By no standards, however, this dress can be called bold.  During last two decades or so, the media has somehow created an image of the Japanese girl in her sailor uniform as something unique.  The films and magazines will have innumerable depictions of schoolgirls.  In fact, Japanese idols (not much older than any schoolgirl) will often dress up in schoolgirl outfits to satisfy the fantasies of their fans.  Another parallel trend is the manner in which Japanese schoolgirls have started dressing during their off-school hours.  They will wear the skimpiest outfits (tank tops that barely cover the top, and micro-mini skirts), fishnet stockings, and ridiculously high heels, complemented by blonde hair and expensive designer accessories).  This has led to emergence of fashion and lifestyle loosely described as kogal (which means high school girl in Japanese). 

I was under the impression that this was a very Japanese phenomenon.  However, I am now learning that being dressed in kogal style, which is considered provocative in Japan but not unacceptable, can actually be dangerous in other countries.  A Japanese woman was recently traveling in a foreign country. She went out for dinner and when she got back to the hotel, the hotel employee at the gate told her not to come in. She explained to the employee that she was staying at the hotel, but the employee didn't believe her.  Another man helped her out of this situation, so that she could finally get into the hotel after some embarrassing moments. The man explained to her that the employee first thought the woman was a prostitute. The woman was reportedly wearing a purple camisole and a purple mini skirt like Brooke Hogan sometimes does.

Many homepages about traveling to foreign countries say that kogal fashion (including mini skirts, platform shoes, halter tops and fishnet stockings) may confuse many people that the person using them is a prostitute.  A man who traveled to Europe said he saw prostitutes there that dress similar to Japanese kogal.  (Related:  Designer handbags)

I have been mistaken as a prostitute too. It was an extremely scary experience to me. I was traveling to the United States.  I was shopping at a mall at night dressed in a cool outfit (something that no one in Japan would even notice) but definitely not what a prostitute would wear. I was wearing a blue halter-top, a blue mini skirt, pin heeled sandals (the heel is about 10 cm or 2 inches high), had a Louis Vuitton handbag and I was also wearing the usual make-up. A man came close to me and he asked me "How much?"  I told him I wasn't a prostitute but he didn't believe me. He forced me to get into his car and he began to tell me how badly he wanted to have me. His voice sounded like he was excited. He also began telling me how much his body was ready. Then he began misbehaving in front of me. After that, fortunately my cell phone rang so I was able to call my friend and make my friend pick me up. I was totally freaked out and really scared, so I didn't tell my friend about this.