Over the last few years, I was vaguely aware that some extreme teen fashions were coming out of Japan, but it took Chelsea Handler to make me realize how huge a trend Harajuku is all over the world. Of course, in true Chelsea fashion, she ruffled quite a few feathers, but I still found the phenomenon interesting, and it made me want to see more. (In a completely non-racist way. Please don’t write me angry letters. Thank you.)

Harajuku fashion is a street style which began in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan. The style typically incorporates bright colors and a wanton mixing and layering of styles, including traditional Japanese clothing, schoolgirl uniforms, kawaii (“cuteness”), cyber, goth, and punk. Childlike or (what looks to me like) clownish clothing is frequently worn, and wild color and pattern combinations are also encouraged. Even the boys get into it. Makeup is often dramatic and doll-like. What Handler missed is that Harajuku style is a very personal form of expression, an art form, really, and the Harajuku girls she interviewed are artists.

I hope you get as big a kick out of their crazy, fun combinations as I did!