would really go all out and bring a few of their skirts/one pieces/accessories but they were crazy limited. I was hoping also that Liz Lisa's inventory would be crazy updated and while they had some cute stuff that I ALMOST got; I decided not to because there are a couple fall coordinates from their new line that I actually really want more than what they had there. 

In the end Jobi, Sarah, and I went up the Baby the Stars Shine Bright and I actually tested my luck. Baby was selling lucky packs for the event. For those of you who don't know what lucky bags are they usually sell during the end of the season. The biggest ones are usually during the New Years time in Japan. For this we were told that the coordination would be perfect for first time lolitas. Despite me not being a first time lolita, I was looking forward to the winning situation of having a solid color dress. I couldn't go wrong with that. 

Lucky bags are a set price and are pretty much mystery bags. You either get what you paid for in the amount of items or the items can be more expensive/more popular/ect. than the price you paid for. I happened to get really lucky because I scored something that wasn't pink. I'm not a pink girl so the fact that I got white was relieving to me. Not only was the dress white but it was a one piece meaning I didn't have to worry about purchasing or coordinating a blouse for the dress The dress came with a matching bow and a set of bloomers which also made me very happy because they're considered 'under garb'. Usually lolita petticoats are foofy so if you bend your actual underwear could show hence the bloomers. But I never wanted to pay a crazy price for them so I never got them and just tried to be mindful of stairs and how I went down to pick up things (kneeling instead of bending). So the good deal was a really good deal.

After we were all done shopping we met back up with Dennis and we all watched the Harajuku Kawaii Fashion show. My friends looked very gorgeous in their outfits on stage! I liked how well the fashion show was organized this year and how they described each outfit and brand for those who weren't familiar with the Harajuku life style and clothing. The clothing for me was a little simple for my tastes but maybe its because I'm super essentric. DokiDoki 6% and Innocent World looked the best in my opinion. I like the others brands like Nadia and Hellcatpunks too but I'm used to these babies being crazy. I think honestly they were toned down a bit. Regardless all the girls up there looked lovely, OGAWD BEAUTIFUL ZIPPER MODELS KILL ME NOW..<3 Ayumi Seto and YURA..ugh. Gorgeous glamorous girls are gorgeous. I need to be that cute..kill me now please...? Done spazzing I swear.

Afteward me and the lovely ladies went to have Okonomiyaki at Mifune Don. This was their first Okonomiyaki experience! I feel like a true gal its a really great idea to have okonomiyaki together. Unfortunately you can't cook it yourself here but it was really delicious anyway! 

After Mifune Don we actually went to go have tea and I think this is also when Vale came to say hello and join us. Vale was super late! We had tea at TanTan however I had Amitsu because yet again, quaint hole in the wall Japanese sweets places are THE BEST. Not that Benkyodo or TanTan are hole in the wall places-I think people just don't know exactly what is in there. Jobi and I looked over my Ageha at pretty models an clothes and we all talked for a while.

We met back up again with Sarah to take a PuriKura together and afterward the girls went home. Around that time I met Leslie, Amorita, and Hana for the first time! Kyaa! They all wanted to roam J-Town so I didn't hold them up but I had lovely conversations with people and at one point things became a blur. I forgot what we did. Kinouniya? Maybe. At one point there was a crazy Daiso raid and from that we met back up with Amorita and Leslie. I think I died on the floor while talking. We photowhored and acted silly and it was just a glorious time. Eventually they headed places and Dennis and Vale and I headed out to get noodles and afterward Purple Kow in which i got sick from exhaustion. As I said, 3 am never again. I died in Dennis' car and collapsed the hell out when I found a bed. 

SUNDAY

Sunday was a little more relaxed. I wore the exclusive LA design one piece dress from ma*rs. The other dress I wore the day before was actually a CAMISOLE but I had actually FIT it like a dress. I was kind of shocked how well this dress fit me. I actually thought I'd love the dress I chose more but I REALLY love this dress. It's super short and clingy. I seriously felt like Park Bom from 2NE1 all fucking day in this dress. 

