Torn but Moving Forward

Its been a weird couple of years. Though a lot of activity from my part has slowed down, save for attending some anime cons and a few events here and there and some blogging and article writing for Galvip and pix for SugarGamers, I plan to do a bit more for a lil while I think...

With about 7 derpy years under my belt in the gyaru comms, the highs and lows of (gyaru) circle life and trying to keep it together (I get really passionate about things at times :P ), the highs and lows of young adulthood regardless of being in a subculture, not knowing what I REALLY wanted to do in college or out of it{professionally speaking}, helping make events and promoting them while at times tiring out, its still a bit to process even after all this time. Allthewhile doing so, I am still trying to push forward as fast while wondering if I should try and slow down and rest. Some days, it feels as if I am living a double life! Bold fashioned gyaru life and normal out of college life.

I was told to (and also a part of me wanted to) stop with all my extracurricular activities and focus on my art career.{what am I, a lil kid still? haha}

That would mean:
NO blogging
NO events
NO gyaru related anything
prolly no more conventions

But then a part of me wants to still do it, but tie it into what I've learned at Columbia  I can see it, a faint vision, kinda fuzzy still, a bit patchy. It makes me smile, but then I wonder if its even worth it or just start over.

A few pictures of gal me2s over time, from about '09-'14

I know things will not be the same as the highs during those years, that maybe circle life just isn't a thing, but they were cherishable memories to me. Time moves on,things change, people come and go, shit happens, you learn from it, even if some of the memories still sting, you try and get over it.

Its no use livin' in the past, though I find myself doing that maybe all the time. So, I try to focus on the present and look forward to a brighter future. What does the future bring?  Maybe its one that sparkles and shines like rhinestone studded nails that barely allow you to function, and more glamorous than any sujimori-ed weave to grace any gal's head.

Wish me luck, gals!

Anime Expo 2014

Anime Expo 2014... Gee whiz. I met a lot of people again, familiar and new faces. I didn't do as much exploring the convention floor this year but that is ok. This year was a lot to take in all at once for me! 

Being from Chicago, the land of hotdogs and pizza, I had to try out Tokyo Doggie Style Hotdogs topped with savory curry and tart, crunchy pickled horseradish (?) on top. OMG, SO GOOD! ;-; 

Shop Staff!

Anime Expo ：Be a Gal Fashion Model for 2014!

This year, The following Gal Brands will be showcasing their items for not only for purchase, but also for the Fashion Show!

KokoKim, Swankiss, Golds Infinity, Ghost of Harlem

If you have always wanted to be a runway model for a Japanese Brand for Gyaru gear, this is your chance for 2014! 

Sign Up here!:

http://www.anime-expo.org/fashion-show-2014/#Casting

Rather be a Shop Staff?
Send me an email on FB!

Deadline is June 15th!

See you there and Good Luck!

R.I.P. Ageha...and Almost Everything Else

Soooo, every gal and their momma has been talking about the publisher of Ageha, Aneageha, I love Mama, and NUTS being so in debt, 3 billion yen, and the deaths of the beloved mags.The debt deal that the publisher incurred is beyond ridiculous! It sucks. It really does, but with certain styles dying down, people who did the styles like agejo growing older, it is no surprise. Also no surprise that the media is picking and choosing what it wants to show.

While others seem to be freaking out, im just here like:

I had already taken a hard hit when Soul Sister died. I wanted to collect as many magazines as possible when I had some better income coming in. And now that I kinda do (at least before career related things...) now Ageha has jumped the ship. 

Okies.... I can deal... Hopefully people won't jack up their prices on ebay when I search for issues I want.

But then, Egg has decided to call it quits too? 

WHAT THE FUCK...

So, what am I going to collect now? Or peep through when I visit Mitsuwa? What about the beloved Animal Talk and the silly cute illustrations? Maybe things will pop back up for the magazines. Even though I loved looking at the magazines, it was there for a reason. To help showcase styles and current fashion trends and what the stores were selling at the moment.

As I am in America, some of the items just did not fully apply because there were not a lot of Gyaru fashion being exported from Japan for Western Gyaru lovers. Now, things have changed thanks to shopping services and Yesstyle.com. Not only that, but around the time I started, a lot of the gyaru found their items in their local shops and did the best they could! 

While people emulate what they see in magazine, I feel that the gyaru subculture here might not improve or grow JUST because the mags are not there! BOOO. There has already been girls dismissing the crazier styles because the magazines didn't show them, so I can only speculate what will happen if the mags never resurface. 

Hey... I may be wrong though.

But for now, we play the waiting game.

Otaku vs.Gyaru

Otaku is a term that usually people don't put in the same sentence as Gyaru. 

Otaku translates to nerd. (n.) a person with obsessive interests {such as manga and/or anime, and may lack in social skills especially with the opposite sex.} 

Also means "you" or "your house", in Japanese. A polite honorific.

