Consider her Japan's answer to The Sartorialist.

Like her New York counterpart Scott Schuman, Tokyo-based street photographer Rei Shito is an Internet superstar, thanks to her street snaps of Japanese stylemeisters.

Since she began her blog Style From Tokyo (http://stylefromtokyo.blogspot.com) in 2004, she has become the poster girl for the quirky style that epitomises Tokyo's funky denizens.

'I am very inspired by the people of Harajuku,' said Shito, 30, of the youth district in Tokyo.

'There, there are no rules when it comes to dressing. People mix designer labels with cheap finds from street stores and put together unlikely combinations of clothing. There are no limits and that, to me, is the beauty of Harajuku.'

She was in town two weeks ago for the launch of the Harajuku Street Style pop-up store in Tangs Orchard which features 11 Japanese street labels. The Tangs store closes on Sunday and will reopen at Tangs VivoCity next Friday.

Clad in a ruched white cotton dress thrown over a printed bikini top, a checked jacket draped over her shoulders and split-toe military boots, the pint-sized photographer oozed the offbeat fashion sensibility that she waxes lyrical about.

At the pop-up store's launch party on Jan 15, she photographed 10 snappy dressers for Tangs' online competition.

Urban writer Rohaizatul Azhar was among them.

'I like how he balanced the colours and proportion in his outfit,' said Shito, who did not know he was from the press.

Photographs of the 10 finalists are posted on www.tangs.com.sg and members of the public can vote for the best dressed. The winner gets a return air ticket to Japan and will be featured on a Japanese variety show.

Shito, who counts designers like Dries Van Noten as well as Japanese labels such as Black Means among her favourites, said she is no clothes snob.

Instead, it is all about the fit. 'I think it is more important to pick clothes of the right size,' she said, noting that she scours vintage stores like Hello Texas and Sister in Tokyo for unusual finds.

'Don't just stick to clothing in a size S because each designer cuts the clothing differently. Always try on the clothes before you buy them.'

What do you think of street style in Singapore?

My overnight stay is too short for me to take in enough street style to give a verdict.

However, based on what I've seen, many people here are casual in their dressing and prefer wearing simple outfits such as dresses with sandals or tank tops with jeans or shorts.

What aspects of Singaporean street style do you like?

Singaporeans excel in wearing colourful prints. I saw a woman wearing a printed floral shirt and thought that her outfit matches the weather here perfectly.

How can Singaporeans dress better?

I would challenge them to inject more variety into their dressing. For example, mix on-trend items with casual basics to make your outfit more interesting.

Layering is a must, or modify the silhouette of your clothes by rolling up the sleeves and pant legs, for example. It is possible to layer even in this weather. Just choose thin cotton clothing.

Check out how other people in other countries dress to get ideas and browse magazines, websites and blogs for inspiration.

Now that there are so many street photographers, is there competition to take the best pictures and find the most outrageous outfits?

I never thought of this as a competition. Some people compare me with The Sartorialist and I take that as a compliment. I like him very much for his friendliness - we sometimes run into each other at fashion week shows - as well as his eye for beauty.

Here is what Rei Shito has to say of her three favourite snaps in Singapore:

Viona Chor, 45, assistant vice-president of merchandising

I love the sense of balance and proportion in her white shirt and slim-fit jeans.

I think she is very confident and knows her body well - she isn't afraid to show off her long arms and legs.

Tan Eng Chong, 35, hairstyling assistant

I love the way he layers his outfit. His look attracted me because I did not see many people, especially Singaporean men, styling their clothes in layers and I think it looks very fresh.

Dianna Tai, 22, writer

Her high-waisted pleated pants with faux fur vest stood out from the mainly casual outfits I saw at the Harajuku Street Style Launch. I find the element of winter dressing a refreshing change in Singapore.

Best of all, she's got a cute smile.

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This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.