How to be A Kogal! (Kyo Garu)

Kogals (kogyaru, lit. “small/child girl”) are a subculture of girls and young women in urban Japan, one of several types of so-called gals. In general, the kogal “look” roughly approximates a sun-tanned California Valley girl, and indeed, the similarities between the two extend to the linguistic, for both subcultures have derived entire sets of slang terms (“ko-gyaru-go”). Kogals are not to be confused with the ganguro subculture, although they are similar.

Kogals fashion are perhaps the closest thing to the word “normal” in Japanese fashion sense - the spoilt brat fashion sense that you see all over American and all americanized countries… it screams one word with this sense of fashion: MATERIALISM.

Although, many of you would like to differ that it’s “normal” to me because I’m used to the western fashion sense. True. In Japan, the term normal is a very subjective thing and I agree. Note that i quoted the word normal because in Japan, normal is weird and it’s weird being normal…….hmm.
Anyway, how would you like to be a Kogal? A Kogal looks like the typical Californian surfer babe in miniskirts and bikini tops. So, for the Californian babe look to qualify as a Kogal, here are some tips below:

1. Stock your wardrobe with tank tops, spagetti straps, little sun-dresses and micromini skirts, skorts and shorts.

2. Beach slippers (i.e. Crocs are pretty “in” right now with beach babes, Jandals too), kitty heels, and puma trainers (make sure they’re flats).

3. Color your hair sun kissed blond, streak them to make them look really sun kissed like those beach babes.

4. Go for a bi-weekly tan - go crazy with it.

5. Buy copious amount of make up from your fav. brands (i.e. Channel, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura, Kanebo, Tommy Hilfiger, Issey Miyake perfumes etc etc)

6. WEAR copious amount of make up - use fake eyelashes pls.

7. Accessorise with bling blings

8. Get a great bag to go with the outfits, make that maybe 10 different bags of your fav. brands (i.e. Kipling, Coach, Nine West, Channel, LV, Georgio Armani, Escada, etc etc)

9. Hang out at Shibuya and pretend to titter around shopping. Don’t forget your large Paris Hilton sunglasses to go with it.

10. Spend, spend, spend like a rich daddy’s girl.
Follow these 10 tips and you’re on your way to be a Kogal.

Another interesting fact, since the Kogal standards of living is so high (branded clothes and accessories), often times the supplement their living style by being in questionable activities to earn the extra income.

Critics of the Kogal subculture decry its materialism as reflecting a larger psychological or spiritual emptiness in modern Japanese life. Some kogals support their lifestyle with allowances from wealthy parents, living a “freeter” or “parasite single” existence that grates against traditional principles of duty and industry. A small minority appear in pornography to finance their habits. More may engage in the practice of “compensated dating”, or enjo kosai, which may at times border on quasi-legal prostitution. Internet-based usage of this term has led some Western observers to the mistake of believing that “kogal” means “prostitute”.

Well, don’t let it deter you. You don’t have to do all these things - dressing up as a Kogal is just for fun and can be part of your dress up planner on different weeks..:) Although, those tan can be horribly out of place….