Current Boom & Wardrobe Revival (Part 2)

Hallo gals! Here is Part 2 of my previous post about my current boom, in which I want to share how I revived my gyaru wardrobe with mostly 2nd hand shopping!

As you probably know already, I avoid first hand shopping as much as I can in my effort to be more responsible with my purchases and lifestyle. I used to make a big order once or twice a year from Japanese 2nd hand sites but since discovering Vinted I've decided to limit myself to buying more locally. I don't want this to sound like a sponsored post but they really are a great platform! 😂 I find their search tools super effective to look for gyaru items and I've found out of season items I used to have in my wishlist super cheap. Shipping is also just 2-4€ per item which I find extremely reasonable.

To upgrade my gyaru wardrobe, I tried approaching it with a capsule wardrobe method in mind. Capsule wardrobes are mostly based on neutral, versatile items you can wear in multiple ways to create many many different outfits. If you are starting in gyaru, especially with a small budget I recommend learning about capsule wardrobes and wardrobe building! It really helps to kick start your style and its a lot more affordable than buying any statement pieces randomly and finding you can't wear half your items effectively.

💜 Outerwear

Helly Kitty x Victoria Couture Puffer Jacket (2nd hand on Vinted); Aqua Blue Wool Coat (2nd hand on fril.jp)

• 1 short jacket
• 1 long coat.

I love this puffer jacket because it is very versatile (both the fake fur collar and the hood are removable!). I didn't know this brand/designer (and they seem to have disappeared now) but its very good quality and their Hello Kitty collab items are really cute!

For a long coat I have my Alba Rosa lookalike one made by Aqua Blue. I had decided to sell this piece but it fits my current wardrobe a lot better so I'm gonna hold on to it a bit longer!

💜 Knits & Sweaters

Left to Right: Aliexpress, Offbrand, Pull&Bear (thrifted), Gina Tricot

• 1-2 knit sweaters
• 1-2 casual sweater or hoodie
  

Okay I was a bit naughtier here and totally ignored the neutral rule, but how cool are these cropped hoodies? I saw the zebra one in a local shop and just didn't hesitate 😅 The net hoodie is a bit more versatile in spite of the neon colour as you can wear it with both boob tops for concerts/nights out or a tank top for more normal outings.

I already owned both knits and they fit into the neutral rule. The grey knitted jumper is thrifted (originally Pull & Bear), and the off shoulder is from Gina Tricot, a Swedish brand I used to love when I lived there. Its very good quality and looks new in spite of being 3 years old and been worn a lot.

💜 Tops

1. Bershka (2nd hand on Vinted); 2. Stradivarius (2nd hand on Vinted); 3. EasyWear / Bershka (2nd hand on Vinted)

• 2 casual tank tops
• 2 dressy sleeveless tops
• 2 statement tops

Both the tank tops and the sleeveless tops are sexy without being over the top and are easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion ✨ I also let myself get a couple of louder pieces for more fun coords! Animal prints are very gyaru and are easy to coordinate with different colours.

💜 Bottoms

Bershka (2nd hand on Vinted), EasyWear

•  2 shorts / skirts
  
•  1 dress
  

I've never been a great fan of how shorts look on me but this year I discovered that the paper bag style really compliments me! The denim shorts were also a lucky find, I had tried them new in the shop and found the exact same ones in Vinted for half the price 😍

I have skipped over skirts & dresses as I am not wearing them currently, but I need to find a strappy dress or skirt I can coord for dressier occasions. Also, if you prefer skirts over shorts I recommend having a short, straight one in black (or neutral colour) and another in denim.

💜 Shoes

Left to Right: Bershka ankle boots, Mustang heels, "Corin" sneaker by Buffalo London, gift

• 1 pair of boots
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 1 platform sandals
• 1 pair of heels
  

Shoes are the one thing I buy new since my feet get very tired and painful unless I'm wearing a proper sole, and the older I am the less I tolerate it lol. I decided earlier this year that I'd graduate most of my platform shoes and replace them with comfier footwear. I just don't have the same amount of fun when I can't jump around 😅

Boots: I think you could get away with not owning boots but the weather in my city demands it! ☔ I chose these as they were just 16€ in the sales and look pretty badass. Depending on your style you might want to look at OTK boots instead as they look very good with most outfits!

Sneakers: they are the 'Corin' sneaker from Buffalo London, which is my favourite footwear brand. The holographic effect makes them go with almost everything in my wardrobe and they are super comfortable. I really recommend owning a pair that look gal enough for those days when you have to walk a lot.

Sandals: I'm still in shock about owning these sandals because they were gifted to me by my previous flatmate. They are almost a perfect match to my sneakers and I love them to bits! I recommend finding a flat platform pair in a colour that goes with most of your wardrobe.

Heels: another type of shoe that you might not wear regularly but I think is important to own for dressier events or outings. I tried finding a pair with a gentler slope so I don't die two minutes into wearing them. These are by Mustang, another favourite brand of mine.

💜 Accessories

Skinny Lip chain (modified), D.I.A Moon Belt, etc.

• 2 necklace chains (1 gold, 1 silver)
• 2 belts (1 gold, 1 silver)
• 2 bracelets (1 leopard, 1 zebra)
  

I'm not great at wearing accessories so I've tried reducing what I own into again, versatile items I can wear in multiple ways! I probably will end up collecting more, especially rings and earrings.

As for belts, while having a JP brand one is obviously not necessary, I think its very fun to own a statement belt, and it'll immediately elevate even the most casual of coords. This d.i.a moon belt was my first gyaru brand item and I wish it existed in a white colourway, I'd purchase in a second ✨ For coords where a big belt doesn't work, I take the deco chains and attach them to a longer chain I DIY'd, like the Skinny Lip in the pic above!

So that's it for now! Thank you for reading and I hope this post helps a bit for those starting their gyaru journey 💜

xx Shin