Információ Bezár
What is gyaru? - 2011.10.15
1.What is gyaru? Where is it from? When is it born?
Gyaru is a fashion and lifestyle. It comes from Japan during the time that younger people were not respected by what they call, the "corporate culture". It started as a movement to rebel against them and be wild, free, and have fun. This started in the early 1990's. Gyaru is thought of as the style that Japanese people use to imitate the typical American: blond hair, big eyes.
2.Which age group typical of this style?
Originally, it was focused on the adolescent age group (primarily high school). As the style started evolving, so did the age group. There is Gyaru for children as well as mothers, and the oldest age group I have seen is approximately mid to late 30's. The most common you'll find ranges as early as 15 years old to mid 20's.
3.Introduce a few sub-categories! What are the most popular?
The most popular style is Gyaru-Kei (general Gyaru style) because of its variety: You have Rokku-Kei (rock style), Amekaji (American influenced). From there, Ora Ora Kei (tough style) is currently booming and can be thought of as a heavy rock style. I wouldn't say this is the most popular, but Manba style (the original black face and panda style makeup) is said to be making a comeback.
4.What kind of makeup and hair style is characterized by this style?
The makeup depends on the style you choose. The basics would be circle lenses, if applicable, false upper and bottom lashes for eyes; nude, pink, red for lips unless your style is Manba, which you'd then go with white; darker tan/brown shadow to slim your nose and face. The most common hairstyle really depends on the style as well, although most choose straight, curly, tousled, or wavy. It would be more common, for example, for an Ora Ora Kei Gyaru to have a fauxhawk to add some of that edgy element to her style that day.
5.What gyaru clothes brands are there? Which do you think is the best?
There are over 200 brands dedicated to Gyaru for both men and women and there is always one or more added almost each season. Some of the more popular ones would be CocoLulu, Valentine's High, BlueMoonBlue which focus on the Amekaji style; CECIL MCbee, MA*RS which focus on the sexier side of Gyaru called Agejo; Liz Lisa which focuses on the princess/girly style of Gyaru, etc. I lean more towards the Rokku and Ora Ora Kei styles of Gyaru, so my all-time favorite is a brand called D.I.A.
6.What gyaru cosmetic brands are there? Which do you think is the best?
The biggest cosmetic brands would be Jewerich and Dolly Wink. Both are mainly focused on false lashes. I personally would pick Jewerich over Dolly Wink as far as false lashes were concerned because of the quality. However, it's easy to find Gyaru cosmetics even in drugstores as long as you know how to apply it. My personaly favorite is Urban Decay Cosmetics! It's never failed me.
7.Do you read gyaru magazines?
Yes, I do! My favorites are Blenda, a magazine focused towards 20years and up audiences; and EGG, which is pretty much the veteran of Gyaru magazines. EGG was actually the first to document Gyaru since the very beginning.
8.What music are typical for this style?
It really depends on your style again. There's a bit of a debate on this since there are some Gyaru that would argue that Visual Kei (Japanese Rock/Metal) is not something Gyaru listen to, but there are a lot that do! Other than that, I would argue that Eurobeat, Trance, and Techno are typical for Gyaru for the sake of tech-para, trance-para, and such. Para Para is basically line dancing to that music; People compare it to Dance Dance Revolution, except that instead of foot movement, it's arm movement.
9.Why do you think this style better than other styles?
Gyaru has something for everyone, even guys! It's different from most areas where if you're punk, you can't be seen with a more classy outfit or that you MUST have a mohawk. It's also not just a style, it's a way of life. The Gyaru mentality is that you can always improve, and to have fun! In fact, the EGG Magazine and early Gyaru motto is: Get Wild! Be Sexy! Being Gyaru has boosted my confidence so much and improved the way I see myself. What other styles can you say truly do something like that for you?
Gyaru is a fashion and lifestyle. It comes from Japan during the time that younger people were not respected by what they call, the "corporate culture". It started as a movement to rebel against them and be wild, free, and have fun. This started in the early 1990's. Gyaru is thought of as the style that Japanese people use to imitate the typical American: blond hair, big eyes.
2.Which age group typical of this style?
Originally, it was focused on the adolescent age group (primarily high school). As the style started evolving, so did the age group. There is Gyaru for children as well as mothers, and the oldest age group I have seen is approximately mid to late 30's. The most common you'll find ranges as early as 15 years old to mid 20's.
3.Introduce a few sub-categories! What are the most popular?
The most popular style is Gyaru-Kei (general Gyaru style) because of its variety: You have Rokku-Kei (rock style), Amekaji (American influenced). From there, Ora Ora Kei (tough style) is currently booming and can be thought of as a heavy rock style. I wouldn't say this is the most popular, but Manba style (the original black face and panda style makeup) is said to be making a comeback.
4.What kind of makeup and hair style is characterized by this style?
The makeup depends on the style you choose. The basics would be circle lenses, if applicable, false upper and bottom lashes for eyes; nude, pink, red for lips unless your style is Manba, which you'd then go with white; darker tan/brown shadow to slim your nose and face. The most common hairstyle really depends on the style as well, although most choose straight, curly, tousled, or wavy. It would be more common, for example, for an Ora Ora Kei Gyaru to have a fauxhawk to add some of that edgy element to her style that day.
5.What gyaru clothes brands are there? Which do you think is the best?
There are over 200 brands dedicated to Gyaru for both men and women and there is always one or more added almost each season. Some of the more popular ones would be CocoLulu, Valentine's High, BlueMoonBlue which focus on the Amekaji style; CECIL MCbee, MA*RS which focus on the sexier side of Gyaru called Agejo; Liz Lisa which focuses on the princess/girly style of Gyaru, etc. I lean more towards the Rokku and Ora Ora Kei styles of Gyaru, so my all-time favorite is a brand called D.I.A.
6.What gyaru cosmetic brands are there? Which do you think is the best?
The biggest cosmetic brands would be Jewerich and Dolly Wink. Both are mainly focused on false lashes. I personally would pick Jewerich over Dolly Wink as far as false lashes were concerned because of the quality. However, it's easy to find Gyaru cosmetics even in drugstores as long as you know how to apply it. My personaly favorite is Urban Decay Cosmetics! It's never failed me.
7.Do you read gyaru magazines?
Yes, I do! My favorites are Blenda, a magazine focused towards 20years and up audiences; and EGG, which is pretty much the veteran of Gyaru magazines. EGG was actually the first to document Gyaru since the very beginning.
8.What music are typical for this style?
It really depends on your style again. There's a bit of a debate on this since there are some Gyaru that would argue that Visual Kei (Japanese Rock/Metal) is not something Gyaru listen to, but there are a lot that do! Other than that, I would argue that Eurobeat, Trance, and Techno are typical for Gyaru for the sake of tech-para, trance-para, and such. Para Para is basically line dancing to that music; People compare it to Dance Dance Revolution, except that instead of foot movement, it's arm movement.
9.Why do you think this style better than other styles?
Gyaru has something for everyone, even guys! It's different from most areas where if you're punk, you can't be seen with a more classy outfit or that you MUST have a mohawk. It's also not just a style, it's a way of life. The Gyaru mentality is that you can always improve, and to have fun! In fact, the EGG Magazine and early Gyaru motto is: Get Wild! Be Sexy! Being Gyaru has boosted my confidence so much and improved the way I see myself. What other styles can you say truly do something like that for you?
