Month: January 2008

Here is yet another man in boots. This gray is a big color for outerwear this season and it matches Beijing all too well. The boots and cut of the coat showed that military style is alive and well in Beijing, though the bag gave the look a decadent touch.

Plenty of young Beijingers do the hip hop thing but fail to individualize it. Here, Mr. Shen has given this imported fashion his own smart flair. Beijing has countless, very scrawny, young rich kids who wear baggy jeans below their hips and walk around with huge headphones. These hip hop enthusiasts tend to be so swathed in loads of fabric that one cannot really notice their face or anything else – talk about the clothes wearing the man. This is clearly not the case with Mr. Shen. Describing his style, Mr. Shen shrugged and said “hip hop” and he also said that I probably wouldn’t have heard of the groups he likes. Stylites will be featuring much more on local hip hop culture and style in the very near future – this will include the best stores and analysis of what it means for a Chinese person to live the hip hop lifestyle.

In China, hip hop ranks as an aspirational lifestyle, rather than as a response to some grim reality.

The river of long black puffer coats was forded with this high-waisted yellow wool number, charming with the little tie and lace that maximizes the cuteness of the wearer. With so much horrible lace in Beijing, it’s nice to see an example that is appealing. She said she looks bad in photos, and didn’t want to look into the camera. I think she looks quite alright though.

Ma Jing shops at whatever stores are on the way between her home and the Alliance Francaise where she takes classes every day in preparation for study in Paris next year. She has loved France for many years and is excited to finally be going. The most important element of style, according to Ms. Ma, is finding clothing that is appropriate for the wearer – clothing that brings out their best.

Drowsily pimping with fur and chains, Mr. Tian asked permission not to disclose his profession. Possessing a certain louche appeal, he had a manner and a delicate voice. Oddly, he joined several other Xidan pedestrians in describing the USA as the most stylish country. They didn’t know that I am American when answering the question – no one ever guesses it anyway.

I’m flattered and some parts of Manhattan support the claim. Still, this perspective can only be attributed to the availability of American movies through fake DVDs. Generally, the older or more educated a person seems, the less likely they are to call America the most stylish country, tending to make the more predictable choice, France. Among younger stylish people, other frequent choices are Korea and Japan. In fact, I would have to say that at this moment in time US pop culture is competing neck to neck with Korean pop culture, perhaps even more than Japanese.

With her boots, elegant hat, and sweet expression, Ms. Zhao successfully blends grit, glamour, and girlyness – perhaps requisites for an aspiring actress studying at the Beijing International Artistic Institute of Youth and Beauty, in Changping District.

Studying at Beijing Geely University, in Changping, Mr. Chen cultivates a “mature” style focused on the color black and dark gray. He shops right in Xidan.

He was smoking in a corner, away from the crowds. There is something both innocent and wicked about him. My photos from Xidan are in the January issue of That’s Beijing. Some of the cropping seems a bit off, but please have a look anyway.