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Showing posts with label gaijin gyaru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gaijin gyaru. Show all posts

Saturday, June 20, 2020

10 Weeks of Gyaru Blogging: Then and Now!

    My gal journey began somewhere around 2010, but up until 2017 or so I didn't even know an online community existed! It was not something I had come across, so I never got any critique on my makeup, and thought I was fine! Honestly I doubt I could have handled the criticism back then, so I'm happy that I didn't find the community until later on!

    Here are some looks from my first year seriously trying gyaru, in 2017. I had done looks before but they were just for fun and not something I'd fully classify as gyaru, now. I was doing mostly vkei looks at this point so I was trying to stay out of the sun whenever possible, and keep my skin as light as I could!!! Here is where I started with gyaru:






    And here is where I am, late 2019 and 2020!!! I think the biggest differences that I absolutely recommend for ALL MANBAS are: Tan, Contacts, Lashes!!!!!! As you can see, those three things made a huuuuuge difference! Of course I changed shapes and messed around with different lines, but essentially all that stayed very similar. But proper upper lashes, contacts, and a tan really help so so much! Especially when you want that white makeup to pop. Look at the difference between my pale skin manba and tan skin manba!!





    While critique from the community helps, the biggest thing is to really study the looks you love and want to emulate. Studying the exact shapes and replicating them on your own face then gives you freedom to tweak how you'd like! I'm still changing constantly, always doing something new so I don't get bored!

    What about you! Do you cringe looking back at your looks? Do you think you learned a lot from past attempts? What do you wish you had learned sooner?

Monday, June 8, 2020

What is Gyaru? Substyle Info!

    Welcome back gals and guys! This is just a short post today, to share my new project!

    If you're on social media and wear gyaru, you have probably gotten some questions about it! I receive at least 5-10 a day, and they usually boil down to, "Is -insert random fashion- gyaru?" or "Is this ganguro?" There has also been such an influx of newbie gyaru during the quarantine, and it can be hard to grasp the styles at first!

    SO I partnered with some awesome friends and made informational TikTok videos about 16 different substyles!! Below, I've condensed them down into one YouTube video for easy viewing! Please check it out! Then, let me know if there are more substyles you want to learn about! Do any of these styles inspire you to try something new? I'd love to hear about it!


In order: Kelsey: Tiktok - KelseyJupiter, Instagram - nefariouslycute Lizzie: Tiktok - hellolizziebee, Instagram - hellolizziebee Yaya: Tiktok - kuroyaya, Instagram - kuroyaya Ethan: Tiktok - ethantryce, Instagram - ethan_tryce Nene: Instagram: yanchagal Georgie: Tiktok - georgiepiyo, Instagram: georgie_piyo Reila: Tiktok - reilaless, Instagram - reilaless Rachel: Tiktok - yamigal_, Instagram - yamigal_ Shiena: Tiktok - ningyosama, Instagram - ningyosama Emi: Tiktok - emiriichu, Instagram - emiriichu Amiman: Tiktok - ami.iman, Instagram - amii.iman Lea: Tiktok - leahime, Instagram - leasoneegyarulife Kelsey Wes: Tiktok - 109wes, Instagram - wezzerheid Kelsey Lee: Tiktok - x_haro_x, Instagram: x_haro_x Lizzie

Friday, May 29, 2020

10 Weeks of Gyaru Blogging: What made you start Gyaru?

    Today we are talking origins!!! I feel like I've spoken about my journey a lot with different people, but here it is again, in more depth!

    In 2009 on a bus to summer camp a friend of mine said, "Hey listen to this!" and gave me one of her earbuds. She played U R Man by SS501, and I was immediately hooked on KPop. I downloaded everything she gave me onto my MP3, and listened nonstop. As I took in as many KPop music videos as I could, suddenly the music video for "Cassis" by The GazettE showed up on autoplay and I was super curious so I watched that too! And to say I was instantly hooked on vkei would be an understatement. It became my life. 

