I was just editing my about me page and I thought about adding some new questions to my Q&A section to finish it today and I thought why not ask ChatGPT what questions they would ask?
And boy, they are so much better than the ones I had in my mind.
A lot of them were more or less similiar questions but put in a way, they reveal more depth..so I figured I am going to style the About Me page a little bit different and make a separate post now with the questions.
I am also adding the sample at the bottom to copy and post on your blogs as well!
Let's have some interviews!
Hello, My name is Lynn, aka Rinmero.
I am 25 years old, from Germany and almost 10+ years into gyaru fashion.
Q: What initially drew you to gyaru fashion, and how did you discover it?
A: I remember as a 13/14 y.o. teen I was more into kawaii-culture than specifically gyaru. I used to watch anime and loved Japan and their j-fashion styles. As far as I can tell I was more into himekaji and agejo. I remember I used to pair a bright barbie pink top and a black skirt with black overknee socks and heels to emulate an agejo-look. I used to hate kuro and hime with a passion though and did not count the inspo I received was gyaru as well, I didn't know too much about it then. I had more interest towards the weheartit and tumblr "barbie" style that often gets described as bimbocore nowadays but also punkish/gothic outfits and elements used to be my daily inspos. I also had a pastel goth phase where I really wanted to dye my hair pastel pink. I was about 15/16 I guess when I noticed that gyaru is combinable with my other style interests and looked it up more. I did not really wear it back then, because I did not have the financial means but I was a lot into makeup artistry and experimented with some of their techniques. I thought I had not started gyaru until I was 17/18 but my memories are mistaken, I was able to find old profiles of me when I was younger and already into gyaru.
Q: How would you describe your personal take on gyaru fashion?
A: Currently I like to be more relaxed about my looks and focus on a casual variant that I can integrate into my daily life. I spend more time on hair and makeup now than the actual clothes.
I did a gyaru break for a while and experimented with other styles that more or less forced me to consider colors, textiles, shapes and cuts and what works than having a brand-focused wardrobe.
It also made me realise that this is what gyaru from japan are doing as well. They simply wear whatever they want and are still gyaru. Some even wore other styles i.e. Lolita.
I am me, I am gyaru.
Q: What’s your favorite sub-style within gyaru fashion (e.g., hime gyaru, kogal, rokku gyaru), and why?
A: I used to be a hime/himekaji-gal but now I am more into rokku and 96gal/tsuyome. It is more bold and I feel like it fits my personality better. I like the makeup and tan a lot, the hairstyles as well.
I think it is more or less a gyaru version of the fashion that I liked as a teenager and always wanted to wear when growing up.
Q: What are some key items or accessories that define gyaru fashion for you?
A: The devil is in the detail. It is difficult to pin-point them when gyaru is a broad umbrella term.
To me I like to focus more on makeup, hair and nails. It's very often that it can make the most bland outfit look incredibly gal, because it is on you.
Q: Do you incorporate elements of gyaru fashion into your everyday wear, or is it more of a special occasion thing for you?
A: I would say, to work I am kinda a mixture of 96gal and onee-gyaru. I mostly wear skin-tight dresses in a midi-length that look super sexy, paired with black high heels. I have been looking up a lot of pretty dresses on Ali in the "old money"-style that I think can also be made super gal. I rarely, if almost never make pictures of my outfits though. Maybe I should do that more often.
Q: How do you decide on the right outfit for a particular day or event?
A: The weather decides. I feel cold easily, so especially during winter I make sure I can code it with thick cardigans or pullovers. On events I take a vibe that I feel like today (do I want to be sexy, cute or casual?).
Q: What do you think makes gyaru fashion stand out from other fashion subcultures?
A: Mostly the variety but also the mindset of the gals. They are very open-minded and creative, they like to make bold statements and want to have fun. We don't follow rules and everyone can give their own personal touch into their looks.
Q: Are there specific trends in gyaru fashion that you’re excited about right now?
A: I see it gets more popularity again, in Japan but also in the western world. I like that vets are getting more comfortable again and want to participate and revive the community.
Q: How do you feel when you wear gyaru? Does it boost your confidence or make you feel empowered?
A: I feel free and it makes me happy.
Q: In what ways do you think gyaru fashion allows you to express your personality?
A: Wow, this is actually a difficult question. I think I get the most creative when doing my nails, it is my personal trademark. The people in my area rarely know my name but they keep saying "the lady with the nails", they definitely stand out. I live at the country-side, those kind of blinged up stiletto nails are not a thing here. They have never seen something like this and are amazed by it.
