Senior Project Paper

I figured that with me going to start on alot of senior project....projects, I might as well share my actual paper with everyone. It's not great, I will warn you now. I wrote this in about a week with very basic notes because my teacher wouldn't understand this, most likely. I looked back at it, a whole year later, and I wonder....What the hell am I talking about? I literally took what I saw....an I don't even.. The paper is pretty good for someone who has no idea who the fashion is. It covers basics and doesn't really go all out. But I know alot more than I did when I wrote it and it suprises me how little I did know. Also, when you (Source #), ignore it. It's to match up with the actual research for the paper, which I did not post. So without further ado, I present my Senior Project Paper.

Japan is full of items that we Americans use today. Anime, the Japanese form of a cartoon, ramen noodles, and most importantly, clothing. Sometimes, though, the clothing can branch out in to ways of life. Like our Goths and preps of our school system, these people have lives revolve around the clothing. Gyaru or gal fashion, Lolita, Fairy Kei, and Visual Kei all revolve around the clothing and, sometimes, it becomes a lifestyle. The best thing about the culture is that you don’t have to stick with one particular fashion; there are actually subcultures within the subcultures.

Gyaru or gal, the English translation for the word, fashion is an interesting type of subculture.  First and foremost it’s not cosplay, getting dressed up in costume or fashion for fun. And secondly, anyone can be Gyaru. It’s not limited to just Asians, or skinny girls. It can be big or small, short or tall. But it does get expensive with everything you need to do. Clothing, hair, shoes, accessories, nails, etc… You’ve got to take care of it on a regular basis. No one wakes up perfect looking. A shop girl interviewed by Universal Doll, a gyaru blog, spent 5 hours that morning getting ready which means she possibly got up at 4 in the morning to get ready.

Now up keep is a harder than it seems. Most people would think getting their hair done would be a trim. No, for gyaru girls hair must be done to a tee and is often bleached. Their hair is done every month for about 6000 yen to 16000 yen. Now that may not sound like a lot and honestly it wasn’t back when the economy was kicking. Then is might have cost 30 to 100 dollars. Now it’ll be about 70 to 200 dollars just for a haircut and dye. Nails are a different story. Most think that getting their nails done is just paint and maybe a bit of art. But to a gyaru gal it’s a whole lot more. It’s all about the art. All gals need the art for their nails, from sweet treats, such as lollipops and tiny cupcakes being glued on, to giant crystals in intricate patterns. But all of that gets really expensive so what do gals do? Coupons and lots of them, from magazines to websites, girls need them to keep up with all their needs for the sake of fashion. (Source 2). But even so, a gal grows up eventually and moves on to college. But she doesn’t have to get out of gyaru just because she’s older. She can attend Blea, a college and a high school that is supposedly called a gal school (Source 2).  There they can learn gal trades for future jobs such as nail art, hair styling, and even decoden. Decoden is the art of applying jewels, cabochons, and other items to different items. Some of the more popular items to deco are phone cases, jewelry boxes, and even nails. But even so all gals have one common goal; to become a shop girl. It’s most gyarus dream to be in apparel (Source 2).

But like all great subcultures, there are subtypes with in. One of a gyaru subtypes is called Hime Gyaru or Princess Gal. Hime means princess when translated from Japanese to English and that’s what the style tries to portray (Source 3). They’re influenced by the Rococo era of France European of royalty (Source 1). Another type, which would describe many high school girls, would be Kogyaru which is a girl who dresses gyaru even during school by wearing her skirt shorter, having dyed hair, and super loose socks. But people think that gyaru that is just for girls is wrong. Gyaruo is the male counterpart for the girls (Source 3).

