Shanghairen Near Nanluoguxiang

Visiting from Shanghai, Esta works in event planning and most enjoys shopping at fabric markets.

从上海来的Esta做的是活动策划。她最喜欢在布料市场购物。

Jeffrey Ying Takes Nanluoguxiang

Jeffrey Ying Beijing Shanghai Labelking

Jeffrey Ying is a chic cat in Beijing’s pleb jungle…

When I need a job done properly, I rely on the services of young but talented Shanghaiese Jeffrey Ying (应捷), who is already quite famous in the online sartorialism community.  His base of operations for at least the next month is right here in Beijing, the Northern Capital, to which his eye-catching style and unique pursuits bring a great deal of drama. Jeffrey Ying’s main residences are in Shanghai’s French Concession, San Francisco, and right overlooking the Bosphorus in a city that he still insists on calling Constantinople. Here he wears a 1960s Kipper Tie and spectators from Moreschi that he describes as “bi-curious”.  Jeffrey himself tends to stay mum on such subjects, frequently responding to questions with the answer “you may think as much, but I could not possibly comment”.

Will his activities turn Beijing upside down this summer? But of course…A full profile will follow on these pages.  I can’t imagine that you won’t be hearing far more about Jeffrey Ying as he stalks the streets of Beijing like an apparition that could not possibly belong.

Jean Pierre Braganza at Nanluoguxiang

_-2211

Jean Pierre Braganza is a London designer whose fashion creations are sold throughout the world and soon in Beijing. In Beijing to teach local designers to inject sophistication and cool into their brands, he was strolling down Nanluoguxiang, enjoying the street festival and drinks at Salud.

Jean Pierre describes 27 as the best age. A man finally has some experience but is not yet overburdened with the worries and responsibilities of life. The possibilities can still be endless, but can be explored armed with a bit of wisdom and experience. In the early and mid twenties, a man is a boy, naïve and ignorant in the ways of the world. At 28 and 29, he frets about the impending thirties with the first sappings of physical strength, the restrictions on freedom imposed by society, career and a young family, and growing distance from dreams as well as old friends. In the late twenties, the pressures of a girlfriend to marry or a young wife to produce children become louder and louder. Jean Pierre has succumbed to both of these pressures, but he still enjoys nights out with friends, as long as they don’t involve surprise encounters with Karl Lagerfeld and the inevitable catfights.

Creative Types at Nanluoguxiang

hipster-couple

Walking down Nanluoguxiang, neither member of this couple had a terribly revolutionary or eye-catching style. They were very friendly and seem open-minded, which, in a world of much prejudice, often seems like having an attractive style. I was just struck by how well they represent a “type” in Beijing. “Creatives” are a relatively new type here and it is quite refreshing to see more and more of them around. This couple’s taste isn’t particularly chic but compared to mix of gaudiness and tackiness of most couples, it is quite nice. The two also go very well together. He is a freelance graphic designer and she does something similar – I didn’t have my notepad on me.

A Teacher at Nanluoguxiang

nglx

After all of these pics of young bohemians and foreigners promenading down Nanluoguxiang, Beijing’s hippest traditional hutong, I decided to photograph one of the real residents. Mr. Li Shuming is a painting teacher and he has lived on the street for several decades.

I liked the hat and the nice fit of his Mao jacket, actually called a Zhongshan jacket in China after Sun Yatsen. The jacket is made out of a thick wool, unlike most of the Mao jackets I see which are made from a ratty poly-blend. This is great outerwear and I suggest that viewers consider having modernized versions tailor-made.

Drifter Near Nanluoguxiang



She claims no profession and lives to enjoys life, presumably basking in her own rugged coquettery by night and rummaging through Xidan markets by day.

This picture was also featured in the November issue of That’s Beijing. Stylites in Beijing is a regular part of the fashion section of Beijing’s premier English Language magazine. Look out for pictures from Lane Crawford in the December issue.

American Rag Party @ The HUB

1618640490 The HUB, Asia’s leading premium fashion trade fair, is coming to Shanghai for the first time next week (Oct. 13-15). American Rag will be hosting a party that is sure to be the best of Shanghai Fashion Week, which goes from . Most interestingly, my dear friend Gia Wang will be performing at this party. I first met Gia on Nanluoguxiang when I took a photo of her for Stylites. If you want to attend this party, please RSVP to brian@thehub.hk.

At Meridian Party

I cannot believe that it has already been four years since I first met Fanfan when she walking down Nanluoguxiang in full Dongzu garb. It’s amazing to think how much has changed.

She and I were attending the launch party of Meridian, an event intended to introduce this new organization to the Beijing creative community and to celebrate the publication of their first illustrated children’s books.

More from Initial Fashion

Cola first appeared on Stylites four years ago – in fact he was one of the earliest people to appear on this blog. At that time he was working in a little shop in 3.3 that sold some rather interesting menswear. Now, he is one of the owners of the first Initial Fashion boutique that just opened on Nanluoguxiang.

I commented that it was a surprising location for a fashion brand like Initial given the somewhat down-market or touristy nature of much of the other retail on this famous lane. Cola responded that they wanted to be in a place redolent of Beijing’s traditional culture in keeping with the design of this specific shop. The theme of the next Beijing shop, which will be at Joy City mall in Xidan, will reflect that location. Aside from the Beijing outlet, the brand has five shops in Shanghai, each with a different theme.

A Darling Designer

Photographed two years ago on Stylites, Cecaa’s brand, Mon Cheri, has recently grown into something more major. He was at the Initial Fashion opening party. The first shop of this Hong Kong brand in Beijing is on tourist-overrun Nanluoguxiang, a somewhat unexpected location for such a hip shop.