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The Tokyo Look Book
Stylish to Spectacular, Goth to Gyaru, Sidewalk to Catwalk

by Philomena Keet
Photographs by Yuri Manabe



      What do you think of as typical Japanese fashion? Is it the kimono? Would you be surprised to find out that only a small number of Japanese wear the kimono as traditional dress? Author Philomena Keet describes Tokyo as the world's fashion melting pot with five distinct groups in The Tokyo Look Book.

In any culture, dress defines the wearer's personality, hobbies, and social status. Keet states that Tokyo fashion culture draws from the world as well as Japan. While fashion typically defines social status, Tokyo fashion styles can be seen among all classes. Keet describes the unique fashion of five groups: Shibuya Girls and Guys (fashion of the dynamic youth); Subcultural (such as punk rock or manga); Youth Street Fashion (in which fashion is worn for fashion-sake and seen on the backstreets); The Stylish Female (both working and at-leisure women); and Young Men at Work (showing stylish suits and pointed shoes).

Within each chapter, Keet provides in-depth views on the particular subgroup of fashion. She focuses on the fashion statement and the posing individuals, based on clothing, hair and accessories. Photographer Yuri Manabe captures diverse, on-the-street snapshots: young women at a crepe shop, after-work shots of women with cell phone bling or luxury handbags, men and women with tanned faces and dyed hair, a couple in matching camouflage hoodies, suit and tie professionals, and people dressing in their favorite anime characters.

The Tokyo Look Book is unique as it offers social viewpoints on various fashion behaviors. I was surprised by the multitude of styles. I had fun seeing the brighter and more outrageous fashions. The book includes over one hundred vivid photos, so take your time and enjoy. Readers with a fashion-conscious eye or culture-curious nature will savor the pages.

The Book

Kodansha International
September 2007
Paperback
978-4-7700-3061-0
Non-fiction / Fashion / Photography
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Jennifer Akers
Reviewed 2007
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© 2007 MyShelf.com