Hey cutie! How are you? ♡ Today I wanted to introduce you to the “Offbrand Challenge!” This is tied together with my latest YouTube video, where basically you put together some gyaru outfits but with completely offbrand items. This is something I used to do a lot when I first started gyaru, especially because back then I didn’t really have any brand items. So here are a few outfits that I’ve worn that are completely offbrand!
Hey cutie! How are you? Today I am back with another post for my “interview with a gyaru/gyaruo” series, and this time I had a lil’ chat with Hekkuwrekku about their experiences tackling racism and colourism within the gyaru community, as well as about Kagayaku Kuro Gyarusa!
Hey cutie! How are you? Sorry I haven’t really been that active lately… I went through a serious burnout after Christmas so I’ve been doing my best to relax as possible! I’ve also been trying to make our kitchen super cute (you can read my inspiration post here) and it’s going to require a lot of work. I really hope I can show you some pictures at the end of the month!
Anyway, me and my hubby have been making bubble waffles as one of the things I received for Christmas was a bubble waffle maker! We tried to do it with marshmallows but… Well… The marshmallows melted way too quickly haha. Next time I want to try it with whipped cream and mochi, or maybe chocolate or something.
Papillon, a magazine for Western Gyaru, has been a HUGE success. They’ve only just released their second volume but it’s crammed full with useful tutorials, inspirational outfits, not to mention really cute designs! But behind this magazine is a whole team of inspiring gyaru, and today I’m having a chat with Lea (the head of the magazine) on the ins and outs of running a gyaru magazine.
Yaaay the second issue of Papillon magazine has now been released, this time it’s all about helping beginners get into the world of gyaru (a topic especially close to my heart)! The gyaru community has been eagerly anticipating this moment after a very successful first volume, so let’s have a tiny peek on what’s inside…
… Cry, a lot. Well, that’s what I used to do when I found out that I’ve been featured on Gyaru Secrets with horrible comments scrawled all over my pictures (for those that don’t know Gyaru Secrets – it was a Livejournal site where people submitted ‘secrets’ about people but it was more of a bitch fest). Thankfully that site doesn’t exist anymore but the truth is that you will still have to deal with some hate of some kind, anonymous or not, because of how different Gyaru style is compared to ‘normal’ styles. Today I’m having a chat with Kelsey (aka Nefariously Cute) on how she deals with online hate for wearing Yamanba, one of the oldest forms of Gyaru!
It’s not unusual to search for clothes from Japan only to see that they are “one-size” – as in, “one size fits all”. Now we know that one size doesn’t really fit all, and that people come in all shapes and sizes which is why I wanted to have a chat with Danielle, co-leader of QueenE gyarusa, on her top tips on how to do gyaru for plus-size gals!
There aren’t many images floating around of gyaru with short hair (especially in comparison to longer hair)… but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible! Below I have shared a few of my favourites that range from cute curled styles that are perfect for sweeter looks like himekaji to edgier styles that are perfect for oraora/tsuyome/etc. I’ve also included some tips on how to do gyaru with short hair and some pictures of gaijin gyaru who absolutely rock it!
Please note: I don’t own any of the below imagery – these were gathered from various sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.
Gyaru is a street fashion that, despite originating from Japan, has grown massively over the years in the Western world. But are there differences between foreign gyaru, also known as gaijin gyaru, to Japanese gyaru? I had a chat with Shiena who is one of the OG gals, having been interested in gyaru for nearly 20 years, on her experiences between living in Japan and being amongst Japanese gyaru, to the Western gyaru community.
2019 was the Return of the Gyaru; famous magazines have resumed print; models from the heydays of gyaru put on their false lashes again; and the gaijin gyaru community has boomed. The turn of the Heisei to Reiwa Era* had a lot of people reflecting on their good old gyaru days, and there’s hope that there will be a whole new era of gal in the coming years. Gal is forever changing, but our spirit doesn’t!
So what have been the highlights of 2019 in the gyaru-sphere? Let’s take a look back and reflect on what happened this year…