Q: Have you ever faced any misconceptions or negative reactions because of your gyaru style? How did you handle that?
A: When I used to wear kawaii outfits I got referred to wearing a manga style a lot. There are some that laugh about it when passing. The most annoying kind is when you are walking in a big city and people are honking when passing you by. I am easily scared and always get little heart attacks when they do it. I think it is natural to get irritated by negative comments at first, it is okay to feel sad or angry. But there are only 2 options for me: 1. Either I double up. Whatever they criticize about me, I make it worse and 2. not give a shit about it. I think people who have the audacity to be rude towards others only make it more apparent they have their own issues. I don't keep myself busy with things that are not worth my time.
Q: How do you combine your Western background with elements of gyaru fashion? Do you find it challenging at all?
A: I think the problem that a lot of gaijins face is they naturally feel more obligated to be OTT. When the japanese tan, wear makeup and dye their hair blonde they immediately stand out, whereas in the western world you still could be perceived as pretty basic. I also think that's why a lot of gaijins face a lot of insecurity about not being "gal enough". I had this problem too. After my gyaru break I looked at my old pictures from a different pov and realised that I used to be too hard on myself. I feel more relaxed now and try to do less but better.
Q: Do you think the gyaru style has changed over the years? If so, how has it influenced your style choices?
A: In the gaijin atmosphere, YES A LOT. In Japan, not so much. Many substyles died out and are not common anymore, Heisei is dead and a new era has already started a couple years ago. Gyaru itself has always been adapting to newer styles and trends and they will continue to do so.
When looking at the gaijin community however I feel like it has stuck in time. Newbies keep doing the same thing over and over again and there is originality missing. It gets mixed a lot with the Y2k-trends and even though there are a lot of resource options, I get the impression there were never less informed gals around than now.
Q: What are some Western fashion elements you like to incorporate into your gyaru outfits, if any?
A: I had always wished to make a german dirndl gyaru code for around oktoberfest with a leopard dress and a big black d.i.a-inspired belt with a furrytail but because I never go to any events during oktoberfest I never had the opportunity. I definitely think this could look amazing.
Other than that I have always been a lover for fashion and it's history. Tsubasa Masuwaka used to make lots of scene photoshoots by incorporating fashion history into her gyaru style.
I have already scanned some of her books on my blog if you'd like to check it out.
Q: When it comes to makeup, what’s your go-to look for achieving a gyaru vibe?
A: Lenses, Eyeliner and Lashes make about 90% of a look. It gets highly underestimated how it can change the anatomy of your face. I think it is a great skill to make a go-to style that matches your eyeshape. I have almond-shaped eyes with flat tearbags. Any kind of snatched eyeliner won't look good. I like to keep the eyeliner below the crease of my hoods and only draw on the wing and front line on my eyes. I think a line on your lid "cuts" and shortens the length of your lashes and I want to optically max them. I do not like heavy droops and work with leaving out pencil eyeliner on my lower outer corner of my waterline to leave it "naked". I tried namida bukuro techniques but they don't suit me in reallife at all, I prefer to highlight the front part underneath my lower lash line with glitter or metallic liner. I focus on thick clustered lashes that I glue on from underneath on my natural lashes and cut lower lashes in half to emphasize my new eyeshape by gluing them on my droop on the outer lower corner of my eye. I like to keep my lenses more subtle with aprox. 14,5mm and in a grey/blue color.
Q: How important is hair in the gyaru look for you? Do you have any favorite hairstyles or hair care tips?
A: To be honest, the haircolor is most important but since there are many varieties of gyaru styles, I think the haircut or style only comes second. I think you definitely need dyed and styled hair but it depends on the look you are trying to achieve. I love the blonde and exte-type of hairstyles in gyaru.
To keep my hair as healthy as possible I oil it before showering and use conditioner in the shower, leave-in conditioner after shower and a serum on my tips to seal the ends.
Q: Do you have a favorite brand or store where you shop for gyaru clothes and accessories?
A: Right now I ditched the brands and mainly shop from Aliexpress. I loved Ma*rs and Jesus Diamante though and they are mostly the brand clothes that I kept throughout the years.
Q: What’s your approach to mixing colors and patterns in gyaru fashion? Any rules you follow or is it all about experimentation?
A: I like to stick to 2-3 colors within a code and when there is pattern to only combine it with unicolored pieces. I have mad respect for people who are able to combine different patterns, I always feel like something is off. Maybe that should be my next challenge to go more overboard with patterns. I think the best pattern forever will be leo or cheetah...you can literally make anything more gal with it.
