STYLITES IN BEIJING

Skinny Ties, Still Going

Norwegian students like André Holthe always look pretty interesting. Unfortunately, he says, there is no real source of good fashion for anyone who has experienced the multitude of hip and innovative smaller brands on offer in Oslo.

2 comments July 6th, 2008

Another Smoker

Yes, a lot of people smoke in Beijing.  Poor workers smoke, but so do cool creative types. Smoking appears to have the same subversive appeal that it does in the West, but the habit is aided by the very cheap price of cigarettes.  On the way to practice, she had no time for chit-chat, but she did say that she wouldn’t pose if I was from City Weekend.  I said I wasn’t, but I think she probably didn’t want to be in any of the English language magazines.  Of course, my photos appear in That’s Beijing, soon to be called The Beijinger.

1 comment June 16th, 2008

Long Cardigan

Before the hot weather started up a week ago, long cardigans were everywhere. Look also at the post below. I associate long cardigans like this with Japan and Hong Kong. It is probably no surprise that Uniqlo carries its own version.

A PR executive from Hong Kong, Patrick remains fan of Beijing after living here for eight years. He says the odd thing about Beijing, in comparison to other Asian cities, is that it does not bother trying to fashionable. Young people in Beijing have their own style throwing things together in ways that can be either disastrous or interesting but are always oblivious to the trends. I also like the color of his suede shoes and the details on his shirt, from Yohji Yamamoto.

Patrick doesn’t seem like the type of guy that hangs long underwear out to dry on the side of a public street in a bar and coffee shop district. Around Nanluoguixang, those types still abound - thankfully. It adds the charm and flavor, we foreigners seek.  In fact, the same people that hang their underwear out to dry publicly, also walk around the street in just their underwear. That’s also charming, though I think more of an effort should be made to add personality to these inner garments if they are going to be used as outerwear. Some options might be tie-dye, little embroideries, or perhaps even some of the features of normal clothing drawn on. For pants, they could draw pockets, cuffs, and a zipper in a whole range of colors.

2 comments June 11th, 2008

Pout and Grin

At an American PR firm, Wang Xiaodong rocks the long cardigan and works mainly on Vidal Sassoon.  Song Ying, in media, just got back from studying in Korea and she says that the air is worse in Beijing now but the people are much more fashionable.  Does that mean that overall things are improving aesthetically?  In any case, Beijing girls still don’t care as much about appearances as Korean ones, who literally all have had plastic surgery.

7 comments June 10th, 2008

Surferosa

Norwegian Mariann Thomassen really likes Beijing and its music scene even though her electro-pop band Surferosa had its big breakthrough with the album Shanghai My Heart.  She is known throughout Oslo as a fashion icon and frequently appears in street pictures series like this.  Her band is on its first tour through China. 

Add comment June 6th, 2008

Wealth Generator

Based out of Chengdu, Xu Weijia has started a brand of high-end menswear called Rich Gainer, which will compete for the same stylish guys as Gucci and Dior.  Prices will range from RMB 1,000-2,000.  As a brand builder, he never buys fakes, and that is the real Dior Homme tie with the spider and the a real baseball type jacket from Gucci, both bought in Hong Kong. 

3 comments June 5th, 2008

Conductor

This retired train conductor is no fashionista, and he confesses he has no interest in clothing.  Nevertheless, I think I would wear his coat, from the uniform he used to wear on the job.

1 comment June 4th, 2008

Clothes from the ’70s

He’s always in fitted blazers or ‘70s cords, which is nice because it is unusual to see actual vintage clothing here in Beijing.  I believe Max is on the marketing team of China Doll, one of Beijing’s chicest clubs that will be reopening next month on the fifth floor of 3.3, a rather un-chic shopping mall in Sanlitun.  We’ll have to see how China Doll does sitting atop four floors of tassles, chains, lace, and fake Dior.  

1 comment May 20th, 2008

Monkey King

He runs a brand that I believe is called Monkey or has a monkey as its symbol.  Anyway, he is a sort of godfather of the local street fashion scene.

1 comment May 16th, 2008

Oil Painter

We’ve got the diagonal plaid pants, the nautical-theme shirt and the hat, but Yalu, an oil painter.  New interpretations of these traditional themes are always exciting.

Add comment May 12th, 2008