So, as you can probably tell from the title, the topic of today's blog is going to be the "dead" substyles of Gyaru!
My use of quotes when I refer to "dead" substyles is very intentional, and I'll tell you why: I don't think most of these styles are truly dead! There are two substyles that I do think probably deserve to be dead or remain in obscurity, but we'll get into that later on, since there is some nuance to it.
And perhaps I have been a bit clickbait-y! I'll also be touching on some substyles that experienced gals would not consider dead at all, mostly because of the relative obscurity amongst baby and new gen gals. So, if you see a substyle and you're like, "Dude... this is so NOT a dead style..." Just know I wanted to sneak in a few substyles I've been dying to talk about, but have hesitated due to some slight obscurity, hehe.
There is also one particular substyle that is probably the most... Dead of them all. I know I just said I don't think any substyle is truly dead, so I think "lying dormant" is a more apt description. We will also explore that a bit later on!
If you read my substyles blog from a while ago, then you might notice a few substyles here. For that reason, I'll try my best not to make this blog too much like my substyles blog, just so I'm not regurgitating information and boring my long-time readers to death. I'll link my substyles blog in the sections that require it, in case anyone wants to read about them further. I'll also be showcasing two controversial substyles, not so I can promote them, but simply because they should be documented for us to reflect on.
This blog won't be a description of each substyle and how to achieve it, but rather a description of its origin and its decline. I really want to shed some light on some lesser-known substyles, because I think being a gal can mean being a sort of historian, at times.
Alright, let's begin!
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AMURO
Amuro is perhaps the first substyle of Gyaru. As the name suggests, it was inspired by the singer/model Namie Amuro and was dedicated to emulating her likeness. I hesitate to call Amuro a dead substyle, since it is the foundation of all Gyaru substyles. Somehow, every substyle carries the essence of Amuro, so it can never truly fall out of fashion. However, I will admit that strictly trying to emulate Namie Amuro has become less common, or rather, the true motivations of the style have fallen away. Namie Amuro is, to me and other gals, the mother of Gyaru, so her name is one that every gal should know. As the music of the 90's and 2000's becomes more and more popular, I picture Amuro having some sort of renaissance as Namie Amuro reaches the ears of baby gals, similarly to how celebrities like Paris Hilton and Snooki have had a similar renaissance. As Namie Amuro has earned the title of a Heisei diva, I also picture the current trendiness of the Heisei era contributing to a potential revival of true Amuro style. What do you think?
ROMANBA
Romanba, at the time of its inception, was a relatively short-lived style. Created by the egg model Ka-tan (pictured below), it was meant to be a mixture of Hime and Manba styles. It combined the feminine aspects of Hime (the colors, lace, ruffles, etc.) with the "Ro" meaning "romantic," and the visual aspects of Manba/Yamanba (particularly in the make style, tanning, and accessories). As I mentioned earlier, the style could be considered a flash in the pan, since it never got the chance to reach mainstream popularity or widespread attention. Ka-tan, however, definitely made her mark on Gyaru. She was the cover girl for many iconic issues of egg magazine, and every gal knows her face, even if they dont know her name. These days, she goes by her real name, Kanae Watanabe, or simply KANAE. She went on to model for other Gyaru magazines, such as Nuts and S'Cawaii!, and is a member of CYBERJAPAN. She is a go-go dancer and is also a part of a CYBERJAPAN subunit with her sister KAZUE, known as Watanabe Sisters. Although Ka-tan is certainly not a gal in the same way anymore, she has not left the style behind. She is undoubtedly one of the most iconic gals of the time, so I think Romanba finding a new footing in the modern day is the obvious next step as the subculture continues to grow.
SAIKE/BOHEMIAN
Despite including it here, Saike/Bohemian is typically not worn as its own substyle. It is usually included in other styles, particularly Himekaji or Roma, since it usually consists of more casual elements. However, some gals do wear it as a specific substyle, and it even has a Gyaruo counterpart, Delicer/Derika (more about that here). I think this style could really shine as a stand-alone style on a wider scale, which is why I wanted to include it and shed some more light on it.
HAAADY
This is one of the substyles I mentioned in my substyles blog, so it can be read about here. There has been some attention brought to it on platforms like TikTok, and I do think the average gal is likely to be at least familiar with Haaady. However, I wanted to mention it since I feel it is frequently used interchangeably with Amekaji, and I think it deserves some spotlight of its own. Like Saike/Bohemian, I think Haaady could shine with some special attention. It is an incredibly unique style that I see becoming increasingly popular in the West as Gyaru continues to make itself known here.