    Growing up I was homeschooled in a strict, religious household. Things like Harry Potter and Pokemon were a HUUUGE "Not allowed" because magic was evil!! And boys with makeup?? Boys that looked "feminine"? Ohhh, that was a huge taboo. (Still is today, unfortunately.) KPop and vkei were a side of the world I had never seen before and they were just so cool, unusual, and against the beliefs my parents tried to instill in me. 

    As I took in everything related to Japanese music and fashion as I could, I ran into gyaru. I thought it was super cool and pretty and sexy but nothing about it stood out to me more than visual kei did. Vkei was SO wild to me, it made gyaru look pretty normal.

    THEN I stumbled across this photo. 


    I already knew and loved DJ SiSeN (right) and was just FLOORED by how extra these gals looked! I had never run into this side of gyaru and I was absolutely hooked. My need to be as extra as possible could totally be fulfilled through manba!

    As I got interested, I found some gals online, such as Lillie-Joe (IG lillie_joe), who has inspired me since the beginning with her extreme looks!


    But I really wasn't internet savvy...
    I wasn't allowed to have MySpace or Facebook, so I had no idea there was an online community. I experimented on my own and felt alone. I had no one I knew who was interested in, and only found 2 or 3 inactive gals online. It seemed like gyaru was dead. So even though I've been into and trying gyaru for 8+ years, I have really only become active in the past few years because I just had no idea how big the internet really was!

    Okay, real talk time, because this has been heavy on my heart. 

    Growing up the way I did, it massively damaged my self confidence. I was supposed to get married around age 20-22 (while also not being allowed to date, mind you), and be a stay at home mom while my husband earned all our income. I was not encouraged to pursue a degree. I was not encouraged to become self-sufficient. I was told I had to find a husband and submit to him. I did not feel pretty, was teased about being fat, and hated everything about myself. I am now 26 and have never had an actual relationship, much less something that could lead to marriage. I'm not even sure I want a marriage. I don't have a college degree because for many years I believed what I was being told, that I just needed to marry a man with a good job. Imagine my self-confidence as an 18-24 year old being told to just wait for my husband to come along, and I couldn't even get a date.

    Well, here I am now! Gyaru became my thing because it empowers me. I don't have to be pretty for anyone except me. I don't even want to be pretty for anyone but me!! Manba has always been my calling because of how extra it is. I WANT to stand out. I WANT to be stared at. I WANT to be so unbelievably different from everyone around me. Now I'm a model and staff member in Papillon, I have a blog, a pretty successful TikTok account (as far as gyaru accounts go), and a good Instagram following! My life is filled with this style I'm so unbelievably in love with. I have literally never felt more beautiful, confident, and loved in my life.




    What about you? How did you start gyaru? Or how did you become interested? Which styles drew your eye? 

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Quarantine Birthday, May 26th, 2020

    As I feared, my plans of spending my birthday at the beach with my gyarusa were crushed this year. We technically could go, but it's just not safe to at this time. So as many people are doing, I turned to Google Hangouts and social media to celebrate!
    May 24th, I hosted an online birthday party! We played Cards Against Humanity and chatted, having some drinks and snacks as we hung out. It was so nice because even though half of my friends didn't know the other half, everyone got along and it was really just several hours of complimenting each other and spreading positive vibes. It was so so so nice, and I loved it!
    For this hangout I wanted to do banba again, with my new hair extensions!! Here is the look:





    On May 25th, I met up with my friend Jonathon (IG sentaaoftheuniverse) and we had a picnic in the park, before driving around finding cool places to take pictures and videos! I got this dress at a thrift store back in February, and decided to mix Rokku and Manba!! I really love how it came out!






    On May 26th, my actual birthday, we went to the lake! My parents have a boat, so we spent the day cruising around and swimming. Which was good because it was 100 degrees that day!!! The shaved side of my head got sunburned that day so that was super fun!!!


