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Dover Street Market, Tokyo

Where? In Tokyo's Aoyama, a paradise for the serious fashionista. The area pays homage to designers both local and international, with boutiques including Dresscamp, Bape, Issey Miyake and Tokyo's own version of Colette, Loveless.

Who? Fashion visionary and designer Rei Kawakubo, the creative mind behind the successful Comme des Garcons label, launched the first Dover Street Market in London several years ago. The Tokyo outpost opened its doors to the public in early September with the same mission as its British counterpart: 'It's a microcosmic version of beautiful chaos,' says a store spokeswoman.

Fashion finds: the store is one-tenth of the size of the London branch but still features plenty of fashion must-haves. It is a paradise for all Comme fans, with an edited selection of each of the brand's lines, including the romantic bridal-inspired collections of Tao and Junya Watanabe's edgy punk-inspired creations. Men are catered to with Comme de Garcon Homme, Homme Plus, DSM T-shirts and Junya Watanabe Men. Other brands available include Joe's denim, British chain Topshop's high-end line, Unique, and Soren Skyt sweaters. Accessories include hats from milliner Stephen Jones, jewellery from Erickson Beamon and sunglasses from Cutler & Gross.

The vibe: despite covering 2,100 sq ft, the boutique is discreet, having only a side entrance and no windows. The interior, described as 'a clash of creative energy', was conceived by Kawakubo with the participation of acclaimed interior designer Michael Howells and two Japanese artists, Yuichi Higashionna and Kahori Maki.

The crowd: older Japanese women who have loved Kawakubo since the 1980s and young, fashion-hungry locals. Tourists frequently visit to check out the creations of one of Japan's most successful designers.

Extras: the boutique stocks limited-edition items made exclusively for its Tokyo branch. Exhibitions and other artistic collaborations are in the works.

Dover Street Market Tokyo is at 5-12-3 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, tel: 81 3 5468 8301.

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