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Millinery Among the Skyscrapers

For Self-4

Mother and daughter wear creations from Elisabeth Koch Millinery. With her studio, the place where the magic occurs, not five minutes from the Kerry Center, milliner Elisabeth stands out from her peers for her own attire and for the creativity of her designs. Born in the US of Dutch and Welsh parentage, Elisabeth has adored hats and distinctive dressing since girlhood. Slaving for a time in tedious white collar jobs, she finally has started making her quirky dreams into reality here in Beijing, after studying the art of hats making at Wombourne School of Millinery in the UK.

Inspiration comes from her surroundings here at the heart of the Celestial Empire and from the styles of the 1960 and 1970s. Every single hat is made entirely with her own, exquisitely manicured, hands. She has not been tempted to capitalize on the cheap labor yet. Though the majority of clients are of the foreign persuasion, those who order the greatest number of hats are locals including the nonconformist wives of industrialists, government officials and wily magnates. Her hats are borrowed by Trends’ Bazaar and other magazines for photo shoots every week. They add some spice to the looks that tend to be shoulders to toes in the usual brands.

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Cuddly Creative

For Self-5

What a great representative of the China’s exciting new “creative elite”! From Guangdong, Lin Lin lived in London for some time and then returned to China to develop Jellymon, her fashion and design empire which acts as creator, consultant, and partner for numerous brands home and abroad. Beijing is her new base and her command center is in Jianwai Soho. Here, the places she enjoys most are Q Bar (for its classic margarita), Opposite House’s Bei (Sushi and Italian food) and DEAL and Lane Crawford for enlarging her shoe collection.

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Mon Cheri

For Self-3

In the field of polyestrous clones of Dior, Comme Des Garcons, Vivienne Westwood and other “big in China” designer names that is 3.3, seeing something with its own unique brand is always stimulating. Cecaa (霍亮), 24, has a shop selling a brand with the saccharine name “Mon Cheri” in shop number 2008.

The name refers to clothing being his most adored object as he grew up. He was a shy boy and clothing was an escape and an chance to be creative. A goal of his brand is helping clients find clothing that will be adored and soon have its own story. From Beijing, his childhood was spent in a military household. Mother approves of neither his style of dress nor his chosen career.

Favorite designers are Coco Chanel, Hedi Slimange, Anne Demuelemeester, Raf Simons, and Yves Saint Laurent

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Just a Sport Coat

For Self-2

No gold chain, no dark chest hair, no grease, and no high-rolling swagger on this fashion fellow who omitted a shirt, opting for simply a sport coat. This super light cotton sport coat is really a brilliant idea for summer, in which I am never comfortable in even the thinnest linen suit without lining. I fear the look would seem different – maybe even a tad sleazy – on me.

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Typical Parisian Girl

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No one would mistake her for a provincial, but did we need further comfirmation that Parisian girls are born with style? Visiting Beijing for the umpteenth time, staying in the St. Regis, Roxanne could still look good wearing this outfit in her twenties, thirties or beyond. Most women never reach this in a lifetime, getting derailed by a whole host of ugly trends like distressed jeans and studded belts. Even at ten, she has the understated charm and ability to meaningfuly accessorize for which the ladies of her city are known.

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Seemlessly incorporating Chinese style elements, Roxanne bought her shoes at Qianmen.

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Cola’s Coffee

sultry babe-3

On my second trip to No. 46, I noticed a spacious new coffee shop just to the left of the main gate. Cola is proprieter of just opened Charity Share (益飨), which specializes in fair trade coffee and includes a fashion boutique in its loft.

因为咖啡够好，其实喝咖啡是外国人的传统
中国人很少能品出这个咖啡好不好
而且我们做fairtrade，其实外国人比较懂，因为从英国开始的，从欧洲开始的
他们会认，而且他们理念里会有要和fairtrade coffe这个概念
第三，我们的桌子椅子大部分都比较硬
中国人可能怕硬，但是我的很多外国客人喜欢坐硬的地方

She says Charity Share is the first bar or coffee shop in China to make promoting the public good its main theme. Her coffee shop is also the first in Beijing to receive a Certification Mark from the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. A portion of all profits will go to charities and the high-ceiled, roomy space will host numerous NGO fundraising events, auctions, etc.

Initially, she expects foreigners will be the main clients as they are both more picky about the quality of coffee and familiar with the concept of free trade products. Amusingly, she says the hard seats are another reason why foreigners will be more attracted to Charity Share than Chinese, who prefer softer seating.

Originally from Xinjiang, Cola came to Beijing in 1999 and studied Chinese at Beijing Normal University. In 2006, she received her Master’s in marketing from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She quit her media job in May to focus all of her energy on the new coffee shop. Her recent interest in being more civic-minded has improved her mindset a great deal. She is now more able to be contented with her situation and less aggressive. Interestingly, one cup of coffee a day is her maximum. Any more and her heart beats too fast.

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New Stylites Stomping Ground?

sultry babe-7

Many comment that Stylites seems focused on just a few areas of Beijing: Nanluoguxiang, Sanlitun, and occasionally Xidan. Beijing really does lack public spaces frequented by stylish people. The city is spread-out and, sadly, car-addicted; those with the leisure or funds usually a minimum requirement for style rarely walk anyway. So we are very happy to announce a new area in which we hope to find more and more fascinating individuals to photograph and profile.

The Hutong Art Zone centered around No. 46 Fangjia Hutong is Dongcheng District’s answer to 798. It houses art galleries, performance centers, fashion boutiques, and cafés. Xinhua gives the details. Massive Chaoyang District has 798, Caochangdi, and a growing number of other highly commercialized art districts. What Chaoyang lacks is the charm of Beijing’s old city. More compact than Chaoyang’s art districts, 46 Fangjia Hutong is set in a leafy, quiet and historic neighborhood right in the middle of the old city. The Dongcheng District government is committed to encouraging creative industries in a bid to compete against the overwhelming dominance enjoyed by Chaoyang District in this field.

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A Man of Contrasts

Stripes on Stripes

Here, outside our local empire of contrasts Opposite House, with stripes on his stripes, this young man was booted for the rain that had been sporadically falling all day. At this über hip Kengo Kuma-designed boutique hotel, and in its environs, anything might happen – even the complete opposite of what you expected.

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Internet Issues

I really should have figured out a way to host this site in China, because access has suddenly gotten tough again. Please accept my apologies for the more sporadic updates.