    I feel a little bummed now that it's over, not going to lie!!! I had looked forward to it a lot and now that everything is canceled the rest of the year, it sucks not having plans to look forward to. So I think I'll have to plan more livestreams and hangouts!!! 
    Here are some more photos from the week! Thanks for reading!




Thank you to gyaru.posting on Instagram for this cute edit!!!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Gyaru Without Brand - Summer Edition!

    Hello gals and guys!! Today I wanted to bring you an answer to a question I see asked often: Can I be gyaru without brand?
YES YES YES YES YES
    In fact, you can usually come up with the most unique outfits by NOT using brand!! You can pull out pieces no one has seen before! That's what gives you your own unique edge!
    So here are my fave summer outfits without any gyaru brand pieces!!

    But first....kitty. This is Skittles and she's a sweet but grumpy old lady.
    Disclaimer: I know not everyone has thrift stores or second hand stores in their country. That does limit your options. However, it's still totally 100% doable! I'll be including the names of stores I purchased from as well!!

Here We Go!!!

Dress: Juicy Couture, thrifted from Goodwill
Purse: Caribbean Joe, thrifted from Eco Thrift
Stitch: Gifted
Hawaiian necklace, Turtle necklace: Thrifted from Eco Thrift
Flower clips: Amazon
Hair scrunchies: Amazon
Shell bracelet: Thrifted


This outfit would be perfect for a day at the beach, as a swimsuit coverup, or just for a day of sightseeing!

Snack theme, anyone?
Dress: Thrifted from Goodwill
Purse: Target
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Thrifted from Eco Thrift
Earrings: Depop

I'd love to wear this one for a lunch date with friends!

Listen, I've found an obsession with tiedye.
Dress: Thrifted from Goodwill
Shoes: XMISTUO on Amazon
Purse: Sanrio, Depop
Flower Clips: Amazon
Necklace: Thrifted from Eco Thrift
Earrings: WalMart
Bracelet: Gifted


Tan Hello Kitty is best Hello Kitty!!!
I wore this outfit to the movies, and it was so comfy!

Dress: Thrifted from Goodwill
Purse: Sanrio, gifted
Shoes: I don't remember!
Hair clips: Amazon
Necklace: IG: kawaii_panda_shop
Bracelet: Gifted


This dress has such a funky pattern, I absolutely love it! And who doesn't want an easy, breezy dress for summer?

Dress: Mercari (America)
Purse and card holder: Daiso
Necklace, earrings, bracelet set: Goodwill online
Butterfly clips: Target



Did I mention I'm obsessed with tiedye? How perfect is this dress!

Dress: Handmade from a thrifted muumuu
Hat: Ebay
Shoes: Unsure
Bag: Betsey Johnson, bought at TJ Maxx
Earrings: Forever21
Necklace: IG: kawaii_panda_shop


I found this muumuu in the prettiest print but new I had to upcycle it. I used a bikini to shape the top of it, and made a matching headband/hat strap!

    I hope you found these helpful and/or inspirational! Let me know if you want more posts about Gyaru without brand!! And let me know which outfit is your favorite!

Friday, May 15, 2020

10 Weeks Of Gyaru Blogging: Inspirations!

Oh man, gyaru inspirations?? Incoming photo spam!!!
I'm absolutely horrible with names and faces, so no names are listed, apologies! If you want to know who someone is I can try to find out for you! 
Here are the photos that have inspired me and continue to inspire me as I live my gyaru life!

Gaijin gals -
Lillie-Joe! IG: lillie_joe
Definitely the biggest inspo as I was starting out gal! I wanted to be just as extreme!




Current inspo:
Nene <3 IG: yanchagal
Aesthetic goals!!! Embodying gyaru in every photo!




Other inspo:





























Do you recognize any of these gals?? What inspires your gyaru journey?