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Japan-inspired
fashion becomes popular in America
It
was already popular in Asia
 So
much is being talked about the kogals (kogyaru
is another term used)
from Japan, that the world is ignoring the emergence of the global
phenomenon inspired by Japanese teenage girls.
These girls that are spread out all over the world from
Taiwan,
Malaysia, Singapore, to Spain to Mexico to the United
States are now drawing attention of their parents and friends who
do not know what these girls are up to.
While these gaijin kogals are a very small number,
it would not be surprising to see their numbers multiply
exponentially. After
all, Hello Kitty is as popular outside Japan as it is in Japan.
Isn’t she
cute and wild?
Well, so are the kogals?
Can girls all over the world eventually connect with the kogal
style and fashion? Well some of
them are definitely attracted to elements of it while others have
completely transformed their styles to match with that of the kogals.
We recently spoke to some of these girls.
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Look
what Chelsea is doing somewhere in the
Bible belt in the United
States, “I have absolutely no Japanese heritage, but I am quite
fond of Japanese
culture. In
fact, it has influenced my clothing style that I feel expresses
who I am today, as well as my preference in music.
Unique nylons or thigh-highs of all colors and designs;
little pleated
skirts coupled with cute
tops; jumpers and
gothic-style
dresses. I'm
also known to wear tiny angel-wings on my back, or a cute backpack
with blue-feathered wings attached.
One of my trademarks of several years has been a cat-ears
headband. I took a liking to anime characters with catlike
features, and people have always told me I act like a feline, so
it seemed to fit. Even
these small gimmicks earn me the treatment awarded a
circus freak.
By no means do I wear revealing outfits that would liken me
to a prostitute, but I've been treated as if I AM one. Somehow a
pair of knee-high,
flat-soled
black leather boots accompanied by
fishnet
stockings and a normal schoolgirl skirt makes me a bad. I get no respect in
public for dressing the way I do.
Indeed, proprietors of most shops or restaurants eye me
like a hawk, as if I'm a thief or an
alien. People mistaking me as
a hooker though no one has never actually accosted me, but I know they've
thought about it, and some of them mutter crudely to me in
passing. It
doesn't help that (for some foolish reason) people mistake me as
being partially or wholly Japanese. The fact that I like the
clothes, the gimmicks, the language and culture means I'm FROM
there? I am seriously concerned that something WOULD happen to me
especially since I've taken a liking to platform shoes, and I
often wear colored hair extensions similar to the
hairstyles
"Japanese street fashion" has made so popular.”
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Of
course this type of treatment given to
teenagers is unforgivable.
Of course, it makes sense that parents control how
provocatively
teenagers can dress (Hulk Hogan did control how
Brooke Hogan dressed for a while) but merely critiquing a style
because it is not the norm is against the rights of young.
Girls all over the world are fascinated by the freedom that
Japanese girls have in how they dress.
Plus they are impressed by the creativity of these girls
– after all many of them create their own unique styles and are
not afraid to prepare their own dresses.
Isn’t true that major brands now rush to Japan for
inspiration?
Michelle,
a young American girl, also admires the kogal and ganguro
styles. She tells us, “I love to see people who have their
own style and do something different. Certainly as a group, kogals
all share similarities--trying to be as *cute* as humanly
possible, and the ganguro girls with their distinctive
suntans, hair-colors, and wild
makeup all have some things in
common, but each girl creates the look a little differently.
I have developed a personal style similar to the kogal
look. I love very bright colors, unusual combinations of
patterns, short
skirts, and complicated hairstyles inspired by
anime characters. Most other women living in the Mid-west
wear very sensible, muted colors, very basic styles, and simple
haircuts. Lots of GAP clothing. I love knowing that no
one else will show up at a party wearing the same outfit I have
on. I don't think it
is entirely out of malice or intent to annoy that kogals
dress oddly. I know I get a lot of fun out of wearing very
strange clothes. It is like playing dress-up every day!
I am sure many kogals get extra fun out of knowing that
their outfits are shocking. I
sometimes truly enjoy when I get confused looks from conservative
people--but I don't put on a
pink, pleated miniskirt because it
will bother some people. I put it on because I think it
looks cute.”
Recommended links: Life
of an exchange student in Japan Japanese
motor bikes in Asia
Anime fashion
contacts
Japan fashion week
Japanese holiday
makeup
Tokyo fashion
Tokyo Girls
collection
Anna Sui Beach
collection
Uniqlo Jill
Sander collection
Japanese spring
fashion
Hayden Panettiere Hello Kitty bikini
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