STYLITES IN BEIJING

The Green and the Black

Though quite simple, this color combination is not common and has an elegant effect.  Jia Jiajia is a travel agent born in Beijing.  She now lives around Wudaokou though she prefers the Gulou area for shopping.  While acknowledging that the Olympics are a source of pride, she bemoans the loss of much of Beijing’s original character to make way for modern construction projects, mainly malls and high-rises.

Add comment August 7th, 2008

“One Color Tone, Please”

Co-creative director of Le Divan, Australian designer Tony Hua thinks most Beijing men wear oversized clothing and ensembles that don’t match in color or proportion.  He recommends that men choose a style and stick with it rather than trying to mix and match too much.  Most local men would benefit from wearing basic colors like black and white and steering clear of patterns, logos, and advice-giving girlfriends, whose tastes are often highly suspect.   Le Divan’s shop will be opening soon at Soho Shangdu.

1 comment August 6th, 2008

Pen Ablaze

Laura is a freelance journalist from Taiwan who writes for a range of Mainland publications including Modern Weekly and Vogue.  She covers luxury goods, jewelry and other fashion topics.  She loves Beijing, staying here at least three to four months out of the year.  Her favorite is the part of the city within the Second Ring Road.

1 comment August 4th, 2008

Emperor of D Hutong

D is the singer for D and the Hutong Cats.  He was born on Shajin Hutong in the ‘80s but really should have been born in Nashville in the ‘50s.  The style of his band and dress is decidedly rockability as he says himself.  There was already a photo crew following him through the hutongs when I found him. 

4 comments August 3rd, 2008

Black Coffee with Sugar

I love it when people appear on Stylites more than once -especially lovely people like Kiki.  Last time it was in winter. Always on the way to a rehearsel or show, Kiki, the lead singer of Milk and Coffee, returns in black, as usual, but her smile and the heart make the color warmer.  Sometimes I feel that black looks a little bit uncomfortable on a hot day though.  But what is the fluffy thing in her hand used for? 

7 comments August 2nd, 2008

Gentleman Director

These hats are popular in Japan, from whence this young film student, studying directing, hails.  He commented that there is not much good fashion for men in Beijing and everything he wears if bought in Tokyo.  It’s nice to see a little bit of pattern and not the usual black on his slim tie.  The mustache also adds a certain edge to otherwise precious look.

1 comment July 31st, 2008

Killer Looks

Having now appeared on the cover of Newsweek and toured in the United States and Japan, Hang on the Box front woman Gia W. is known for her agitated singing style.  Considered representatives of the new Chinese youth since the late ‘90s, they claim Marilyn Manson and Billy Corgan as fans.  Gia’s outfit was purchased mainly in Tokyo and consists of Japanese brands.  She said her day job is oil painting. 

5 comments July 30th, 2008

Classics, Head-to-Toes

Who did I run into on Nanluoguxiang the other day but Richard Lu, a long-time star of Stylites?  Founder and CEO of Classical Public Relations Co., Ltd., Richard believes men’s style in Beijing is ever improving but needs to gain a more “international” flavor.  He suggests that men here read more fashion magazines and find girlfriends who have taste and are happy to dress their girlfriends.  The foreign men of Shanghai are much more fashionable than those of Beijing, whose style Richard describes as “square.”

4 comments July 24th, 2008

Constantine the Creative

Constantine Comenos teaches music, plays base, and has designed his entire wardrobe, having it produced by Beijing tailors.  He loves the process of sketching his outfits and selecting fabric, best found in Southern cities.  It always perplexes him that more men fail to take advantage of the inexpensive tailoring to exercise their creativity.  The key to staying cool in summer is moving slowly and infrequently, according to Constantine. 

1 comment July 20th, 2008

Hats at I.T. Gallery

Comme des Garçons had a somewhat odd photography exhibit at the I.T. Gallery.  There were numerous fashionistas whose photos I could have taken, but my flash was being uncooperative again and there was also much distracting champagne.  Edie Bao is a reporter for Milk Magazine, and she did name herself after the beauty of Warhol’s Factory.  Like all the other galleries at 798, I.T. is in a former factory.  Was Warhol’s Factory ever a real factory or was it just a large studio?

Rather appropriately, Charlie Kan is wearing a Comme des Garçons hat.  He is in charge of a fashion PR company that is going to be especially busy in the run-up to the Olympics. 

6 comments July 17th, 2008