Last week, Chronicle Books and fashion editor Tiffany Godoy released Style Deficit Disorder, the first book to depict the fashion of Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood. The book captures the area’s international style with almost 200 photos, essays by Japanese fashion editors, and commentary by cultural icons.
Among those icons are American musician David Byrne, Hong Kong actor/singer Edison Chen, American designer Patricia Field, American clothing guru Shawn Stussy, and British-Gibraltarian designer John Galliano.
The term “Harajuku” comes from the Harajuku Station in Tokyo, which is known for its youthful style worn by people surrounding the area. The style has been made popular in the United States by artists like Gwen Stefani, who started her own clothing line inspired by the trend and is often seen with an entourage of “Harajuku girls.”
Street Deficit Disorder studies unique designers, labels, stylists, and shops associated with Harajuku fashion. It looks into the past, present, and future of the fashion phenomenon and the impact it has on pop culture. Featured shops include Hysteric Glamour, Super Lovers, A Bathing Ape, Sonia Park, and Laforet.
Godoy has worked as a fashion editor for Japanese culture magazines Composite and Studio Voice, as well as a creative consultant for fashion and advertising companies in Japan. She currently is a contributing editor for Vogue Nippon, V Magazine, the New York Times Magazine, WWD, and Interview.
Style Deficit Disorder: Harajuku Street Fashion — Tokyo is available to order online, and will hit stores in February 2008 to coincide with New York Fashion Week.
Style Deficit Disorder: Harajuku Street Fashion — Tokyo
Tiffany Godoy
Hardcover, 240 pages
$29.95, Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books: www.chroniclebooks.com