…while the girl’s store next door stays Sweet and Classic, in the vein of Jane Marple and Emily Temple Cute. Can’t you imagine the French character Madeline totting around a red, heart-shaped purse to match her kind heart?

On a different note… many of you have asked for music recommendations, especially in my favorite genres: Visual Kei (J-rock), EBM (electronic body music), Gothic, and darkwave. I discovered some gems while at Tokyo nightclubs, and I’m excited to share them with you. And so… drumroll please… I’m debuting a new feature called “Song of the Day!”

Henceforth, at the end of each blog post, I’ll include a link to a YouTube video along with the artist and track name. Let me know what you think in the comments, and please leave your own song recommendations. I hope you enjoy this new feature.

MaruiOne’s most recent Kera snaps captured some big fish in the Gothic Lolita pond. Here is the always-alluring Manamu, who wore an eyepatch and tiled tights in an Absolut Metropolis ad. Her eclectic outfits have been consistently featured in magazine style snaps – and it’s pretty clear why.

On the right, we have Maki and Asuka, the Angelic Pretty designers who were recently at LA’s Cosplay Oneesan. The ladies on the left are photographers; Alice was clinging onto a scary Teletubby doll at the last Alamode Night.

On a different note, reader Don sent me a link to an old but compelling article about Hong Kong Lolitas. The journalist interviews several Lolis, who say their unconventional clothing brings on scoffs and showers of eggs! “People think we are over-exaggerated, but we are just being ourselves, we do nothing wrong,” says one. Quite a few girls have felt forced to change their ways, which has stifled interest in the fashion in Hong Kong.

Have you ever received uncomfortable reactions to your clothing? How did you deal with these attacks?