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Ganguro
Ganguro appeared in Japan in 1997, the prominent feature of this new look is dark skin, white make-up, blonde or light hair and flashy colourful clothes. Among all of these features, dark skin was something really new, a taboo, that those girls shattered. To explain that, I must say first that in Japan people are really 'obsessed' with pale skin, ever since ancient time women with pale-white skin were the symbol of beauty, pureness, and go(o)dness. While, on the other hand, people with dark skin were treated badly, and were most low-class.
From the contact with other streetstyles ganguro assimilates some important traits: a passion for tanning from the surfers and a dance-music fascination for African American culture. The commercial and mediatic spread of of these preferences is exemplified primarily by the singer Namie Amuro, imitated by a lot of fans, but ganguro is a much more exaggerated style compared to Amuro.
(This is Namie Amuro- Ganguro Style)
To describe the new style were used three terms: ganguro, gan (face) kuro (black) or gangan (very) kuro (black), which is the generic and most used term, gonguro, gon (super) kuro (black) and yamamba [often abbreviated in mamba], "witch of the mountain", a figure of japanese popular tradition canonized by Noh and Kabuki theaters.
The ganguro look is a combination of childishness and sex appeal, a summary of the figure of the lolita, passive, sweet, asexual and of the figure of a sexually aggressive woman, the 80s bodikon: primary or pastel colors, kawaii accessories, characters like Hello Kitty and bows combine with tight and body revealing clothes and generous exhibition of the body. The style is divided, regardless of age, in:
1) barbie, characterized by loose socks, solid colors (pink, red, yellow, white), synthetic materials and short dresses.
2) roko (contraction of the world local),
which shows the influence of surfer look and is sportier and more
natural-ethnic, characterized by short skirts (especially jeans),
T-shirts with polka dots or floral designs, accessories made of wood
and light colors [a brand based on this style still exists, it's Cocolulu]
3) retoro
(retro), that is reminiscent of the '70s with hippie and psychedelic
influences, featuring bell bottom trousers, second-hand garments, rainbow shirts [a brand that still exists that refers to this style is Laguna Moon]
4) Otona, oneesan, shisuta (adult) style is considered more sexy and cool, with knee lenght skirts, darker colors and high heels instead of wedges. burakkukei is part of this style. It is a gyaru style that refer explicitly to the African Americans models and ethnic styles, R&B, funky and hip-hop, with dreadlocked hair, skintight garments and dark makeup on eyes and lips.
Ganguro most likely dress up with a summer style all over the year, with colorful printed clothes (often with flowers) and lots of accessories. Many magazines in Japan provide a make-up tutorial and I find one for you too!
Does all of this ring a bell or two? Maybe you remember the manga 'Gals', the very bible of everything Gyaru and different. If you didn't, you should check it out!
Source: http://conigliodellamoda.blogspot.it/
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