In the 2010s, many girls, inspired by the fashion of Kana Nishino (referred to as Kanayan), incorporated styles like the "boater hat" and "dungarees shirt" into their outfits, creating a sweet and girly look.
Here, we'll introduce some of the popular coordinates and items that were often seen on the streets of Shibuya, worn by the Kanayan-style gals.
What kind of coordinates became popular among the Kana Nishino-inspired gals?
Floral mini-dress paired with a dungarees shirt
Brands popular among the sweet-looking gals, such as those found in 109 like LIZ LISA and Dazzlin, had a plethora of floral mini dresses for sale.
While the floral mini dress itself gives a cute impression, back in the day, pairing it with a "dungarees shirt" was a staple style.
Though denim jackets were also popular, I remember the dungarees shirt being overwhelmingly more so.
Adding to this were the trending "boater hat" and "gladiator sandals"() or "sabot sandals"(), culminating in the quintessential Kanayan-style girly look.
.Gladiator Sandals: Sandals that combine multiple thin leather straps covering from the top of the foot to the ankle. They are also sometimes referred to as "bone sandals" because some designs resemble ribs, among other woven designs.
.Sabot Sandals: Sandals that cover from the toes to the top of the foot, leaving the ankle to the heel exposed. The shape of Crocs sandals is a prime example of sabot sandals. For the gal style, it's common for these sandals to have heels.
Western Vest x Girly Dress
Many ama-gals in Shibuya wore coordinates that paired girly chiffon dresses or floral dresses with a Western-style vest and boater hat, resulting in a Western-themed look.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every "ama-gal" (sweet-looking gal) of that time had worn this style at least once.
For footwear, they often chose gladiator sandals or Western boots ().
.Western Boots: Western boots refer to the long boots that American cowboys used for horseback riding, also known as "cowboy boots." The designs made of brown leather with embroidery on the shaft were especially popular.
High-waisted Skirt x boater hat or Bunny Ear Headband
Coordinates pairing a simple white top with a denim skirt or a denim shirt with a white chiffon skirt were also in vogue.
A wide belt was a must-have for the waist area, both for its slimming effect and as a fashion accent.
For hairstyles, loose waves were the trend, and when paired with a boater hat or a bunny ear headband, the Kanayan-style girly look was complete!
Popular Items Every "Ama-gal" Had?
Floral Dresses
Around 2010, pastel-colored floral dresses were all the rage.
Especially during the spring and summer, the streets were brimming with floral patterns. It was as if every "ama-gal" of the time had one; such was the popularity of the floral design.
Dungaree Shirts
A dungaree shirt refers to a shirt made of dungaree fabric (a material woven with colored horizontal threads and white vertical threads).
It's characterized by being lighter in texture and color than regular denim.
Dungaree shirts, versatile items wearable as both outerwear and tops, were hugely popular.
They particularly complemented floral and chiffon outfits, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say almost every girl who loved girly fashion wore them.
Around the peak of their popularity in 2010, pairing them with fluffy dresses or mini skirts and emphasizing the waist with a wide belt was the go-to style.
Boater hats
Boater hats refer to straw hats characterized by their flat top crown and brim.
They became highly fashionable around 2010 during the Kanayan (Kana Nishino) boom.
Incorporating these hats instantly made one's outfit trendy, and countless "ama-gal" wore them with enthusiasm.
Bunny Ear Hair Accessories
These are wire headbands shaped like bunny ears.
Around 2010, they were as big a hit as boater hat.
With a rich variety of designs and an affordable price tag of around 1,000 yen, it seemed every "gal" owned one or more.
The Kana Nishino-inspired fashion, particularly the boater hat, was a massive hit in the history of "gal" style. Its girlish allure captivated many "ama-gal."
