Chonga Style - Chola Style

[PerfectPerfect]

.. speaking of chonga methods.. I remember I used to see a lot of cholas with BLUE eyebrows in revolution avenue.. are they still doing that?, it was hilarious!.. like they didn't find black ink that day so moved on to the blue one

.. anyway.. I don't really find them ironic or fascinating to be honest.. I think they're quite scary actually, probably nice to those in the 'barrio' but not so much to those who couldn't care less for them.. they were a minority in my school but everyone would fear them, I remember girls being stabbed or left unconscious in the bathroom or after class just because they gave them 'the look' or whatever.. .
then again, that was one stupid school I ended up in..

I find it midly amusing but I agree with you. On the west coast, these cholas are scary. We just laugh at them when they're a distance away. Or at least I was afraid of them in junior high/high school. When you grow up in a city with gang folk.

I blame the whole movement on reggaeton! Bleh!

We have to keep in mind how disposable youth culture and trends are. My generation had to wear Nike's at school or be ridiculed. Before that it was Doc Martens and Levi's. It's tounge and cheek, those you tube videos where they parody themselves is appropriate.

But those glamour shots of the cholas in Jeremy Scott are brilliant!

 

[Salvatore]

I was in Houston, Texas a way long time ago in the summer and saw many girls with this look. It was interesting to see and it scared my mother.

 

[brian]

^yeaaahh tejas reprazent!!

H-TOWN!! SATOWN!!

 

[m4ryb3ar]

hahaha thats hilarious salvatore. yes there are very many with this "style" in houston.

 

[MulletProof]

i wish we had a real Chonga on board to share her point of view on her choice of lifestyle/tribe/identity..

it's not a choice, lena. you can't really dress or act differently in most of those neighbourhoods without getting bullied.

 

[m4ryb3ar]

thats a good point mulletproof. many kids/teens have to conform to a certain way to fit in and have friends. todays society.....

 

[TheKiwi]

Is it just me, or is this one of the longest-lasting "underground" cultures?

I've seen this style since middle school. Now, about 10 years later, I still see it! Nothing has really changed... The only thing that is a little different is that music tastes of cholas have changed slightly with reggaeton. But the style is pretty much exactly as it was 10 years ago!

I think of so many other underground styles get media attention and then just blow up and become mainstream, but this hasn't happened to cholas yet.

Anyone else think so?

 

[BetteT]

The Chola/***** thing in L.A. is longer lasting than you know, TK.

I'm a middle aged woman and we had Cholas around in the 70's. The dress was a bit different ... because it was the 70's, but it was still cheap and tight. The makeup, the skinny eyebrows, the lip liner, hair and the hoop earrings were present then, too.

I worked in a Hispanic community in L.A. ... San Fernando ... and I got the lowdown from my Mexican American co workers. Most of these Cholas were in gangs ... but the style had influence on the "good girls" too. And I heard stories of the hair being teased and piled up on the top of their head and then razor blades being tucked int the hairdo. Then when they got into fights ... the other girl would get her hands cut.

The ****** (the guys) would wear tight white T's and tanks over loose khakies and white sneakers then slick their hair straigt back ... sometimes in a hair net with the knot down in the center of their foreheads. They usually wore a gold cross at their neck and sometimes a pocket chain. When they dressed up ... they'd throw on a oversized paid shirt.

It's a whole cultural thing that came out of the Zoot Suit craze in the 40's.

Yeah ... the moment I saw this thread ... I thought "Cholas!!".

 

[caroollss]

yuckkkkk

 

[ultramarine]

OMG! This country is filled with chongas ... though we havent had a name for them ... the only ones I know who speak english exercise the oldest job on the world -and theyre cool! I swear! lol-

Im a bit frustrated about not having a nickname for them in here ... I think the closest is "jacoperras" which would translate as "jacob*tches" .. you see, Jaco is a very touristy beach filled with drugs and prostitution and well .. the b*tch part doesnt need explanation

 

[Alejandro]

Lena, you let me know when you want me to bring them on, I have yet to use my invites wisely

Now is the time to see the chongas trying to survive the summer. Its hillarious cause they use black eyeliner pencil, which turns blue when they start sweating and their foreheads start breaking out because of the excessive hairspray.

"Ay Mariiis laik my bangs are not round enouff! pass me the carbordd roll from the toilet paper to make them stick outt"

then the cardboard roll comes out, its insane, some of them actually keep it or wear rolos during the week just to rock them fancy bangs on the weekends

 

[ultramarine]

I've seen them use blocks of jabon azul -cheap laundry blue-blocked soap- in order to keep their bangs straght and stiff

 

[Alejandro]

 

[Alejandro]

"if your gonna mess with my barrio,you gotta get through me puta cabrona"



this is one of my fave pics ever. period.

source: my own files

 

[titania]

I thought Sephora started this thread. Nice one, brian.

Chongos Por Vida.

I've actually seen a few around here, oddly enough... I love the way they speak; it's fantastic. One accent I've yet to accomplish.

 

[Haeranni]

ewww....i've seen and still see chonga style and i think it's hideous....pencil eyebrows......bleh....and the lipliners they use....

 

[TheKiwi]

BetteT, I had no idea that it had been around so long - wow!

There aren't too many chongas in the NYC area (at least compared to Miami or Cali).

 

[ilaughead]

...I kept seeing this thread, wondering what the word meant...maybe I should tell myself that "curiosity killed the cat" next time?

 

[yojimbo]

I grew up in Berkeley(northern California), and I didnt really start noticing huge *****/Chola culture until i moved down to Southern California to finish my Bachelors degree. Chola culture seems more prevalent in the south, and the culture seems interesting.

 

[yourbestfriend]

I thought Sephora started this thread. Nice one, brian.

Chongos Por Vida.

I've actually seen a few around here, oddly enough... I love the way they speak; it's fantastic. One accent I've yet to accomplish.

Chongas Por Vida! There are 4 chongas round these parts