Fashion
The Heisei era songstress becomes a fashion leader! Fur tails and leopard prints are in trend
In the early 2000s, influenced by the Heisei era songstress "Ayu" aka Ayumi Hamasaki, the shiro gal boom arrived!
Shiro gals () imitating Ayu's fashion, from hairstyles and makeup to clothing, became popularly known as "Ayu-style shiro gals".
.Shiro gal... "Shiro gal" refers to gals who do not tan their skin and rather strive for fair skin. It is used as the opposite of "kuro gal" who tans their skin.
What were the popular coordinates among Ayu-style shiro gals?
Leopard print dress
Although today leopard print is synonymous with gals, it was a pattern that had been avoided by gals until Ayu-style shiro gals made it popular.
This is because until then, leopard print was not considered cool.
When Ayu wore a leopard print outfit on the jacket photo of her album "Duty" released in 2000, it became explosively popular.
「Duty」2000/9/27発売、レーベル：avex trax
ジャケット写真：浜崎あゆみ
During the 2000s when leopard print was popular, it was not only clothes but also accessories that were in trend!
There were also gals who collected many leopard print items during the boom.
Camouflage print T-shirt and G-pants
Similar to leopard print, camouflage print was also avoided but gained attention due to Ayu's influence.
The popular coordinate was a T-shirt with a camouflage pattern paired with G-pants and a fur tail, accessorized with a thick belt.
T-shirt with patches and low-rise jeans
The coordinate of a T-shirt with patches and distressed low-rise jeans() that Ayu wore also became popular among ayu-style shiro gals.
The point is to tie the cute T-shirt with patches with a hair tie and expose the midriff!
Distressed vintage-style denim for low-rise jeans is good!
Add a fur tail and a sparkling chain belt to complete the pop and casual Ayu-style coordinate.
.Low-rise jeans... refers to jeans with a shallow rise (from the crotch to the waist). It is used as the opposite of high-rise(high-waist).
During this era, the "midriff-baring look" was popular, and low-rise jeans that created a clean impression around the waistline (making the wearer look slender) were popular.
What were the trendy items among Ayu-style shiro gals?
Leopard print items
The "leopard print" that became explosively popular among Ayu-style shiro gals was not only used in clothing but also in fashion accessories such as bags.
It later became a pattern that symbolized gals and is still popular today.
Camouflage print items
Many gals incorporated camouflage print, which looked cool, into their tops such as T-shirts.
Ayu wearing it during her concerts also contributed to the long-lasting camouflage print trend.
T-shirts with patches
T-shirts with midriff-baring and patches were in fashion, and some gals even remade plain T-shirts by adding patches or cutting the hem to a mini length.
To avoid looking too plain, at least 5-6 patches were necessary!
To expose the midriff, they either cut the T-shirt or tied the sides with a hair tie to create a mini length.
Fur tails (fur charms)
The "tail" that Ayu often wore at that time was popular as a cute one-point accessory that could be added just by attaching it to the waist.
Not only as a key holder but also as a strap for mobile phones, it was highly popular.
Sunglasses
Ayu wore various designs of sunglasses in off-shots. Thanks to Ayu's influence, oversized sunglasses were also lined up at miscellaneous goods stores and apparel shops at that time.
Oversized sunglasses could be an accent to a coordinate and made the wearer's face look smaller, so it was one of the items that Ayu-style shiro gals often incorporated.
Ayu was a fashion leader with tremendous popularity, to the extent that Shibuya gals were dyed in Ayu's color.
The fashion that Ayu created is still popular today and is often featured in the media.
