#blokette

Round 1, Match 141 — Kawaii Gamer vs. Blokette

Kawaii Gamer, also known as Pastel E-Girl or Gamer Girl, is a Westernized interpretation of kawaii. It is popular among gamers, Twitch streamers, and anime fans, reaching peak popularity in the late-2010s and during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The Kawaii Gamer community frequently gathers on Twitch and is predominantly geared towards Gen Z. This style differs from other forms of Kawaii by incorporating specific merchandise, room decor, and fashion trends that align with the Western interpretation of Kawaii, similar to what is seen in Cutecore, rather than actual Japanese fashions. The aesthetic frequently involves replicating particular objects and is showcased in TikToks dedicated to Kawaii Gamer setups. While the aesthetic often includes a large amount of merchandise, reflecting maximalism, it is more accessible and casual than traditional J-fashion due to the global rise of Kawaii culture and the increased e-commerce and commercialization of related media. The aesthetic can take on a Yume Kawaii palette of pastels and white, rainbow, or more purple and blue neon, although there are many color variations on the aesthetic, such as Mizuiro. Of course, Kawaii Gamers tend to show their love for both their passions through combining the two. Technology for gaming in pink and white accents, such as PCs, Nintendo DS, and Switches are the most shown photo subject and is most representative of this interpretation of kawaii. Customized keyboards with decorative keys in multiple colors are one of the entry points into the aesthetic due to their accessibility and variety of models and key caps, such as glowing lights, paw prints, and different colors and fonts for the display. Displays on computer home pages and social media are also important to the aesthetic. Admirers of the aesthetic customize backgrounds of PCs, mouse pads, social media icons and headers, and phone lock screens to fan art of their favourite anime characters, Kawaii art, abstract drawings in pastels, etc. Certain products are iconic and highly sought-after in this community. One of them being the Autofull pink gaming chair with attached bunny ears and a tail, which was popularized by Twitch streamers and gaming YouTubers. Another are cat-ear headphones, which are an example of connecting the Erokawa trope of the anime cat-girl with technology. Most setups also include a cat-paw pillow. All of these visuals culminate in set-ups, which are the main mode of carrying across the aesthetic. A set-up is the desk space of a gamer and the place where they watch anime, do work, eat snacks, etc. This is why the set-up is the most prioritized place in the aesthetic, as a kawaii gamer would spend most of their time there. The desk would include the electronics, multiple figurines and plushies, walls with lighting and posters, and snacks in a cluttered, yet cozy arrangement that requires a large amount of things.

vs.

Blokette, a microtrend popularized on TikTok, was coined by the fashion commentary podcast Nymphet Alumni in late 2022. This aesthetic blends elements of Blokecore and Coquette styles. Blokecore involves masculine-leaning pieces such as oversized football jerseys, vintage sports jackets, and Adidas Sambas, drawing from a simplified interpretation of English pub and sports culture. In contrast, the Coquette aesthetic is hyper-feminine, focusing on elements like mini skirts, knee-high socks, and hair ribbons. The core concept of Blokette lies in combining these traditionally masculine and feminine pieces to create a contrast in gender presentation. It incorporates items like football shirts, athletic sweaters and jackets with ballet flats, leg warmers, pleated wool skirts, and hair ribbons. This fusion results in a bold mix of colors, logos, and stripes from sportswear combined with the softer tones and textures of lace, silk, and chiffon. While the trend has been embraced by fashion figures such as Bella Hadid and Ruby Lyn, it also reflects experimentation with gender expression in contemporary fashion, emphasizing a playful and often self-aware approach to styling. Commonly worn blokette pieces include adidas sambas, ballet flats, athletic pants, leg warmers, hair ribbons, football shirts, pleated wool skirts, and athletic sweaters and jackets.