Shopping and sporting tips from four Shanghai fashion experts
Drawing Shanghai fashion inspiration from sources as diverse as traditional Dragon Boat Festival snacks to fabric markets, pole-dancing getups and 8-bit video games, four of the city’s fashionistas discuss their favorite trends and Taobao shops.
Shanghai fashionista: Frau Ana
Fashion designer, www.frau-ana.com
Ana’s style can best be described as “juicy” –-- and we’re not talking about velour track suits.
With her close-cropped blonde hair, Monroe-piercing and poppy-red lips, Ana is a pack of Skittles personified. She channels this lusciousness into her label, Frau Ana, a collection of day-glo costumes for discerning women who don’t want to grow up.
Personal style: “I am all about colors! For me, it's important to dress how you feel. So the combination of comfortable fabrics and bright colors is the perfect style for me.”
Favorite Shanghai fashion trend: “I really like that right now more independent Shanghai designers are gaining recognition,” says the German native. “It’s not just about Western style copycats anymore.”
Current Shanghai fasion obsession: “I am addicted to jumpsuits. They are as pretty as dresses but way more comfortable.”
Shops at: “One of the best new shops in town is Fusion on Julu Lu. It's a concept store that focuses on the combination of fashion, art and music. Just perfect!”
Fusion, 272 Julu Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu 巨鹿路272号, 近茂名南路, +86 21 6217 7144, fusionfashion.net, hours: Monday to Sunday noon to 10 p.m.
Shanghai Fashionista: DiDi Meng
Fashion designer, owner of Pink Chandelier
It’s a rare type of woman who looks pristinely put together even when she’s rocking an oversized Oxford and jean shorts.
DiDi has this inborn glamour that would prevent her from making a fashion blunder even if she wanted to. It doesn’t hurt that the Changchun native is handy with a sewing machine, whipping up outfits for herself and for her customers at Pink Chandelier.
Personal style: “A friend once said to me, ‘DiDi, I never see you wear the same clothes twice.’ The truth is I do, but I wear the same clothes different ways or matched with different accessories. I wear what I like but I always find a way to make it my own.”
Favorite Shanghai fashion trend: “The looks of the moment I really love are caped coats, leather skirts and exaggerated warm sweaters. Suits in camel look great too.”
Current Shanghai fasion obsession: “I love searching markets for fabrics [think: the fabric market at 399 Lujiabang Lu] with no idea of what I’m going to do with them. I’ll take them out once in a while and decide, ‘This silk would make a great dress’ or ‘That fabric would be perfect for a blouse.’ I have a box full of material that is just sitting and waiting for inspiration.”
Shops at: “When I’m buying for my store, I always end up buying for myself as well. I like browsing the smaller shops on Xinle Lu [新乐路, 近襄阳南路] and Changle Lu [长乐路, 近瑞金二路] looking for surprises. I’m not crazy about the big brands but I do like checking out Zara and H&M to see what’s going on and what people are buying.”
H&M, multiple locations, 651 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Sinan Lu 淮海中路, 近思南路, +86 21 5383 8866, www.hm.com, Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Pink Chandelier, Suite 49, 417 Huaihai Lu, near Danshui Lu 淮海中路49室, 近淡水路, +86 21 6385 0882, daily 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Shanghai Fashionista: Samantha Meng Yun
News and media executive, Jiaotong University
Always au courant, this self-professed Taobao addict takes a playful approach to fashion, mixing and matching the latest trends to suit her mood.
As with all great forms of self expression, sometimes the beauty lies not in what is there, but in what isn’t. This Shanghainese girl isn’t averse to showing a bit of skin, and doesn’t stress if she doesn’t have time to change between pole-dancing class and meeting friends for dinner. It’s all part of playing dress-up and not taking herself -- or her style -- too seriously.
Personal style: “Easy-going with a good sense of humor. I’m a Gemini so I can be really outgoing and crazy sometimes, and more quiet and controlled at other times.”
Favorite Shanghai fashion trend: “There’s so much variety in Shanghai. Some girls are inspired by Japanese and Korean styles, while others dress in a more European style. And of course, locals love to wear pajamas.”
Current Shanghai fasion obsession: “I’m a big fan of apricot-colored clothes and accessories lately. Also this black jacket I just bought; it goes well with everything! And my drink of the moment is tequila apple juice.”
Shops at: “I hardly ever go out shopping since I started shopping online last year. My favorite Taobao shops are moss2010.taobao.com, shop35682093.taobao.com, and Mr Lee.”
Shanghai Fashionista: Coco Sui
Jewelry designer, Feeling Town
Qingdao-born Coco Sui is a fashion paradox: her personal style tends toward the ethereal and feminine (think long flowing skirts and minimal make-up), but as the mastermind behind the Feeling Town jewelry line, Coco creates pieces with a rocker-chick edge, from leather wrist bands to chunky torus chain necklaces, to blinged-out brooches inspired by Dragon Boat Festival staple-snack zongzi.
Personal style: “Simple, pure and free, with a focus on accessories.”
Favorite Shanghai fashion trend: “The return of the broad-shouldered silhouette. It’s a kind of romantic revivalism -- more than just a fad.”
Current Shanghai fasion obsession: “Zippers. I love zippers everywhere, whether on jewelry, shoes or furniture.”
Shops at: “I buy clothes and cosmetics online at www.asos.com. You have to pay GBP 40 to ship to China, but the store’s prices are fair. I go to Zara for basics. For designer clothing I shop at I.T in Plaza 66.”
Zara, multiple locations, 1189 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shanxi Bei Lu 南京西路1189号,近陕西北路, +86 21 6279 3282, www.zara.com; I.T, 3/F, Plaza 66, 1266 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shanxi Bei Lu 南京西路1266号3楼, 近陕西北路, +86 21 6288 4270, www.ithk.com