You may even have seen them, at anime conventions, or maybe even at your school's anime club. 

They are all around you! 

While Gyaru, translates to a fashionable girl who dresses cute and trendy.  

They can be seen wearing the latest styles, with bold and at times elaborate make up and hair, and looking girly.

So you can see the big divide between the two, right?

When I was a little seasoned on Ricoche.net, it seemed like a big No-no to even mention that you liked anime, gaming or manga. If you did (like myself...), you were not a real gyaru, and just an otaku or worse yet! A weeaboo! (like I was called in 2008 by a gyaru who had did the fashion for a little bit longer than myself!)

The term Weeaboo seemed to have sprung up in about 2008 or so where I lived. See definition here if you are of the loop! 

Anyhoo...

Putting that little tangent aside, I had tried to save a lotta face by not mentioning anime around my more gyaru peers and sneaking off into an anime club in my first year of college (they had a big room and a viewing screen so it was like you were at a small film showing!!) and trying to squeeze in time to play some good ol' Final Fantasy. 

Now, people seem to be more accepting to those who are into gyaru and also like anime, manga and things of that nature. And I am glad!! A lil mad that this happened AFTER LIKE, HOW MANY YEARS THO?! 

But glad that girls/gals like accept that side of themselves and are not ashamed to share it. Plus, anime conventions are a great stomping ground for meeting up with various gals if they don't live in the area!

Why let hobbies and interests keep you apart? 

What is even more interesting, is that there can be Otaku with other interests than just games and anime! From obsessing over fashion or camera devices, to being closeted otaku or spreading their interests with the world! 

Max's video about the topic at hand

What are you an "otaku" for?

New Vid up!

I finally jumped on board with a Youtube "welcome to my channel" video! 

I am excited to release new video content on YT and try my hand at different things

than just make up tutorials! 

I hope you will enjoy what is soon to come on my channel and blog!

There will not only be make up, but attempts at hair styling tutorials,

my favorite products and items,

and guest appearances from other gals and friends!

Stay tuned!

マタネ

GLAD NEWS : Webstore + Top 4 Pick

One of my favorite gal brands that I have been wanting to buy from since FOREVER has finally come to YesStyle and also opened up their own webstores! I have been fawning over their items for years, and now, the time has come that I, and all other Glad News lovers can shop from them without the hassle of trying to figure out shopping services, calculating shipping charges, and trying to decipher kanji if we are not fluent in Japanese!

GLAD NEWS webstore
http://gladnews.jp/webstore/index.html
GLAD NEWS on Yesstyle + FREE shipping!
http://www.yesstyle.com/en/glad-news-women/list.html/bcc.11143_bpt.299_bid.313611
GLAD NEWS official Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/GLADNEWS.OFFICIAL

 Windy City Gal Top 4 picks from GLAD NEWS:

Lace Back Studded Applique shirt

One of the motifs associated with GLAD NEWS appears again with their roomy, lace backed shirt. It looks comfy, has lace detail (a hint of sexy that I love), and has this cute little guy on the front. What's not to love? 

Show your love for Tokyo with this Tank top.

Simplistic. Black. Casual. 

You can't go wrong with a black tank top with a bold font on it. Tank tops are a staple in my wardrobe, but simplistic ones I have yet to add to it.

Long Sleeve top

Long sleeve tops with a graphic is an essential for a wardrobe fit for a gal who pursues a rocker aesthetic. It pairs up nicely with distressed jeans or even a skirt with black boots or heels.

Dyed Pattern Dress

A peek-a-boo skeleton over this tie dyed style dress gives a nod to the 60's tie dye era. This would look lovely paired up with a black denim or leather jacket to add another layer of cool. I usually wear a ton of black, but something like this would be a nice change up!

Happy Shopping!

Fashion Woah No's

There are a lot of gyaru based fashion pieces and accessories that I adore or like, and I usually do not come across very weird things. But on tumblr, I found this accessory from me jane that is partially cute, but then kind of funky looking.

I like fur, and I like denim, but the underside of this fur warmer looks like some 90s contraption. I think that it would way better if the denim was a solid colour than this patch work business going on.






I came across this on Once Upon a Time Blog...beanie veils .

I like veils... I like beanies... Especially with a big, cute 'n fluffy pompom. But this contraption? I have yet to actually see it outside and outside of the blog I found it on. The two right pics it kind of looks ok, until you come across the damned pompom. Maybe I should just throw some tulle on something and try to market it if this is what people will buy. 

Tutuha Dress

Glavil and Tutuha have had items that I probably drooled too much over. I found this dress while surfing on Tumblr, and had to pause, squint, and give it a few more look overs. Bows can be cute and girly, but this is way to over done for me. I think that :1. ditching the bows on the skirt part and at the waist  or 2. ditching all the bows except the waist one would make it more appealing and would keep it girly.

