Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno: Tok

From the 1970s right on through to today, Japanese schoolgirl fashions and subcultures have sprung up, burned out, mutated, and evolved into an amazing pop cultural phenomenon that's now gone global. From Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Girls" (Harajuku = a neighborhood in Tokyo where, essentially, no one's over 30) and her Harajuku Lovers fashion line to Gothic Lolita fueled manga to the cult of the deadly schoolgirl (most recently prominent in the Go-Go Yubari character in "Kill Bill") to the popularity of FRUITS, "Wired" magazine's "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" column, and international fashion designers are looking to the streets of Tokyo for fresh inspiration. Here, at last, is a fun and thoroughly researched handbook to the eleven key styles and subcultures behind it all, including: sukeban - dangerous, sailer-suited, all-girl gangs kogals - supertanned schoolgirl uniform-sporting gals who sometimes date for dollars gonguro - beyond the far reaches of supertan into, well, blackface kigurumin - every day is halloween if you leave the house dressed like a giant hamster gothloli - Pippy Longstocking risen from the dead decora - the primary "FRUITS" style, rainbow brite with ten pounds of toys around her neck...and more. Each subculture fashion profile features photos and cute, clear illustrations of the style; explorations of who the girls are, what they're wearing, and why; their ideal boyfriend; and must-have items.