why I almost gave up on gyaru and why I didn't

 

Okaaayyy...I never fully gave up...

Those who know me for a longer time, know it has been more a back and forth.

But I personally consider one big break up: before my isolation phase.

It was right after covid, the gaijin community was more or less split, everyone argued and put themselves into little groups and I got a new job.

It has also been about my 10th year circa that I knew about gyaru and spent time with the fashion.

And I put it the way it is: I was sick of it.

I was sick of scrolling through the same pictures on ig or pinterest.

I was sick of the debating and arguing, because it has been the same things in a hamster wheel.

I was sick of not fitting into brands and clothes.

And I was sick of the world and social media in general..

I needed a break and that was such a big benefit to me.

I gained inspo from other sources, I was more open to experiment with different niches and styles outside of gyaru and when you are not "forcing" yourself to fit into a picture, you give yourself more freedom to develop your own style..

Figuring out what you like, what you dislike..

As weird and contradicting as it sounds...not being gyaru for a while made me a better gal.

Because now I see it from a different perspective.

It was never about substyles or being OTT..

Gyaru have always been trendsetters, fashionistas and each of them had their own personal style.

I actually want to encourage everyone to wear stuff that is not typical gyaru, but focusing on making their own wardrobe work.

Here is why I came back though:

I was bored at some point,

Bored of not having someone to chat with.

Bored of wearing "modest" clothing without that extra kick.

Bored of natural meikus.

I found my space in the gyaru fashion because that's who I am.

The whole substyle/community/debating-culture that revolved around it took the joy away from me.

What usually was supposed to be favourite hobby has become some sort of mask.

The ongoing topic about what is gyaru and how does it look like, unconsciously pressured me to question wether I was "gyaru enough" to count myself in or not...slightly pressuring me to wear outfits or styles that I might like looking at, but didn't feel comfortable in.

I barely recognized myself tbh.

I felt like pushing myself into some sort of costume.

But that is not who I was before.

I was excited about makeup and creating looks and I loved fashion (all sorts of fashion) and I loved going through magazines and watching models and going shopping and creating collages and just being creative with expression myself through my looks.

I missed doing heavy makeup.

I missed deco nails.

I missed wearing sexy clothes and being playful.

I missed the excited joy you have with gyaru.

Gyaru is actually so much fun if it doesn't revolve around pressure or masking.

I want to spend more time doing it.

My blog being the number one "playground" for now to express myself.

In the end gyaru is not a goal but a journey.