Q: Are there any influencers, celebrities, or public figures who inspire your gyaru style?
A: Right now I follow Fukitisu, Asupi and Rebra that inspire me but I also get a lot of input from xiaohongshu.
Q: How do you connect with other people who share an interest in gyaru fashion? Are there any online communities or social media platforms that help you stay inspired?
A: I am a total supporter of casual blogging!! This is YOUR space, you can post whatever..it is like social media but better. You are not limited to post content to match your feed or obligated to work within a content frame. This is like the OG-gyaru platform. the freedom of expression you can make via a blog is endless. I think more gals should start blogging casually, this doesn't have to be a professional setting. You can design how you want it, DIY it to the core and don't have to think about the content you are posting so much. I prefer the short posts to be honest. It could be something simple like "boring day but look at this cute bird I photographed outside", if this is what you enjoyed today, this is YOU. I like reading others blogs and see what they are up to, it is also not forced or faked like on typical social media platforms. I comment on others posts if there was something in particular that stood out but also to give a little love of "Hey, I enjoy reading about your day!".
Q: Do you have any advice for someone interested in trying out gyaru fashion for the first time?
A: Just do it. Experiment with your makeup and hairstyles, mimique the pictures you see online to the smallest detail. It makes you notice what you have to keep doing and what works for you. Work on your mindset and research a lot. Don't be too harsh on yourself either and honestly, try to stay away from tik tok advice. You can ask vets for help but don't expect them to do the work for you. And please, don't immediately throw tons of cash on brand. Work little by little and try to use what you already have in your closet. I can guarantee ALL of you have at least a couple pieces that can be used for gal in a certain way. Gyaru is a CREATIVE substyle that lived a lot from DIY, it is empowering and has a great sense of freedom to it. If you feel insecure, intimidated or restricted, there is something wrong, it definitely shouldn't feel that way.
Q: Looking ahead, where do you see your style evolving? Are there any future trends or aspects of gyaru fashion you’re excited to explore?
A: Since most of the time I either have to wear professional attire or casual clothing I would focus more on the onee-gyaru elements that I want to combine with old money for work and wear a bright and cute variant of xiaohongshu fashion for casual days. I really want to incorporate artsy clothes to make something new and creative for more individual looks as well. I am overflowing with ideas and have too less time and money to actually make all of these visions come true at once right now. I am excited to see what I can accomplish for my new gyaru era.
I am handing the mic to you!Copy and paste!
Q: What initially drew you to gyaru fashion, and how did you discover it?
Q: How would you describe your personal take on gyaru fashion?
Q: What’s your favorite sub-style within gyaru fashion (e.g., hime gyaru, kogal, rokku gyaru), and why?
Q: What are some key items or accessories that define gyaru fashion for you?
Q: Do you incorporate elements of gyaru fashion into your everyday wear, or is it more of a special occasion thing for you?
Q: How do you decide on the right outfit for a particular day or event?
Q: What do you think makes gyaru fashion stand out from other fashion subcultures?
Q: Are there specific trends in gyaru fashion that you’re excited about right now?
Q: How do you feel when you wear gyaru? Does it boost your confidence or make you feel empowered?
Q: In what ways do you think gyaru fashion allows you to express your personality?
Q: Have you ever faced any misconceptions or negative reactions because of your gyaru style? How did you handle that?
Q: How do you combine your Western background with elements of gyaru fashion? Do you find it challenging at all?
Q: Do you think the gyaru style has changed over the years? If so, how has it influenced your style choices?
Q: What are some Western fashion elements you like to incorporate into your gyaru outfits, if any?
Q: When it comes to makeup, what’s your go-to look for achieving a gyaru vibe?
Q: How important is hair in the gyaru look for you? Do you have any favorite hairstyles or hair care tips?
Q: Do you have a favorite brand or store where you shop for gyaru clothes and accessories?
Q: What’s your approach to mixing colors and patterns in gyaru fashion? Any rules you follow or is it all about experimentation?
Q: Are there any influencers, celebrities, or public figures who inspire your gyaru style?
Q: How do you connect with other people who share an interest in gyaru fashion? Are there any online communities or social media platforms that help you stay inspired?
Q: Do you have any advice for someone interested in trying out gyaru fashion for the first time?
Q: Looking ahead, where do you see your style evolving? Are there any future trends or aspects of gyaru fashion you’re excited to explore?
Thank you for reading my interview!
I am excited to read all of your answers!!