MODE
Mode, coming from the French word for "high fashion," is a style that I'm positive many veteran gals are familiar with. However, like Haaady can sometimes be overshadowed in favor of Amekaji, I think Mode gets the same treatment with styles like Onee or Agejo. It is usually a style that is favored by gals in their 30's, which is why I think it deserves more attention. Being a baby gal is not exclusive to younger people; even older people can begin their Gyaru journey. I think certain styles can feel a bit "juvenile," for lack of a better term (since there is nothing wrong with being juvenile), but because of how mature Mode leans, and how it can easily be worn into things like the workplace, I think it is perfect for those who feel "too old" for Gyaru. which is not a thing, might I add! It is a very mature, classy, and generally wearable style, and can be perfect for older baby gals that may not have familiarized themselves with this style yet.
ANE
Ane is a very interesting style, but like Mode, baby gals may not know what it is. I would describe it as a mixture of Ora Ora and Onee (which can be read about here), sort of like a rebellious older-sister style. It is typically favored by older gals, since it is a more mature style. So, for older baby gals who want a more rebellious yet adult-oriented style, this might be the one for you!
B-GYARU/B-KEI
Similar to Romanba, B-Gyaru was relatively short-lived and never particularly popular. It mainly focuses on incorporating (and appropriating) aspects of black American culture, and is sometimes referred to as B-Kei, as there are instances of other subcultures outside of Gyaru doing similar things. Of course, this substyle is based on racism and cultural appropriation, and some think this shouldnt be considered a substyle at all. However, I do feel the need to mention it as there have been black gals who have reclaimed this style. I feel that there is power in reclaiming things, and I'll always be willing to amplify the voices of those who do that. I also think this is an embarrassing part of Gyaru history, and it shouldnt be covered up since racism and cultural appropriation are ongoing conversations in the Gyaru community. As I am not black, I feel my commentary on B-Gyaru should end here. However, please feel free to expand more on this topic in the comments if you feel so inclined!
CHIBI GYARU/MOGOGYARU
This is another controversial substyle, and one that many would not consider a substyle, much like B-Gyaru. I've seen the definition of Chibi Gyaru change throughout the years. At first, the most common definition would be Mama Gyaru dressing up their children in matching/coordinating outfits, which is completely fine in my book. Later, it evolved to refer to gals under the age of 12, and I have my own feelings about that. I cannot ignore that teenagers belong in the Gyaru space, seeing as the entire subculture was created by and is maintained by teenagers. After all, I am a teenager and was a teenager when I started being a gal. Basically, I believe middle schoolers also have a place in Gyaru as well. After all, many gal icons began wearing Gyaru in middle school. So it's clear that gals under 12 years old exist; however, I think the terms Chibi Gyaru and Mogogyaru (used by some to describe gals aged 13-15) are a simple issue of semantics. I think people try to overcomplicate things, and I think it would just be easier to call them Kogyaru. Therefore, I'm inclined to believe it shouldnt be classified as an outright substyle. Also, there has been a recent trend of these accounts on places like Instagram and TikTok that showcase incredibly young children dressed like gals being touted as Chibi Gyaru. Even Angeleek engages in this, as they have members in elementary/primary school who are dressed, frankly, incredibly inappropriately. Children that young should not be on the internet at all, in my opinion. I think these "Kogyaru/Chibi Gyaru" accounts are simply child exploitation, and I also think it sets a horrific precedent for young children who happen to see these "Chibi Gyaru" and want to follow suit. So, all this to say: If people find the terms Chibi Gyaru and Mogogyaru necessary, it's their prerogative to use them. However, I think it's redundant at best and creepy at worst.
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Aaand that's all I have for today! I hope this was a relatively laid-back and digestible read, since I know my first substyles blog is basically the opposite, haha. I wanted to do something a bit less information-heavy to make it easier on myself for my first blog post back, and because I know not everyone is very interested in blogs like that. But for those who love it when I yap and do insane amounts of research: Rest assured, I think the next two blogs in the queue will be right up your alley! Anyway, please let me know what you think in the comments! I wanted this blog to invite reader feedback, which is why I posed a lot of questions. Basically, I wanted this blog to be kind of open-ended, if that makes sense. So yeah! Please feel free to add whatever you like in the comments, share your own opinions, or mention something you feel I missed or overlooked. I'm really excited to see what everyone has to say! As always, also feel free to share whatever else you like in the comments, or give me topic suggestions for future blogs. You can also always IM me with any suggestions, comments, or concerns. The next blog will be about Chinese and Korean Gyaru, so please look forward to it! Thank you all so much for reading and for being so patient with me~ I really hope you enjoyed, and I'll be back again soon with another blog~
Remember, Antama loves you~!
Kiss kiss~ ☆⌒ヽ(*'､^*)chu
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