With their frilly frocks and Victorian-inspired style, devotees of Gothic and Lolita fashion have been making the scene on the streets of Tokyo for years. But recently, this stylish subculture has caught on in America as more and more girls are discovering its beauty, romance and mystery. The roots of this fashion revolution can be found in the pages of Gothic & Lolita Bible.

After years of publishing manga featuring Gothic and Lolita fashions (such as Paradise Kiss and Doll), TokyoPop has imported this influential fashion "mook" (magazine/book) to American shores. Under the guidance of Senior Editor Jenna Winterberg and Coordinating Editor Michelle Nguyen, the first volume of this fashion quarterly made its debut in February, and is a combination of "greatest hits" from the Japanese edition, plus new articles, photos and features exclusively for the American edition, including:

• Spotlight and interview with Gothic manga creator Mitsukazu Mihara
• Interview with Aimee Major Steinberger, author of Japan Ai, cosplayer and Lolita fashionista extraordinaire.
• Interview with J-Rock sweetheart Nana Kitade
• "Lolita U.S.A." - a photo feature about American Lolita style
• Interview with Candy Violet designer Vivien Hoffpauir

And a lot more, packed into 128 over-sized, full-color pages.

Check out my interview with Jenna and Michelle, and find out more about the origins of this eye-catching fashion trend and style subculture and TokyoPop's plans for a Gothic and Lolita invasion at an anime con near you.

Also, get a peek inside the pages of the first volume of Gothic & Lolita Bible in the preview gallery.

Image credit: © TOKYOPOP