The obsession of Western designers and just about everyone else with “Old Shanghai” will not end. Whether a fashion collection or a drink specials night at a club, the grand dame of the orient attracts with her gaudiness and perceived decadence. In the 1930s, this least Chinese of Chinese cities possessed, in our modern minds, elements of glamour, eclecticism, and exoticism that other historic periods as well as the present never seem to match. For Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs designed a new Shanghai-inspired collection now being panned by fashion critics as reeking of orientalism. More critique from the Shanghaiist and pictures from the NYT. Despite the tacky aura of the collection, a few pieces look marketable, but I fear that many of the looks could be achieved after an afternoon excavating at the Xiushui market, here in Beijing. Of course you could save the stress of haggling by going directly to the LV boutique not ten minutes away.
Month: October 2010
Rebel with a Balloon
I love it when parents let their kids have some style.
一个玩气çƒçš„å°å›é€†ã€‚我很喜欢父æ¯è®©å©å穿的有特点。
Mysteriously Blue
Angular
Photo: Junshen
The whole look is surprisingly consistent from the shape of her face down to that of her shoes.
A Mix of Sentiments
Young novelist Zhou Yuanyuan enjoys the last moments of daylight at the Modern Sky Festival. Others were not feeling the pure joy…
å¹´é’作家周æºè¿œç¬‘得很真实在摩登天空音ä¹èŠ‚。 他的代表作å«ã€Šæˆ‘å°±ä¹æ„è¿™æ ·å¯‚å¯žäº†ã€‹ã€‚
Updated Advertising Section
The information on advertising was just updated. Also, just launched is Stylitems, a section focused on product reviews and promotion.
Hipster Emblem: The Polka Dress
If I were asked to pick one abiding emblem of the contemporary Chinese hipsterish girl, it would have to be the polka dot dress, here in a nice emerald like shade.
Feminine Fop
Photos: Junshen
This is one of the more interesting looks from Modern Sky. I like the use of the flower as a kind of pocket square.
The Shopkeepers
The Modern Sky Festival also had a bazaar hawking cheap but hip wares, from nerd glasses, to vintage ties, to the omnipresent Feiyue Sneakers.
This merchant is wearing the same sailor’s hat.
The Red Cape
Photo: Suzy
At a festival where psychedelic tights were frequently mixed with a floral dress and two-tone shoes, it was nice to see one color being enough.
An in-Tents Festival
Think “music festival” and hipsters in tents may not be what comes to mind.
Many parties at Modern Sky Festival made sure to bring or rent a tent for the day – staying overnight was not allowed – for a variety of reasons.
Blue Sky, Cool Shades
Obviously, there is only one rock legend one can think of upon seeing this college student, who has a “I love mosh” sticker on his sweater.
Beijingers appreciated the rare blue skies that graced the Modern Sky Festival. I hope the next few days will be the same.
In Front of Modern Stage
Colorful dresses in patterns beyond floral with colorful tights were the name of the game around the Modern Stage, where many of the more pop-rock acts were performing. The other stages were the Sky, Badhead and Electronic.
A Smart Blonde
On the right is Modern Media renaissance man Jian Cui, who lightened up his hair for the Modern Sky Festival and is now proof that blondes can be intelligent. The fun will end in a month when he goes back to black.
Polka Sky
There are more polka dots at the Modern Sky Festival than stars in the sky or…people in China. However, few of them are on men.