Harajuku, Japan’s fashion capital, is renowned for its unique street fashion where trendy teens flock to on weekends to express their passion through fashion.

Even Hollywood celebs like Gwen Stefani, Madonna and daughter Lourdes, Katy Perry, and Kim Kardashian have adapted the bold and quirky Harajuku fashion, putting together their own Harajuku look based on the various Japanese street styles such as Gothic Lolita, Punk, Cosplay, Decora, Kawaii, Ganguro, and Kogal.

Street fashion is one of the cultural aspects of Japan that will be showcased in “The Best of Anime,” an anime festival slated on Sept. 19, at Function Room 5 of the SMX Convention Center. The event features special pavilions that cover the various aspects of anime, including Japanese culture and tradition, manga magazines and comics, illustration, cosplay, dubbing, Japanese cuisine, online games, blogging, and many more. Here is how to put together your own Harajuku look:

Gothic Lolita. It’s sweet meets scary in this Harajuku style that mimics a Victorian porcelain doll. Get this look with frilly, ruffled knee-length dresses in black, white or soft pastel colors; flouncy aprons and corsets; lacy knee socks or opaque stockings; and chunky maryjanes or lace-up boots.

Accessorize with tiny top hats cocked to one side, beribboned headbands, skullie jewelry, parasols, and dramatic handbags; then pump up the goth with hair and makeup: coiffed ringlets or back-combed pigtails; staple dark eyeliner or an elaborate eyeline design; dark, jewel-toned makeup; and even small tattoos.

Punk. Also called “Visual Kei,” this style is inspired by music, particularly Jrock (Japanese Rock). The look incorporates eccentricity and androgyny, as this style takes inspiration from rock icons, who are mostly male.

Hair is the most important part of the Harajuku punk look – it has to be extreme. Harajuku punks often sport a wild, attention-getting hairstyle with crazy colors, long bangs, and unnaturally straight cuts, with hair sticking out in all directions. Eyeliner, and dark lipstick are also staples.

As for clothing, think over-the-top rockstar: metallic vests, pantsuits, leather pieces, striped hand socks, and biker boots.

Kawaii and Decora. Kawaii styles are characterized by childlike playfulness, involving clothes that appear to be made for young children, or clothes inspired by cute cartoon characters: animal hoodies with ears or horns, furry tails, and even mascot costumes.

Decora, short for “decoration” is a subgenre of Kawaii achieved with layers of clothing, preferably pink, and lots of accessories – bright colored hairclips, plastic jewelry, bells, and furry toys.

Cosplay. Short for “costume play,” cosplay involves dressing up as a character from manga, anime, movies, books, or videogames. Depending on the character, cosplay usually involves elaborately detailed costumes – real cosplayers make theirs from scratch! – and cross-dressing with male and female characters.

Ganguro and Kogal. Ganguro and Kogal styles are modern Harajuku styles that emerged in the 2000s, inspired by Western influences and said to be a rebellion against the Japanese aesthetic.

Ganguro is inspired by the ghetto girl look – bleached hair, deep tan, black and white eyeliners, pastel eyeshadows, false eyelashes, facial gems, platform sandals or boots, bright colored tops, shorts and mini-skirts, and blinged-out phones.

Meanwhile, the Kogal style is California-girl inspired: blonde hair, golden tan, lots of makeup, tank tops and mini-skirts, tube dresses, flip flops or high-heeled sandals, cowboy hats, the latest gadgets, and signature items, such as Burberry scarves and Louis Vuitton handbags.

The Best of Anime 2010 is a co-located event of the Manila International Book Fair, which runs from Sept. 15-19 at the SMX Convention Center. For details, call 890-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail info@primetradeasia.com.