Lolita Fashion

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Lolita is one of the most popular fashion trends from Japan that is influenced by England's Victorian era and fashion that emerged from the 1830's to the 1900's. The clothing can vary from gothic to classic or sweet. Also this fashion trend derives from the Rococo period which was an exuberant decorative style from the 18th century. Can't forget to mention that Lolita is another sub-culture of the Harajuku Fashion style.


Hair/Hairstyles:

• bonnets
• hair bows
• sometimes wigs

Makeup consists of:

• often pale makeup
• soft pink/rosy cheeks
• soft pink lips or lipgloss
• pastel color eyeshadow
• fake eyelashes

Outfits:

• big skirts made with petticoats or crinoline
• blouse (long sleeve or short)
• big dresses (knee length) 
• knee socks, ankle socks or tights
• high heels or flat shoes with bows
• jump skirts
• frills, ribbons and lace

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Lolita fashion, as we can see is influenced from the western fashion culture. It's said that some of the inspiration for this trend comes from the Alice in Wonderland novel, Marie Antoinette from the Rococo era, and The Rose of Versailles.

Also, just like in many other Japanese Fashion styles, Lolita is said to be another way of escaping the rules from society that forces everyone to dress and act a certain way according to age, gender and even economical status. The way for young people to rebel from the "normal" in this case is by wearing a more innocent look that is also influenced by western fashion and also a fantasy style fashion.

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Different from other styles like Gyaru, Lolitas started creating their own outfits by hand, or DIY (Do-it-Yourself). So we can definitely see that people from any social status would participate in this fashion trend, they would also get them second hand. But as the years passed, more stores started selling this type of clothing and the DIY side of the Lolita became less popular. Still, this is a way to let creativity run free and make something unique!

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References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion

Sources for the images are below each of them.


Other sub-cultures related to Lolita, are Harajuku, Sweet Lolita, Gothic Lolita and more.
Check the tags for more information that I will soon share about those.

Himekaji

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Himekaji is one of the many sub-cultures that come from the Gyaru. The word "hime"means princess in Japanese, and the word "kaji"is an abbreviation form of the word 
"casual" in English. Both words together can be translated to "casual princess".  

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Hair/Hairstyles:

• bleached blonde or light brown shades of haircolor
• curls in all the hair or straight as well, just put down
• can be short or long hair

Makeup consists of:

• fake eyelashes (not as thick and full as Gyaru use them)
• soft pink blush
• glossy and soft pink looking lips or natural color

Outfits:

• skirts or jumper skirts
• dresses
• a lot of pink
• flower prints, lace and tulles
• sometimes furry or fluffy decorations in the clothing

Accessories/Other: 

• long natural nails, sometimes with decorations on them
• necklaces, earrings and small hair accessories
• not many rings or bracelets
• small side bags mostly
• plain socks or with lace decorations
• ribbons

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This beautiful fashion style consists of a princess aesthetic basically, very close to himegyaru but a bit less complicated and as the same name describes, a more casual way.  A sweet and soft look, super girly and comfortable.

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References:

http://gyaru-109.wikia.com/wiki/Himekaji

http://heartbreakcherry.blogspot.com/2017/01/himekaji-basics.html

Sources for the images are below each of them.


Other sub-cultures related to Himekaji, Gyaru and Gyaruo are Kogyaru, Yamanba, Manba, Ganguro, Ganjiro. Check the tags for more information that I will soon share about those.

Gyaru and Gyaruo

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The word Gyaru is an English literal translation for "gal" and it dates back to the 1970's from a jeans brand called "gurls". Popularity increased by the 2000's and still going in actuality. This Japanese Fashion trend and lifestyle has kept on changing over the years and dividing into different sub-cultures and variations.

Makeup consists of:

• heavy makeup
• fake tan
• white concealer in their eyes and lips

Hair/Hairstyles:

• light colored hair dyes like brown or blonde
• mostly straightened and with bangs

Outfits:

• Gyaru style their uniforms differently as a form of rebellion
• short skirts
• European luxury bags
• loose socks

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For Gyaru, their school uniform wasn't just something mandatory, they considered it part of their outfit so it would be worn even after school hours. Skirt would be adjusted from their mandatory knee-length into mini skirts, loose socks added, fake tan, and dying their hair as a rebel way to go against extreme school rules, contrary to what a "normal"student should look like. 

Even though Gyaru refers mostly to girls, there is also a male counter-part called Gyaruo or Gyaru-oh. These are boys that want to hang out with Gyaru girls so their style is basically the same and they love to party! 

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The Gyaru and Gyaruo and other related sub-cultures consisted of (mostly) wealthy youngsters and students, during Japan's financial crisis after inflation (the Japanese Bubble Period), that could afford expensive clothes. This was but a reflection of social class and fashion and their way to show their wealth after an economical crisis. [Note that by that time, many of the kids following this fashion trend were students attending private schools and had a higher economical status than normal students.]

Now, the Gyaru and it's sub-cultures don't consist only of high class groups. The majority of Gyaru and Kogyaru allows higher class and middle class people. But as the popularity and widespread of this fashion trend grows, anyone from any class can be a Gyaru. There are stores in Japan (and other countries of course) that have started selling more affordable clothing and accessories for everyone who wants to enjoy Gyaru's fashion.

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The young boys in Gyaruo follow the same basics of fashion and style of the Gyaru, as I mentioned before but in a more gritty and rough way. Always in a party attitude, their music ranges between trance, eurobeat and para para dancing. As for their hair, they choose to have light brown, silver-ish or pink hair color.

Because of their style and not following the Traditional Japanese fashion, Gyaru and Gyaruo are considered rebellious, mostly by the older generations. 

     

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References:
http://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/subcultures-and-scenes/gyaru/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_asset_price_bubble
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyaru
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyaruo

Sources for the images are below each of them.


Other sub-cultures related to Gyaru and Gyaruo are Kogyaru, Yamanba, Manba, Ganguro, Ganjiro. Check the tags for more information that I will soon share about those.