LV is China’s Number One

Louis Vuitton is the most desired luxury brand in China, according to a list by Bain & Company, that ranks Chanel and Gucci second and third. Despite the omnipresence of those tired names, the retail and luxury landscapes are diversifying. According to this Global Times piece, Chinese are becoming more selective, focusing on style rather than merely the perceived status of a brand, and CNN reports that many Chinese luxury consumers don’t care about brand name at all, prioritizing the shopping experience.

More and more, luxury buying will be happening beyond conventional shopping centers.

Purple Labeler

If I were doing this blog in NYC, I might not take a picture of this fellow. However, it Beijing I have never seen anyone, Chinese foreign, dressed this way. He is wearing a Ralph Lauren Purple Label suit and tie. Very nice, though a pocket square might not hurt.

如果在纽约做这样的博客不一定会拍他,但在北京从来没见过穿这样服装的人 - 不管是外国人还是中国人。

Lane Crawford: The Gents

Lane Crawford’s Winter Soiree brought out the most happening fellows in town for Moët and pop-up shops.

This top is made by a Beijing tailor out of fabric purchased in India.

北京最时尚的男人都来到连卡佛冬日聚会为了一边喝香饼,一边购物。

上面的衣服是北京的裁缝用印度买的布料做的。

Mega Mengmeng in Masha Ma

Masha Ma worn by Mega Mengmeng

Also at Lane Crawford, fashion writer and stylist Mega Mengmeng is wearing a coat from a series that she is designing together with Paris and Shanghai based Chinese designer Masha Ma, called MegaMengMeng by Masha Ma. Here Mega Mengmeng is on a London street style blog.

Masha Ma, based between London, Paris and Shanghai, is one of the most famous fashion designers in China at the moment and she has received an amount of coverage in the Western media to match that distinction. In this Guardian article, the Central Saint Martins graduate who also worked directly with the late Alexander McQueen, explains the secrets to success in the exciting fashion market that is China – apparently the first trick is to embrace the chaos. Here are interviews on the Kering site, the South China Morning Post, and the Time website.

Renzo Rosso

There would have been a lot of people to photograph at Diesel’s giant Sanlitun Village North shop opening the other night, but unfortunately I forgot to recharge the battery in my camera. It was a busy day at the magazine and my mind wasn’t on Stylites.

I did get to meet Diesel’s founder and CEO, Renzo Rosso.

Diesel在三里屯揭幕当晚一定有不少人用相机记录下了此次盛会,而我却忘了给自己的相机充电。那天编辑部特别忙,我的精力完全不在Stylites上。

当晚我见到了Diesel的创始人兼CEO,Renzo Rosso。

Anina in Lu 12.28

At a Lane Crawford party, Anina is one of the better-known foreign models operating in China. She also runs a major fashion website.

Her jacket is by Beijing-based designer Liu Lu.

Anina可能是最有名的在中国工作的外模。她的彩色服装的品牌是LU 12.28。

Galeries Lafayette Coming to Beijing

The legendary Paris department store, already a favorite of Chinese tourists, will be arriving in Beijing by 2014. They are teaming up with HK retailer I.T. It seems they’ve been thinking about this since 2007. I wonder if the major American department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney’s, etc. would do well here. Currently, the only department stores of their type are the Swank and Lane Crawford, both from Hong Kong.

Joy Island

This photo and interview was in Modern Weekly a while back. Photographer Joy Island got interested in fashion while studying in London.

欢岛是个时装摄影师。她曾经在伦敦带过,在那边也学了很多时尚的东西。她跟好多种的时尚杂志有合作。

Fur Hat Season

It is upon us. It’s nice to see that more Beijingers are finding hats to be stylish these days. In the past, the spectacle of people in giant, grotesque, puffer coats going hatless was always amusing.

我很开心最近更多的时尚一点的北京人愿意戴帽子。原来我一直觉得看到很多人穿着特厚的羽绒服但不戴帽子有点好笑。