Photo: Suzy
Nicy (left) is a model, photographer and stylist. Her friend is Mo Si.
Category: Beijing Street Style
Army Green
Photos: Suzy
Covered with stickers is the typical winter coat for soldiers in Beijing.
Stage Center
Photo: Suzy
The sleeves of his trench and trousers seem to match in length.
The Cloudy Modern Sky
Photo: Suzy
This ranks as a nice comparatively dressy outfit for a fall music festival.
Mses. Moneybags
Photo: Suzy
These young ladies keep all their dollars in plastic.
By the Crates
This young lady was waiting for a cab, not buying beer.
Dye it Yourself
Photos: Suzy
Finally, here are some photos from the Modern Sky festival. Suzy and I both visited the remote, but dramatic venue in the shadow of the Great Wall. Were it only a less hazy day, the location would have been spectacular rather than shrouded.
Many of the styles on display were quite vivid though.
The Shoemaker
This young design student teamed up with Triple-Major to create some very elaborate buxie that take off on tradition.
City Weekend has more on the highlights of Design Week.
A Real Dashilar Resident
“Real” only in the sense that she actually lives there now. This young lady who goes by the name Moon-D on Weibo is neither a typical nor a long-term resident of Dashilar. Only in Beijing for about two years, she moved into the historic neighborhood a few months ago, attracted by the central location, vert low rent (around USD 100 a month – though her place lacks a private bathroom and kitchen), and attractive environment. Part of a rock band, she describes herself as one of the few “artsy” people living in the area. She also says Design Week was probably the first hip, cultural event to take place there.
More from Dashilar
Photo: Suzy
Kenzo is a fashion editor and stylist.
Boys at Dashilar
Photos: Suzy
The fashionable men were out in force at Beijing Design Week.
A Band of Merrymakers
Photos: Suzy
At Dashilar, these three seem to embody the spirit of Beijing hipsterdom.
At Dashilar
Photos: Suzy
Dashilar has been an important place at several points in Beijing’s history. For most of the last decade, it has been mainly a tourist mecca with few redeeming qualities beyond the historic architecture and degree of density and walkability rarely found in Chinese cities. Now, Beijing Design Week is giving the area a new chance to be a bit more interesting. The weeklong-event has two major venues, the 751 former industrial complex near the art district at 798 and the alleyways around the Western end of Dashilar. Dashilar is by far the less predictable location. Former shops, small factories, workshops and other, now often charmingly dilapidated, are being used for a wide range of installations, exhibits and pop-up shops.
Above is one of the guests at the opening party for Dashilar, who appeared in Styliteshere.
This Afternoon: Head to Dashilar
Today (9/24) is filled with openings and parties related to Beijing Design Week. These events will center around the revitalized hutongs around Dashilar, nearby Qianmen (click “more” to see a map). The moment symbolizes China’s graduation from mere manufacturer to creator of original products. According to the Design Week Creative Director Aric Chen, the week will do far more than showcase designers and their work, but will also catalyse overall development of design for China and inspire a revitalization of neighborhoods within Beijing. More information on Design Week and Dashilar here.
One part of that might come in the form of the pop-up shops a number of local shops are opening in the Dashilar area. Beijing’s answer to Colette, Wuhao, will be opening its pop-up, called the Teahouse, from 2pm today.
Northern Lights
Photos&Text: Suzy
Also at the Bread and Butter event, I met this mystery girl who would only reveal to me that she is from Sweden.