Let’s continue our Tokyo shopping trip. I took photos inside Studio Alta, the Shinjuku department store for gyaru / gal / youth street fashion.

From Shinjuku Station east exit, walk straight and you’ll find Alta. There’s lots of colorful, electro fashion here.

This Jaoanese shop girl, dressed as a pirate, won my heart.

She’s captain of a new boutique, Fernopaa.

It’s rocker-80s: loads of studs, leopard print, toy soldier hats.

Dig the pirate girl’s arm jewelry, and the punked-out doll at counter.

As soon as you enter the glass doors of Studio Alta, you’ll find doll eyelashes, nail polish, and Hello Kitty cosmetics.

Also near the entrance: Liz Lisa.

The girly, gyaru brand is very popular in Japan.

Shoe stores are scattered throughout the building.

Animal prints and cute accessories are always in season.

The basement has a cool stockings / socks store.

Don’t overlook Claires, or the takoyaki and taiyaki stands! (The octopus balls are only 500 yen.)

What else can you find in Studio Alta? Sweet lingerie and PJs..

Street, punky clothing (quite well-priced, around $30-50 per item).

Some of the latest styles are… questionable.

But you can’t go wrong with nail art decals, and AC/DC backpacks.

PS: Speaking of shopping, thank you to Racked for interviewing me about my favorite obscure shop in LA: Hyaena Gallery! And arigato Kyoko for the drawing on the left, inspired by Yukiro and me.

What do you think of gal style in Japan? Which items and stores did you like best, out of the photos in this post? Let’s chat in the comments.

I know many of you miss my fire-engine red hair… so here are some photos from a modeling shoot last year, in Tokyo!

There’s only one place where you can get styled like this: a gyaru / hostess hair salon in Kabukicho.

You can flip through gyaru magazines like Ageha, and pick out the style you want. Not everyone can make an appointment at these salons, since they primarily serve hostesses. However, if a friend has a connection, you can squeeze in.

For only 2000 yen, you can have a stylized do like mine. It’s incredible how fast the hairdressers work, and the amount of hairspray used.

I did extreme makeup to match the hair, and have it stand out in the photos.

The ring and jewelry are gifted by Strange Freak, a Japanese brand closely associated with J-rock artists (they collaborated with Seba). The design is a tribute to Hide, the deceased guitarist of seminal Visual Kei band, X Japan.

Long, trailing vampire dress: gifted by Lip Service
Lace top: Moi-meme-Moitie, from Closet Child. (Designed by Mana-sama of Malice Mizer)

We took over an alleyway in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai.

Photos by the talented Joey Wong and Jim Ollett, who did my Bust Magazine shoot.

Prepping and goofing around with Sebastiano, between the shots.

He changed into a Hypercore t-shirt, and we mugged in front of the punk bar, Hair of the Dog.

Seba dropped my long Morticia Addams skirt in the puddle! He got yelled at for his bad behavior.

Seba’s a model for the Japanese menswear brand, Umbilical.

Do you like his distinctively Japanese hairstyle?

The red Hide Strange Freak pendant stands out.

We’re fast at photoshoots. About an hour later, it was time to pack up and head home.

La Carmina with hostess gyaru hair — yay or nay? Aren’t Japanese hairstyles fascinating?

PS: I’m having such fun at Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever… please follow my updates via Facebook!

Album of the Day: Mindless Self Indulgence – Tighter

Happy Spooky New Year! How did you ring in 2012? I’m in northern Italy with Seba — lots of mulled red wine and delicious, cheesy foods.

In Tokyo, many of my friends did the countdown at Decadance Bar, a colorful drag Gothic hangout. Preta Porco’s cheery yellow face always makes me smile.

A few months ago, Adrien saluted the bartender-performer during “Porco night.”

But nobody does it better than Porco.

That’s Adrien again — he’s quite the shape-shifter. You’ll always find cyber-glam creatures of the night at Decabar.

These Lolitas look sweet, but they’re here to party hard.

Under the blue hair and glasses, there’s Yukiro.

A place for pirates and absinthe.

There’s always a cyber-Goth-electronic DJ on hand. During special events, live performers like Selia grace the stage.

What’s this pink thing?

Something to be straddled?

Outside the bar, there’s a quieter lounge area where you can touch up your devil makeup.

Fun with torture chairs.

To top it off, there are delicious dinner sets.

Come to Decadance Bar! It’s right above Christon Cafe, Oriental Wave Bldg 8F, 5-17-13 Shinjuku. Get off on the eigth floor, and walk up to the 9th. For more Tokyo alternative club recommendations, view my Nightcrawling guide.

I leave you with Arina and her deadly custom nails art.

Have you ever seen an underground bar quite like this?

Album of the Day: VNV Nation – Automatic

Let’s continue our walk down memory lane, and review the second half of a spectacular 2011.

Sebastiano Serafini and I were guests at Luisaviaroma, an event that brings fashion’s most influential bloggers together. Events included tea with Mulberry, a grand dinner surrounded by animal bones, and haute couture photoshoots in the streets of Florence!

It’s hard not to love Italy. The food, the people, the fashion and architecture… If you missed it, here are all my Europe posts.

A few more milestones… I appeared in Bust Magazine, and on the cover of Alt Noir. I’m on another magazine cover in 2012; can’t wait to spill the beans.

Later that summer, a dream came true: I have a travel TV show on Huffington Post/AOL! In “Coolhunting Wisconsin,” I discover hip, weird, crazy attractions in and around Milwaukee — such as a spy-themed bar and retro love hotel. Watch the videos online.

In July, I jetted back to Tokyo to host and arrange the Japan episode of Fuel TV / Discovery’s Strangers in Danger. The BMX stars got saline donuts in their heads, among other daring tasks. (Are you exhausted from my constant traveling yet?)

The following month, the pretty-boy and I were Guests of Honor at Ani-Jam convention. It was fun to meet all of you who came. I also had a Hello Kitty birthday party at Hollywood club Mr Black, which was featured in LA Weekly.

Back to Tokyo again, to host/arrange episodes of Food Network’s “World’s Weirdest Restaurants,” and appear on NHK Kawaii TV.

I spent Halloween and Day of the Dead in Mazatlan, Mexico – hosting a series about the dark arts and culture. All my Mexican coverage is here, and videos are coming soon.

I haven’t even mentioned the various stops in LA and Vancouver, and my impending return to Italy in January for Firenze4Ever blogger conference…

All in all, it’s been my best year yet! I’m happy with how my work and travels have grown, as well as improvements to the site (loading time, photo quality and styling, etc). And it’s only going to keep getting better. Yarrr.

What are your proudest accomplishments from the past year? Favorite memories? What did you learn, or experience for the first time?

Album of the Day: The Birthday Massacre – Pins and Needles

While browsing the Bookoff in West Shinjuku, Seba and I found a Malice Mizer special magazine. We bought it for Yukiro… but not before snapping photos for you!

Boy, did Mana and Gackt look young in the early 1990s.

The magazine’s a dream for fans. Filled with pretty, colored drawings of the band.

Mana has a bit of a Sailor Moon vibe.

Inspired by the Gekka No Yasoukyaku PV (music video).

Sleek stage outfits.

And even a funny chibi comic!

Love how the band took glam rock influences and ran with them.

Can you guess how much this spectacular magazine cost?

350 yen — a measly $3.50!

Are you a Malize Mizer fanatic? What do you love best about the Visual Kei band?

Album of the Day: Mylene Farmer – L’Autre (she’s a big influence on the band)