Shiny Violet Star

Sunday, October 27, 2013

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!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

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!