That concludes today's Fashion Woah No's.

Thank you for reading!
Mata ne my chocopies!

MA*RS Global Site UP!

Hello Gals! 

Great news has fallen upon all the MA*RS lovers out there!

 MA*RS has an official global online site with store links now up and running!

For all the gals who are in love with the very feminine, sexy cute touch that MA*RS offers, 

you can now access their merchandise and view behind the scenes photographs
of your beloved brand through their link:

http://www.mars-saja.com

Happy Shopping!

Gals snaps!

Here is some pix! It has been a while since I took these photos!

I still have to hunt through my old files for some of the meet pix. A little bit of a hassle when you dont have lightroom on your pc!

マタネ

Gal Story and Reflection

Photography done by LiquidMojo

first published 11/19/2013

The Construction of "Lisha"

LA and myself 2008

As a child,being bullied near the end of elementary school (or middle school), conforming to what others expected of me (being a seemingly perfect, straight, Christian woman and wearing a uniform for YEARS), and trying to suppress the me that wanted to simply be, created a more shy, reserved self that I wanted to shake off. I also did not want to wear the exact same thing that everyone else wears (uniforms), and that if you tried to do your own thing either you would get into trouble, or people would not like you and make fun of you or say that you must want to be white or asian.

I had  chose gal because it was a cheaper alternative (somewhat...)to the other fashions I found and liked. What it seemed to offer after doing a bit of research, was appealing for me, even though it was a contradiction in itself (rebeling yet conforming to its own rules.)

Over the years

I stumbled upon gal at about 2007 when I wanted to truly break free of the restrictions and inhibitions that kept me from being myself or what I wanted to do. I was searching for a fashion style to show an aspect of myself and to be creative with it, not be too expensive and Japanese brand heavy centered like Lolita fashion but not too showy like Cyber fashion .

Aaron Bercaw photography 2010

After it startled me, I started to love it because it gave me a little sliver of happiness. I liked the idea of wanting to not look normal, to look bold, and wear things I wanted to. Now, I feel like I have been in this (online) community long enough (about six years now?) that my statement from maybe anyone else, maybe more so beginners to the style and/or lifestyle, could get people to not like them or see a flaw in their want to try this style out. However, for me, it was one of the things that I wanted to enjoy.

Even though there are no written rules for Gal fashion per se, there are guidelines and/or rules for individual circles and how they should be ran, or what makes something Gyaru. Now, these "right” things change over time, with different sub styles/themes in the main part of the subculture, and also who you are as a person/race/etc (face shape, skin darkness or lightness). If you get all the “right” things down and improve pretty fast then you become well known in the gal scene and looked up too and sometimes even hated ,  or you don’t improve at all and don’t see what is holding you back, then you get looked down upon.

I narrowed down what I liked, and had ideas for things that I thought would be cool, despite being told that there were no such thing as a rocker gal, or pirate themes (until   it became more established in Japan ). I did my own thing subtly as I collected inspiration pictures non stop from other gals. I studied these pictures, and practiced them a lot. In a way, I was like a mad scientist. For me, something in my mind snapped, almost like for Ichiko in Kamikaze Girls. 

2012

Actually hanging out with people and staying up all night listening to hyper techno or eurobeat, paraparaing outside, or just walking around with other gal'd-out girls , that was what I wanted and what made me happy. To know that I was improving and trying out new things was exciting for me, even though over time painful things would pop up, or disappointments would happen.

 I have had moments where I wanted to give up, but I keep coming back. Sometimes I have to ask myself, for what? 

Now that I am older and been in the game for a while, I definitely feel the tug of normal life at my side. I now am focusing my attention on being more on the lines of a coordinator, or at least an attendee for other gal's events, and helping out new generations of gals. I have the pressure of not only fitting into normal society's standards (though I don't have to 100%) but also marriage/relationship stuff as well from my family.

Anime Expo 2013! (pic heavy!!)

Anime Expo's Gyaru Shop Staff

Gold's Infinity Gal!

On Wednesday, I was invited to Anime Expo and flew out to L.A. to settle for Anime Expo weekend with Michi, Nino, Emi, Rosie, Rina, Hiromi, Stephanie, Cindy, Adri, Re,Tricia, and Victoria. It felt really surreal for me to meet the gals that I have chatted with or read their blogs for a few years now!

