I'll give a little background because I understand that many don't have the same background as I do and the world of fashion probably is very foreign. Nuances that I notice aren't apparent to others and instances behind movements are difficult to understand as well.

I've been a fashionphile since my teen years when I did the whole punk thing and found some of the more interesting fashion houses. From there I attended college with fashion students that went on to work with the largest European fashion houses (re: McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.). One of my classmates even went on to place second on a recent season of Project Runway (Althea Harper). I also own a designer and vintage clothing resale business that helps me to involve fashion in my everyday life. So I understand that my opinion on this might be a bit jaded, but I felt the need to comment none the less.

To me, Shadowrun is about counter-culture, the freaks, the dirt that runs on the street that we can't talk about. It’s about doing everything to not be a corporate number munching zombie. For me, I see an obvious connection between these two worlds.

Fashion is a language all its own. Nearly 100 years ago fashion designers were communicating through their fashions and consumers were buying to tell others that message. The most obvious example of this that I can pull is the flapper style of the 1920's. Women's rights were pushed to their limits when women began to wear these leg-baring designs. An entire generation of women communicated their frustrations in a masculine dominated time by wearing a dress that bared her legs nearly entirely. Without a word these women pushed female rights forward for generations to come. They broke down the society's ideal of women and created their own. If that is not power I don't know what is.

One of the most relatable points of fashion history we can pull from is the London movement of the 1970's. Many people relate this movement to Vivienne Westwood but it actually began with both her and her musician partner Malcom McLaren (Manager: Sex Pistols/New York Dolls). In the early 1970's the pair opened a boutique that focused on selling clothing that took the ideal of what youth was supposed to be in London at that time and completely created Punk as we know it. Throughout the next forty years Vivienne Westwood pushed a counter-culture movement through the United States, Europe and finally into Japan in the 1990's.

Which gets to the adorable foofy ork drawing. The Japanese fashion culture may seem like it’s one of its own but really it’s not. It’s just evolving at a different speed than we are used to. Japan really came into the world as a power in the 1980's and because of the boom of corporate life, there were a large number of suddenly wealthy teens that could express themselves through clothing. Punk style was born out of a culture that expected youth to study, go to elite school and attain a corporate job. Japan had and is still having, a revolution of their youths that is speaking through fashion. Among other brands, Vivienne Westwood is one of the most popular brands for any fashion lover in Japan because of the precedent she set over 40 years ago. If you grab an issue of FRUiTS nearly every person in it will be wearing one piece (If not more) of Vivienne Westwood.

Out of her fashions the Japanese culture evolved a style all its own, from Gothic Lolita to Ganguro to Decora, it’s all just an evolution of the counter-culture in Japan that expected children to be one thing or another. It’s just the nature of a country developing and the youth rebelling. It's just how it works sociologically.

It started in the 1970's but really starting in the 80's and 90's Japan started to become a real world power in the fashion world. With lines like Comme des Garcons, MILK and even the influence of Murakami Japan left a big influence on the fashion world. The touch of Japanese culture in fashion is now so fluid it’s unable to be separated.

Now the point where someone said that this is just in Shibuya. I've lived in a few cities in my life, some smaller than others, but I've always seen some extent of counterculture exhibited by the young people. Sure, Shortcake up there is pretty loud colored, but it certainly isn't something I wouldn’t expect to see even today. I've seen plenty of people wearing clothing similar in small mid-western towns, probably just as often as I saw when I lived in Boston. It’s not uncommon.

Here's a blog that a makeup designer in San Fran writes that covers her entire life in the Decora/Lolita world. There are millions of people that wear clothing just like Shortcake every day. I don't know why you don't see it, but honestly, it’s there. It may be varying degrees, but it’s there, and it’s important to notice.

So I see Shadowrunners wearing things like this, maybe not everyone, but certainly to some extent, and fairly often. I can see her going to a club, or hell, just hanging around with friends. It’s just about expression.

There is a huge amount of power that goes with fashion and the expression of it. If you'll allow me to divulge into a bit of conspiracy/grey area I'll talk about the Mafia and fashion.

It’s been long thought that Italian fashion and the Mafia have a strong connection. It’s a perfect pair if you think about it. Producing exorbitantly expensive garments for a selected group of highly wealthy. There is a similar clientele and I think the Mafia and designers alike probably figured out this connection early on.

Strictly speaking, there's been a lot of questions about one of the larger fashion houses in Italy. Versace. You have probably seen the meme that's been around for ages where Donatalla Versace is placed next to the muppet? That tells a small portion of the story. The fashion house has never been hugely successful and in 1997 the then owner/creator, Gianni Versace was killed on the front entrance of his Miami home. Police ruled that they would "Never know why he was killed." A few years ago an ex-Calabrian Mafia member released that he was killed for outstanding debts.

When you look at the deeper picture it’s pretty clear that there were things going on and still are. The theory is that the Calabrian Mafia ('Ndrangheta) was laundering money through the Versace company in partial exchange for providing the family with copious amounts of cocaine (Hence the Muppet photo). Debts outweighed the contribution of the laundering and without payment being made they made their hit.

When Gianni was killed Donatella took seat at the helm (She only owns 20% though, her daughter Allegra is main stakeholder.) and while the company was in financial ruin and has since faced it at least a few more times, they still keep staying afloat. In 2006 it was stated that the company would need to go public to avoid collapsing, to my knowledge this still has not happened. The only reason I can find for this would be private funding in a large way.

The other large scandal in Italian fashion is that of black market goods that filter their way through Italy in various methods. One of the most striking examples of this was one I read about nearly 10 years ago where fashion houses were importing Asian factory workers to work in their factories. This allowed them to pay a miniscule amount for their work and place the ever coveted "Made in Italy" on the label. This was especially popular with leather goods and has been traced to some of the largest fashion houses including Prada.

So, to me, I can see this evolving in a large way in the next 50-60 years. I can see the dirty, black market connections growing ever deeper in a greedy society and I can easily see the youth continuing to express themselves in a way that doesn't quite look right to adults. I mean, sure Shortcake might not be great for covert ops, but if I just wanted to play that, I'd play Metal Gear Solid.