Photos&Text: Suzy
I also met fellow streetstyle photographer Mavener. I like her unpretentious yet cool style but unfortunately don’t remember the site she works for, will update as soon as I find out.
Author: stylites
Nels Frye is a freelance writer, photographer, consultant and stylist, based in Beijing. Focuses are on street style, other consumer trends, and broader social issues.
A Peugeot Owner
Magazine editor Juliette, who lived in Paris for quite a few years and has now returned to Shanghai, owns a Peugeot, but on most days, she rides the bus to get to work. She does, however, have a bike, but she usually uses it just for going to buy flowers.
Blogger from Taiwan
Taipei-based designer and blogger Milla Huang, creator of a brand called méchant bébé, flew to Shanghai to attend the Colors magazine Transport event. She ordinarily relies on a combination of foot and subway to get around. However, she does have a car for longer excursions.
More on Transport
The Jingdaily has more photos and information on the Transport exhibition now at Shanghai’s Hong Miao art gallery.
The Outlook on Beijing’s Roads
I also met Beijinger Chen Jiaojiao at the Transport event. She seems unassuming and casual – quite “Beijing” – considering her position: Editor-in-Chief of The Outlook Magazine. Yes, this is that “cool, creative magazine” here in China that foreigners ask me about. The Outlook Magazine is sometimes confused with media maven Hong Huang’sIlook, though the two publications have very different Chinese names and general appearances. Both arewell-established as hip or avant-garde titles, most of which drop by the wayside after a few issues.They are alsodistinct from fashion magazinesEsquire, Cosmo, Ray Li,et al, which rarely contain surprises.
I asked Chen how she gets to her office in Sanlitun from her home in Shuangjing. She and her husband, who works as Creative Director at the same magazine, take a brown Miniman to work every day. The Miniman is apparently a slightly extended version of the Mini. They do have bikes, but these are used mainly for running errands in the neighborhood as the ride to work is both too long at 40 minutes and too dangerous and disorderly.
Of the homemade vehicles on display at the Transport exhibition, she found the makeshift tanks used by Libyan rebels most inspirational.
Not Driving
Also at the ColorsTransport event was Gene Ku Chien is Editor-in-Chief of ppaper, a fashion and lifestyle publication based in Taipei. Gene takes a subway to work most days, though late at night he cabs. With no car, bike, or motorbike, he finds driving unappealing. Cutting down on emissions was not the initial goal, though it is a welcome benefit.
Time to Bike
While at the Colors Magazine Transport event, I asked some guests how they get around.
Shanghai-based Psydee Yang, who works in advertising, just bought a new Forever bike in deep purple. Now that the weather is cooler, she is hoping to ride it to work more often.
The commute: Subway takes 20 minutes, bus 15, walking 30 and bike 15.
At Transport Event in Shanghai
Here I am with Wu Yulu, a farmer from outside Beijing who created the Wu Lao series of robots. Since 1986, Wu has single-handedly built over 40 humanoids capable of performing all sorts of tasks from giving massages to lighting cigarettes. The one pictured behind us is smoking.
More Info on Bulgari
Due to time constraints, I don’t always get to fully introduce all of the various events I attend here. Fortunately, I scored invitations for my colleagues over at the Jing Daily. Their site now offers a nice overview of the Bulgari Retrospective at the National Museum.
More from Bulgari
Photo&Text: Suzy
I have always admired those who dress in real vintage almost from head to toe. Here, fashion designer Elysée Yang is in an Italian orginal she purchased last year.
At Bulgari
Sunny was at it again. For the opening of the Bulgari Jewelry show at Beijing’s National Museum, he had over 20 invitations to distribute amongst his friends. How is this guy so well connected?
An Office Girl
Photos&Text: Suzy
With a vintage bag and in a Zara skirt, she is a white collar who was window shopping in Sanlitun.
New Order Bassist in Beijing
I normally don’t mention music events here, but this seems particularly special. Peter Hook from New Order, among my favorite bands, will be performing here in Beijing at Tango this Saturday (9/3) at 9:00 pm. Click “more” for the details. I commented before that New Order, like the Pet Shop Boys, would be a good choice for one of those mega-fashion events here in China (but of course New Order is longer together).
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.