3:57am~ chi-gal diariez

Side note:

Made an Ad for Purin and i's ANIME EXPO trip 

We are going to be Golds Infinity Shop Staff at Anime Expo! I am excited to meet Michi, Ninoshka, and a whole bunch of other gals too while I am there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Diamondなんで？でも、今年にAngeleekのメンバーは？？カンパスサーミットないか？あたしの夢はAngeleekに入ってえた。２００７年に思ったよ。でも、日本語が本当に下手だった。
まだ、たくさん言葉が知らないで、話してのは。。。ちょっと。。。Fightingの感じがある。。。[m:206]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTgnTnC42kE

Whats A Black Diamond? And what happened to the Angeleek members? Or Campus Summit? It was my dream to be in Angeleek back in 2007. But, my Japanese was bad, and now I still don't know a lot of words. But... I try.

コレジの前に、世界の友達が欲しかった。でも、恥ずかしくて、かわくない人だった。
男のこ見たかった。今。。。なんで？
ダイモンドギャルさーに入りました,2010年ごろに入ったね。。。。スタイルはちょっとｉｍｐｒｏｖｅと思った。
Before college, I wanted friends , even around the world, but, I am shy and I wasn't too pretty back then. hahaha. but now? A few years ago I was accepted into Diamond gal sa，and my style improved a bit.

B*C　1st Gen

そして、Black Cherryのギャルサーを作った。スタイルとへアメイクETCはたくさん練習したｗｗｗｗたくさんパラパラをしてた（笑）新しいギャルファンとギャルにさがしていた！新しい人を会った。
Then, we (me la, tomo, and murphy) made Black Cherry. I was still practicing my style (hair, make up, clothes), and I para'd a lot! (laughs). I met a lot of people during that time.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnjIHOIiBzI
アハハハ
hehehe


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=865EiY68UjA
ハードコアね。。。
hard core huh?

前には、さびしかった。本当に恥ずかしかった。でも、色々人に会た。Dj　SiSen,もっとDjな２人、Vocaloidな女。。。。
Even though at times I was sad or lonely, or shy, I was able to meet people like Sisen, a few Japanese Djs from Japan at acen, And Yuu, the voice of a cute Vocaloid character. Being dressed up sure helped me a lot, and even dressing up differently, or noticing someones make up or nails, seemed to be a nice ice breaker, too!

だからギャル「と色々」ファシオンが好きだって、ゆっくりで恥ずかしくないでモテモテになった。
Because I liked gal and other fashion, I became less and less shy, and a bit more outgoing.

あたしがシカゴのギャルだぜ！！。。。
IM A CHICAGO GAL!!

あたしギャルでしょ。。。。？え。。。難しい。。。
i guess.... its a bit difficult maybe...

もっとアートと小さいなえいががしたい～～～～。。。
I wanna make more art and a short film....

mini self portrait

Livin La Vida Gyaru in Chicago

Lisha's... Luxury life?

Casual Cute

So, I get to do quite a bit of stuff here in Chicago. I do a bunch of stuff not only because I like to keep busy, but to get funds for shopping or traveling and to keep from being bored. I am doing a bit of freelance photography/graphic design/blogging/clerical in Chicago to gain funds for shopping and also traveling and such.

I personally do not feel like my life is "luxurious" perse, but, I get to (try) to live as much of a gal life as possible, especially on a budget that includes living expenses... And boy oh boy, do I know about living on a budget!

Food

I choose not to eat out a lot, or try not to spend money on take out, but sometimes I do treat myself to something pretty tasty. I prefer to eat fish or chicken over beef and pork, and I prefer not so greasy foods as well. I also get to drink a bit with my coworkers instead of going out, especially when it was cold! When it comes to food, I tend to not go over 25$, and that is I am really hungry. Most dinners, especially including tip, goes up to 20$, which includes a drink and maybe an appetizer or two.

 Fine dining on a budget. Wonton soup with added udon noodles, and kung pao shrimp

• Cheers! at work. 

Living

 I also just found a place with the help of Phil, near the Blue line. This picture does not capture the beauty of the neighborhood so much, but I love walking out side and looking at nature and also the houses around me. Also, my part of the rent does not exceed 500$.

Shopping

Whenever I go shopping, I look hardcore for deals, and usually head to the clearance and sales racks. I shop at The Magnificent Mile and sometimes at the WaterTower in Downtown Chicago (Wetseal, Charlotte Russe, F21, etc) and I also hit up thrift stores and second hand shops. If I have the time to, I customize old clothes, or make scarves, or a purse or two if I am feeling ambitious! I have not done a lot lately, but I might make something again.

Cross necklace by TheSevenology
 I also got this necklace from Keisha Howard of Sugar Gamers. I later gave it to my mom for a mother's day gift. :) 

Magazine Gifts for my collection! 

I also buy gyaru mags or items/clothes that I know I will want if I choose to buy them, and I try to buy things I will actually use quite a few times, than just once or twice, and tossing it. I try to spend wisely if I need to spend, and also save for important things. Some gal mags have gifts from popular brands. It is a nice way to get something cool and useful, and you also get more bang for your buck! 

Steve Madden purse for about 40$