Hope This Helps: Gyaru

 Hey Babes!

Welcome back to the blog! I hope you are doing well. It's time for another edition of "Hope This Helps", a popular series on the blog where I explain fashion styles and aesthetic and help you get the look. This time we're going over the beloved Gyaru style. Gyaru, or "gal" in English, is a popular Japanese subculture that has been around for decades. In this article, I'm going to explain the history of Gyaru, how it differs from similar subcultures, and how you can get the Gyaru look. Get comfy and enjoy reading.

What is Gyaru?

Gyaru is more than a fashion style, it's a subculture and a social movement. It started in the late 90s as a push back against the Japanese beauty standards at the time. Women were expected to be pale, have a natural and pure look, and dress modestly. If you look up Gyaru on the internet, you'll quickly learn that the style is the complete opposite of what was expected of Japanese women. Gyarus are loud, outspoken, blonde, tan, and colorful. The movement wanted to prove that something that was "crude" and "ugly" could still be pretty, so to speak. 

Gyaru is just a broad, general term to refer to the style. There are so many niche subgenres of Gyaru like HimeGyaru, Kogal, Rokku, Tsuyome, etc. I highly encourage you to look into the different styles of Gyaru if you are interested in taking up the subculture. I will also be talking about a few smaller genres in this post, but I may make a post dedicated to all the subgenres in the future. 

Gyaru vs. Harajuku vs. McBling vs. Lolita

Gyaru and Harajuku are often mistaken for each other, which is an honest mistake. They both originated in Japan to counter very rigid expectations for women and how women present themselves. They're both bold, colorful, and sometimes girly. Harajuku is named after an area in Tokyo called Harajuku, while Gyaru was originated in another part of Tokyo called Shibuya. Unlike Gyaru, Harajuku isn't tied to one specific aesthetic but a wide range of unique and expressive styles. If you go visit Harajuku, you'll see cute and kawaii, bold and extreme, and an array of different vibes in one area. Even though there are different ways to be a gal, each look still has that recognizable Gyaru essence. In short, Gyaru is a subculture with a signature style, and Harajuku refers to a trendy and unique type of fashion you would see in Harajuku. 

Gyaru and McBling existed around the same time and may look similar, but they're different. Again, Gyaru is based on a social movement while McBling takes inspiration from celebrities and pop culture. 

Lolita and Gyaru can intersect depending on which style of Gyaru we're talking about. They can both look very girly, very pink and frilly. Lolita takes inspiration from Victorian era fashion, while Gyaru is more modern. I may make an article about Lolita fashion in the future. 

Now that we've gone over the basic knowledge of Gyaru, I can teach you how to get the look. 

Makeup:

There are many variations to Gyaru makeup, but usually the eyes are the focal point of the look. A traditional look would have an exaggerated droop to give the appearance of having bigger eyes. The eyebrows are thin and sharp and can sit higher on the face if you want more room for eyeshadow. Highlight and contour can be put in the inner corner and under the eyes and on the nose bridge as well. I'll show pictures for reference. 

You can do whatever you like with your lips, most Gyarus prefer nude or gloss, but there aren't any strict rules. If you like HimeGyaru, you may be partial to using lighter pastels and pinks. Rokku gals tend to have heavier dark colors. Tsuyome gals tend to have bolder looks. Tanning is popular among the Gyaru subculture but it's not a requirement. 

Hair:

You may notice that a lot of Gyarus in pop culture are blonde. Again, this isn't a requirement, you can have whatever hair color you want. Most Gyaru have colored hair because it's a bold move, considering the social expectations in Japan. Your hair can be as simple or elaborate as you want. A lot of gals tend to go for hairstyles that take up space, if that makes sense. Try updos, half up-half down, braids, side ponytails. 

Clothing:

Much like makeup, Gyarus dress differently depending on what substyle they're apart of. Take HimeGyaru for example, which translates to "Princess Gal". You're going to see a lot of pastel pink, glitter, babydoll dresses, and bows in this style. Kogal, or "Girl Gal", refers to gals who may be in highschool or teens. Thus, Kogals are often seen in school uniforms. 

Not every gals wants to dress feminine, and that's totally fine. Amekaji, or "American Casual" takes inspo from casual wear from the United States. Keep in mind that this style derives from a stereotypical view of American fashion. Jeans, hoodies, sweatpants, tracksuits, etc. are often worn in Amekaji. The same can be said for Ora Ora as well. 

For more grown-up styles, consider Ane, Onee Gal, Mode and Agejo. These styles tend to be worn by older gals. You may see a lot of leather, animal prints, furs, skirts, and skinny jeans in these styles. (I love Ane and Onee Gal because they look so similar to what everyone wore from 2006-2016) Mode is better for the workplace, but still has some elements of Gyaru. Agejo refers to anything that was featured in Koakuma Ageha, a Gyaru magazine. You'll often see hostesses wearing Agejo, so that is why I included it in this mature group. 

If you like Gyaru but want to dress more alternative, you can try Rokku (Rock) and Goshikku (Gothic) Gyaru styles. They tend to have darker looks, taking inspiration from Goth, Vkei, Emo, and Scene. You may also like Ishoku Hada, which consists of colorful (unnatural colored) skin, alien-like visuals, and reminds me of rave attire. 

You don't have to commit to just one substyle of Gyaru, you can experiment with more than one or take elements from some to create your own unique type of Gyaru. The substyles that I mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg, there are so many more iconic substyles. Again, I highly encourage you to look into Gyaru fashion and which styles interest you. Much like any alternative style, you dn't have to break the bank to be Gyaru. Back in the old days, a lot of gals would thrift, diy, or just wear what they had. 

Shoes & Accessories:

Gals are often seen wearing heels and boots, but any shoe is fine. Honestly it should be a shoe that you're comfortable wearing, gals tend to party and go clubbing. Fun fact, before it was popular, a lot of gals were kicked out by their families and many were homeless. I highly doubt you'll end up homeless for being Gyaru, but make sure you have some dependable shoes. The same goes for handbags and purses. Jewelry is often loud and many gals wore statement pieces, bangles, hoops, and hair clips. Depending on the substyle, hats and caps can be worn, but it's optional for all styles. 

At the end of the day, Gyaru is a feeling, a spirit. No matter how you dress or how blonde your hair is, being a gal is about being unapologetic and free. I hope you enjoyed learning about the Gyaru subculture. There's a lot of information out on the internet, but I tried to compress the basics into an easy to learn guide. Let me know what styles or aesthetics you want me to go over next! 

xoxo 

Scarlette