Yahoo! Japan Fashion/繊研新聞：お兄系ブランド09年春夏　来るか？！オラオラ系　上下黒スエットでワルな男
(Oniikei Brands for SS ‘09 - Coming soon? Ora-Ora-kei - Bad Boys in Sweatsuits)

Elastic: オラオラ系が流行る？
(Will Ora-Ora-kei Come into Style?)

Ora-Ora-kei is an offshoot of the O-nii-kei “Big Brother” yankii style that has been unexpectedly popular in recent years. Ora-ora is a gruff Japanese male word/sound used — mostly by delinquents and gangsters — to intimidate others. According to fashion blogger Dale of Elastic, there is a recent phrase “ora-nyan” used to describe guys who act tough in front of their friends, but show a soft side with their ladies. “Ora-Ora-kei” fashion, however, is 100% ora gruff and tough.

In the context of Oniikei fashion, Ora-Ora-kei seems to focus more around a foreboding black palette and a baggier silhouette, with the effect of looking somewhat terrifying. The idea is not to attract girls, but just look like a badass. Senken Shimbun says, “This is the style of guys outside of Tokyo, so it has a great possibility of reaching a wide audience.” I think this is being too kind. Ora-ora-kei is basically just celebrating the clothes already worn by rural and suburban working-class delinquents, squatting in front of a convenience store near you. The days of Tokyo effetes leading national fashion trends may be numbered.

Whatever the case, 2009 promises to be another year of “wild & sexy” lads in yankii-derived clothing, but this time around, much more angry and scary-looking. As Yonehara told us, “Things get much more yankii when the economy gets bad.” So expect both an increased number of delinquent guys in Ora-Ora-kei, and also, lots of middle-class guys who think the Ora-Ora-kei look is worth imitating.