During the mid-90’s, one of Japan’s main controversies involved a group of young girls who would cause trouble around the country. These teenagers would usually do radical things such as skip classes, smoke in public, pollute the environment by throwing their cigarette butts everywhere and even seduce middle-aged men into financing for their whimsical expenses. Subsequently, they also had their own unique and scandalous fashion sense that distinguished them from the rest of the youth. These kinds of girls are known as Kogals.

Kogals are known to be the first kind of gal (or gyaru) that scaled Japan. They are the ones who have paved way for other kinds of gals now, such as the Ganguro Gal and Hime Gal, to enter the Japanese fashion scene. The clothes and the characteristics of the Kogals have been the basis for these new subcategories that is why Kogals are hard to obliterate from the minds of the Japanese until today.

Kogals have a simple yet scandalously cute fashion sense that attracts boys and men alike. Their everyday attire is a modified Japanese school uniform that consists of a white polo shirt, an oversized cardigan and a very short miniskirt. Loose white socks are also part of the outfit, as well as a yellow sunflower on the hair to match the deep tan most Kogals have. Moreover, Kogals carry a purikura (photo sticker) journal with them, a box of Pocky in any flavor and a Personal Handy-Phone System (also known as PHS) which is similar to a walkie-talkie.

Nowadays, Kogals are rarely seen in Japan due to their notorious reputation. Yet since people have also been smitten by their adorable appearance and fashion style, some fashion designers try to fuse in their style into new contemporary trends which proves the monumental impact that Kogals had and still have on society.

So…are Kogals fabulous or scandalous?