Overall, the Asian fashion and luxury market still, despite the global crisis and the ensuing tiny slip, attracts westerners like tasty creamy brightly colored guacamole. So I'm venturing out this time, but not too far. When I think of Japan in terms of vestibule, my thoughts tend to wander off to the well-documented and fantastically wacky Harajuku scene. Aside from this teen-fuelled trend which emerged in the late 1970s however, we should not overlook the collection of influential fashion designers stemming from the land of mind-blowing skyscrapers (and let's be honest, even the traditional geisha costumes could already give my native country's milk-maid outfits a run for their money). Think popular pioneer Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garcons-founder Rei Kawakubo or Ritsuko Shirahama with her knitted dresses and "screen shirts" -- just to name a few.

Japan has reached a level which China has yet to attain in this field: A truly imaginative style set in a full-blown fashion scene. In order to perhaps shine a light on this speckled landscape for a Japan layman such as myself, Tokyo's recently refurbished Isetan Shinjuku Flagship Store, re-opened on March 6, presents itself as a true Japanese Fashion Museum (with branches from Hong Kong to London). From Dokidoki's Harajuku girls to Lolita style to urban-wear brand Ato to Tokyo-based designer Shueh Jen-Fang, the jumble of designs in this place offer you a sneak peek into Japan style. Fashion and art, they are reunited here (and yes, it does feel so good).

Fusion: Fashion meets art

Tokyo on the whole aspires to present its clientele with a fashion space embodying the fusion of both tradition and modernism. Aside from the more obvious luxury brands, a line-up of Tokyo-based brands, in keeping with both Japan's wonderfully self-inspired as well as overall global trends, is omnipresent. To give us a short what-to-expect guide to Japanese style, it's fitting to start off from mass brands and work our way up to elite design. Japan is bound to cater to all, from the mod-mad local to the Tokyo-thirsty foreigner. A good example brand displaying contemporary styles from the fast-moving metropolis itself, including fashion, art, culture and lifestyle (fusion, for sure), would be Jenny Fax, a brand oozing a sense of party and fantasy as well as the generally Hello Kitty syrupy yet sometimes acid-edgy (particularly fabric wise) creations from Tokyo-based, yet Taiwanese-born and ESMOD-educated, designer Shueh Jen-fang (whose husband by the way is Mikio Sakabe, a celebrated designer in his own right). Her collection leaves you with somewhat of a prom-night feeling -- not Carrie's though.

DOKIDOKI (… stating the obvious I suppose) Copyright@Minimal.jp

Harajuku: Art meets street

From Lolita flirtatiousness to Harajuku absurdity and hip-hop cool; if fashion is a form of art, which I certainly deem it to be, Japanese street-style has to be its Warhol (or Picasso). Harajuku is the Tokyo district located between Shinjuku and Shibuya, and obviously the Bethlehem of the style. For your cutie-pie fix, the DOKIDOKI HARAJUKU brand has been a leading power in Harajuku kawaii (Japanese for "adorable" or "cute") culture, a trend which has been gaining an increasing following outside of Japan's borders – I am now thinking of both Gwen Stefani ten years ago and a certain Beijing-based Italian friend of mine whose extreme love for this culture of adorableness makes me want to go Gaga (or Carrie) on her sometimes. DOKIDOKI offers eye-catching merchandise and must-haves for the wide-eyed innocently-styled burikko (the archetypical Harajuku girl), and always aims to cause a renewed kawaii roar in Shinjuku. The store has a love for bringing in limited editions available for just one event at a time. Nevertheless, if all this isn't enough to satisfy Tokyo's frilly Harajuku demand just yet, the brand is always on stand-by to whip up some special show for his doll-eye-popping Lolitas. (Note: The Lolita style really is a different sub-stream.)

I want those leopards-print high-heeled boots in my closet ASAP. "'Cause she's got jungle fever, he's got…" Ok. Copyright@Minimal.jp

Skyscraping frame: Street meets style

Of course any overview of what's available on Japan's distinctive get-up would not be complete without an infusion of pure Japanese ultimate design. Often credited for their minimalism -- the "less is more" style, basically design stripped down to its most essential and expressive characteristics such as that of Issey Miyake in the 1980s and 1990s -- and impeccable technique/cuts, Japanese fashion designers have certainly left their stamp on the international catwalks. Returning to Isetan, the concept of ReStyle TOKYO carries some 50 brands and designers, especially giving young Tokyo-based artists the opportunity to showcase and promote their work. All designs boast leading Tokyo fashion trends and aim at the adult woman, not the cutesy girl, as its main audience. TOKYO CLOSET then is a collection of Tokyo's already-established hottest designers, styles and up-to-the-minute street fashions -- the latter more often than not carrying a playful note to it.

In sum, whether you're a girly girl, a tomboy, a Takashi Murakami maximalist or a waify empress, Japan is sure to satisfy your every wardrobe whim.

Fashionistas United:

"Infuse your outfit with some Japanese street every now and then."

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