Beginners' Crash Course in Tokyo's Street Fashion
For those who are beginners in the 'fashion arena', you will have to get familiar with what's out there before you get down and dirty in the racks of shops and department stores. Of course, you can go out on the street and see for yourself, but why would you do that if you have something much better: snapshots of styles that were 'hip-proof'-ed by fashion editors?
photo courtesy of ridsnap.com
Street Fashion Snaps
There are countless magazines filled to the brim with these 'street snaps', or snapshots of hip people, found on the streets of Tokyo, who are willing to pose for the magazine's photographer (and believe me, any fashion-conscious Tokyoite would be willing). In spite of sometimes seemingly careless styles, most fashionistas are honored when they are approached by a street photographer from one of the magazines or websites. In fact, it goes so far that some fashion lovers know where the photographers usually hang out, dress up, and walk around there as long as it takes on of the photographers to come up to them for a shot.
photo courtesy of tokyofashion.com
Get The Latest Styles Directly to Your Home
If you can't get to the fashion, why not let the fashion come to you? Street Snap magazines are hard to come by abroad, but websites are just one mouseclick away. Scroll through the many styles and you'll get an idea of who populates Tokyo's more fashionable districts.
Check out some of these websites:
http://force-fashionsnap.com/category/japan/ features both Japan and other Asian countries.
http://www.fashionsnap.com/ most of it's snapshots are from various parts of Tokyo, but they also have New York, London etc. Check here for snapshots from Shimokitazawa, according to some currently the hippest neighborhood of Tokyo, or here for Harajuku, the neighbourhood known for its wild styles.
http://tokyofashion.com/photos/ a wide range of styles and neighborhoods throughout Tokyo.