 Dennis and I arrived early, ate Taiyaki for breakfast before the Baby the Stars Shine Bright Fashion Show which was Enchanted Forest themed. Spectating the contest for the second year in a row, I must say each year its more organized and honestly the ladies and gents are getting better and better with their coordination and make-up skills. San Francisco Lolitas, you are by far the loveliest people I have met and the classiest. Super glad over who won. Totally deserved it after a couple run ins with a couple other contests Was super happy for them. Jeeze.

Afterward we hit Izumiya to have yet again, MORE Okonomiyaki. Afterward I went into Kinokuniya and busted bank on another book because Liz Lisa had a special book solely for the My Melody collaborations. Being a gal fanatic/Liz Lisa follower I just had to get it. It also came with a super cute bag that I've actually been carrying to work lately! One day I WILL own an actual Liz Lisa bag because their bags are gorgeous.

I ran into my kouhai Ashley for a very short time and I took pictures of her and Jobi (who was also in the Baby contest together) because they looked super cute. We also took a selca. Ashley is an up and coming cosplayer and lolita/gal. Super proud of this lady because she's working SUPER hard. 

Jobi and I then headed off to go see the concert down in Union Sqaure and I met some lovely people. Shana who I already knew (she made this super adorable Sailor Moon dress <3), Alina who trolled around with me later on, and one of my instagram followers Sophia who looked SUPER dead on with her coordinate. I seriously fucking thought she was wearing Liz Lisa. <3 There were other wonder people in this group too but we're not creeping on each other on facebook or insta (I don't think), but it was so great seeing/meeting everyone. 

Kylee was the first act and she was AMAZING. She's been doing a lot of covers lately! During her sound check the day before she was doing a Rurouni Kenshin song in English and it was super neat. Though it was great hearing the Japanese songs that she regularly does. Dear god Lavendor came on and everyone went crazy. Apparently the lead singer is a previous member of Morning Musume and if there weren't Lavendor fans there were was sure as hell some old gen MoMuSu fans there. 

We like everyone else had actually been waiting for Kyary. The ride up on the bus was crazy, my feet were killing me, and the crowd was getting super crazy. In the end Alina, Jobi, and I left and headed back to Japan Town after over looking the crowd from the Cheese Cake Factory's balcony. 

Heading back the girls and I got crepes and took PuriKura together after we yet again ran into Aya, Leslie, and Amorita. Yay I was with my lovely girls all at the same time like I had intended to be! I LOVE OUR PURIKURA. Jobi got super tired so she didn't want to take any but Alina, Amorita, Leslie, and I look super kira-kira! haha~

Jobi and Alina went to hang with their friends so the rest of us escaped to Tan Tan yet again because Dennis insisted. Aya and Dennis joined us later. I actually got an iced matcha this time because I was actually still full from my crepe. Around this time I also got to see Johnny, Greg, and Jimmy! They were in Japan Town for a bit so I divided my time between three groups of lovely friends who happened to be in the same area at the same time. 

THANK YOU JOHNNY FOR THE THAI TEA! It seriously got me through my packing for the rest of the week! It was so nice seeing you all! I hope you all ran into more familiar faces that day!

After TanTan we all decided to have Korean BBQ together to take our Non-Native San Franciscians at least one other place that wasn't Japan Town. We hit a place on Filmore street which ended up being a great idea because it was cozy and the Japchae was delicious! I also got to meet Ying midway! Ying is such a sweetie! We now officially creep on each other on facebook. How pleasant. haha~

After this we chilled and went home a little later but IT WAS A REALLY GREAT TRIP HOLY CRAP. Thank you guys yet again for an amazing time-especially an amazing (yet again) J-Pop Summit adventure. It was nice seeing familiar faces and seeing new ones. Everyone looked stunning, the events were well planned, the food was delicious, the guest were awesome. Another year well done!