But there are other fashions in line; Such as Lolita, which appeared around the 1980s (Source 6). Using influences from the Victorian of England and the Rococo era of France, they combine that elegance to make one doll like figure not slutty as the word connation may say because of Nobakov’s book (Source 6). Now there are many terms you need to know to be a lolita. There’s caplet, which is basically a small but elegant cape that’s used to cover your shoulders (Source 8). There are JSK which is the shortened abbreviation of Jumperskirt. Then there are OPS or One Pieces, which are like jumperskirts that can be worn without a blouse (Source 8). The big difference is that Ops usually have sleeves and a jumperskirt usually has just straps. But there are many normal  things such as bows, skirts, and coats. Coats in the lolita world are a bit different though. They’re heavier, longer, and flare out to accommodate the poufy skirt. But what gives the skirt the cupcake or a-line poof that you see in all lolitas? It’s a petticoat (Source 8) that’s made out of tulle or organza. Next part of lolita fashion is the shoes. All the brands release shoes in different styles but the basic shoe style is the Mary Jane (Source 8). But you need more to a lolita outfit than just a skirt and shoes. You need a blouse to bring together an outfit. Try to find something cute but elegant (Source 8). There’s also the use of hair accessories to complement an outfit. So as you can see, Lolita is an expensive hobby (Source 8).

Now like in Gyaru, there are subtypes. The first type to emerge was Gothic Lolita, which was created by Mana of Malice Mizer, a J-pop band. It references Western Goth fashion and also gives off the aura of the Victorian Goth (Source 8). My personal favorite is Sweet Lolita which is the most over the top of all the Lolita types (Source 6). But in contrast it’s also the most childlike with its pastel colors, bows, lace, and many frills (Source 6). Hime Lolita is a lot like Hime Gyaru but it incorporates all the elements of Lolita into it instead. Shiro and Kuro Lolitas are can be of any style as long as the shiro is an all white outfit and kuro is an all black one. Classic Lolita is more demure of all the styles, looking like a dress from a church or garden party with all the floral prints (Source 6). But while most dresses in the Lolita world have a cupcake shaped skirt, classic dresses have a more a-line shape to them. Sailor Lolita is inspired by the sailor style uniforms that many Japanese students wear (Source 6). Wa Lolita is influenced by the kimono, giving off the traditional Japanese feel (Source 6). A more difficult style to pull of is punk Lolita, incorporating all the elements of Eastern punk and Lolita (Source 6). There’s also the Guro or Grotesque Lolita and that sounds like the name, disgusting but still cute (source 6). And the newest style to appear on the Lolita scene is Pirate Lolita and yes….it’s exactly what you think it is. Take the poufy skirt and blouse and just put a historical and fantasy pirate outfits. If you think that Lolita is only for girls, well that’s also wrong. There’s a style that copies the younger boys like knickers and caps, calling this trend Ouji or Boystyle (source 6). Just remember that Lolita is not cosplay, costume play, or a costume in general!

Many lolitas can’t stand not having Lolita in their life. It’s not desperation; it’s just a love of the fashion. Sooner or later, it becomes their life and they become a lifestyle Lolita. And yes, just because you have a love for the fashion doesn’t mean you don’t have a life. Mostly you try to emulate the fashions’ beginnings in the Victorian and Rococo era with tea parties (Source 9) and other lovely crafts, such as embroidery. And as many lolitas live like this everyday, most choose to wear Lolita everyday. As mentioned before Lolita is an expensive hobby and to afford clothing that often is crazy. But one of the things to have is a strong petticoat that will stick with you through thick and thin (Source 9). Most lifestyle lolitas actually have blogs, talking about how they live their lives, making them beautiful everyday.

Now we move on to Fairy Kei, a style in my opinion that looks like Claries and Hello Kitty had a baby and that baby just threw up. It’s a mess of rainbows and girliness combined with an 80’s pop (Source 10). Sebastian Masudea, who opened the fairy kei stores of 6% Doki Doki and Nile Perch, is said to have ushered the style in (Source 10). Many of the clothing are from the American 80’s era of crazy colors and classic characters such as Barbie, Popples, and even My Little Pony (Source 11).

Visual Kei is our final fashion that we will cover. Now the “visual” aspects of things come from the emphasis on the appearance of the performer (Source 13). Many Japanese Rock bands or J-Rock bands have a lot of visual kei aspects such as wild costumes, weird and strange decorations, dyeing their hair, and even wearing makeup (yes even the guys) (Source 13). 

So in conclusion, there are many subcultures of America but when you look at a different country,

you realize that there are more than what you already have. So instead of wearing Emo or Goth, try

Fairy Kei or Gothic Lolita. Now you’re not limited to just these fashions. There are tons of other

subcultures that you can enjoy and love the life.

Ok...Blogspot messed up my spacing -__- Ru'.