Project description:
A fashion magazine about girly fashion in the late 90s-2000s, featuring J-fashion subcultures and western subcultures.
Inspiration
Larme Magazine and Vivi Magazine
Audience: feminine audience with interests of 2000s J-fashion and other subculture mentioned.
Contributor compensation: a physical book. Extra profit will be distributed based on the contribution.
Any accounting loss would be project owner's responsibility.
Aim of this book: to educate readers about J-fashion subculture and debunk misconceptions about each subculture especially jirai kei if included.
Book format: A4/B5 Magazine, Glossy Cover, Matte Paper and Bookpaper for some pages. Roughly 30-40 pages.
Project duration: 10 months (roughly 2 CF)
Just finished Comifuro. It was a blast! Saw a Facebook post about gyaru subculture, and saw some lolita and decora too. I can see the Y2K J-fashion is resurging here and it's pretty crazy how this would go. There will be a gathering this weekend, and I can't wait to ask more for more materials. Also will blast interest filling form this weekend. Gotta speed up things. But I have a plan in mind to just starting small first, gathering and growing the audience is the goal here, and magazine is the final product of it. I think social media is a must, then starting small by making merchandise and small A5 printed booklets just promoting J-fashion for a teaser. I think that's a good idea for now. Gotta gather more second opinions from many sources for sure.
Okay, I finally interview one person who knows a lot about Lolita fashion. It was pretty cool to know things that I don't know before. And holy this is not a cheap hobby, like any other hobbies. But I'm just very surprised with what people would pay for the coord. The misconceptions tho, yeah I guess it is pretty common. But I never thought people would mistaken a coord that totally look like lolita and then call it jirai kei just because it's pink and black. :ducksmoke: I think I need to expand more to another subculture, but I need to build confidence if I am going to interview someone who is not my mutual. So far, the research process has progressed, and I want to know more about this.
Made a proper question list for interview. I think this is one of those times I sketch my thoughts again with pencil and paper; mind map always help greatly in brainstorming as usual. Already asked for second opinions since I came from STEM world and I know nothing about social humanities research process.
I finally started a proper research process of J-fashion. I started from Lolita subculture, because that seems to be the subculture that already has a communnity here, and there are many reliable sources online. I think if I'm going to take it easy, it will take roughly a month to do so. Hence, I need to be more diligent and not taking segue in my research process wkwk. But at least, it's moving right now.
History
Gyaru(ギャル) is a subculture that comes from a term called "gal" in Japanese. Before Heisei era, this words represent a lively woman — trendy and style-savvy. During 1990s-2000s ‐ just after the Japan economic bubble burst, gyaru became the symbol of societal norm resistance. Bold makeup, tanned skin, and bleached hair color is a statement against the conservative Japanese women standards: pale skin and black hair. This subculture is usually represented by bold makeups and the overall vibe, rather than wearing a specific fashion. Gyaru is all about challenging societal norms by creating bold and unapologetic identity that looks flashy to the crowd.
Makeup
Before gyaru makeup (right) and after (left)
Unlike other subculture where fashion coord is the key to be distinctive, gyaru style utilizes makeup as its core feature. Gyaru keeps evolves through years, but the common feature of gyaru makeup is the eye-enlarging makeup. The characteristics is matte foundation, silver or golden eye shadow, dark eyelash on upper and lower eyelid, pale or cool colored lips, and colored round contacts. There has been many variation of this rules too, for example black eyeshadow is pretty common. Appearance of double eyelids also contribute to this appeareance so the eyes looks enlarged than normal. The hair color of gyaru is also opposing against the traditional Japanese beauty standards, with bleached hair and unnatural shade of blonde; sometimes pink and silver dyes.
Substyles
Althugh gyaru is mainly defined by overall styling vibe, there are multiple styles popular among the subculture.
Classic
Amekaji *considered unactive*