Technically the fashion capitals of the world are Paris, London, Milan and New York. But the importance of Tokyo cannot be overlooked. The Tokyo Look Book: Stylish to Spectacular, Goth to Gyaru, Sidewalk to Catwalk, by Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe is a Westerners guide to the street fashion that resides inside the city.
Philomena Keet is a British anthropologist whose PhD was on Tokyo street fashion, and Yuri Manabe is a Tokyo based photographer whose work has ended up in Marie Claire and GQ Magazine. Together they try to document the fashion into certain cliques but never properly go into detail on how these cliques were created or how they evolved. The book is split up into five sections- 'Shibuya Guys and Girls' (the trendy party crowd), 'Spectacular and Subcultural' (Cosplayers, Rock Stars, Goths and the many different Lolitas), 'Youth Street Fashion' (80's girly kitsch and the cult streetwear brand A Bathing Ape), 'The Stylish Female' (Just OL- Office Ladies with immaculate outfits and designer label bags) and finally 'Young Men At Work' (which has everything from construction workers to business men). It also has a Glossary for those confused by certain Japanese terms, and a mini-Shop List for those wanting to browse around Tokyo.
I found this book in Real Groovy and really enjoyed the visual elements, but the literature made for light reading- just like a magazine. I think anyone who really wants to explore the depths of fashion or enjoys Japan should get this book- it's a great coffee table/reference book. Sadly I think I bought the last copy from Real Groovy but it's still available at Amazon.
