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This gentleman from Hong Kong is doing the casual waistcoat thing well. I’m normally not so positive about them, check my earlier entry on waistcoats around Beijing. Despite my formerly condescending attitude about waistcoats, I decided to commission a double-breasted velvet one in gray with shawl lapels that can be used casually and perhaps under a morning coat for winter weddings, if they occur.
When you watch movies from the fifties or those pictures of Cary Grant, I am always struck by the slimness of the ties – often combined with surprisingly thicker lapels and not exactly narrow collars. In any case, it is always a dark slim tie that they wear. Here an imperial crown motif is added to the tie – a nice touch.
This thick oversized sweater is being used as autumn outerwear.
Here other photos of men from the Marciano by Guess that should have been posted earlier. My mission, for a major men’s magazine about to start up, was to find the stylish dressed men. Being on crutches presently made photography a difficult proposition.
This is Toni Mak, Regional Visual Merchanising Manager for Guess, Asia Limited. He is based in HOng Kong. Every single item except for the cane was purchased at Guess.
From Sweden, Ali Nosrati is the Product Manager for the Dowdy fourhundred, a company that makes leather bags for men. Ali is holding one of these bags. The “dowdy” refers to people who are unfashionable and unattractive, while “the fourhundred†refers to society’s elite and the number of each of their products that is produced. Check the website for more. Also of interest to me was that Ali is of entirely Iranian descent. My father is 100% Swedish and my mother’s family is from Iran.
To wear a leopard-print scarf with confidence, I would probably have to drink more than orange juice. This is quite a look on this professional stylist though.
Raymond is the Senior Manager of BD for P1.cn, a social netorking website that also has street fashion pictures. It is an interesting sport coat with a chain closure and leather trim on the quarters.
These two public relations executives show what us that there is nothing stuffy or square about being a young professional in Beijing today. Sometimes I feel an injection of some stuffiness or traditionalism of some type (I guess it’s not traditionalism here) would feel fresh in this environment. In all likelihood, they are even more fashion-forward and sexy than their colleagues who work in the New York or London branches of the same company, which I think was Hill and Knowlton or perhaps one of the other daughters of WPP. For the gentleman, I would prefer a longer jacket and perhaps the color navy, but black and short are the way to go these days in Beijing. If you are young, why not wear a shorter jacket? Altogether a sassy and appealing pair.
As she watched Obama’s acceptance speech, while scanning the audience for famous rappers, Shanxi-born PR executive Yuanyuan shed some tears. This emotional response came because it was so moving to finally see an American president who could put two sentences together. Obama’s rhetorical ability might not equal Chairman Mao’s, but it was better than that of a kindergarten student. Explaining her other reasons for crying she said “America is still America!” and that the country she knew when she was growing up had now regained its spirit. After so many years of making cynical jokes about the United States, she feels that the country finally has hope.
Acknowledging that it is quite boring to always talk about Obama’s ethnicity, Yuanyuan observes that it has taken centuries for the West to surmount its history of prejudice. She encourages Americans to remember the amount of sweat and tears of civil rights activitists that went into bringing this outcome. Developing countries will find this outcome most inspirational, she says. And finally the country has a beautiful first family!
At the same time, Yuanyuan acknowleges that expectations will inevitably be too high and the new president has to face a huge number of challenges including the recession and the wars started by the previous administration. As this article in Chinese from Sohu says so well, we cannot treat Obama as though he is a god, because the problems faced now demand no less.
Edward commented that Sarah Palin was a very rough and tough seeming woman. The thought of her leading the US at some point, since McCain is so old, was both amusing and frightening. Were he able to vote – and he does strongly believe that there should be American style elections in China – he would choose Obama. Apparently love for Obama is not confined to China’s youth. Over 70% of Chinese surveyed say they prefer that the US have its first African American president. They believe Obama will have a much better understanding of foreign countries and the position that the US should have in a more globalized world.
As far as his outfit goes, I really like the concept but would recommend two changes. First, black shoes would probably be better with this look. Second, a real tie rather than a clip-on would elevate the look several levels. It’s not that easy to find real bow ties around here though. The long cardigan/plaid pants combo is neat.
I actually run into Edward rather frequently in my neighborhood and forgot to put up this picture from earlier in the year. At this point he was working in the new Westin Hotel, where President Bush stayed during the Olympics. Edward is a graduate of the main university of foreign affairs in Beijing. He is now a freelance journalist.
Yet another rocker. Red converses are almost the oldest symbol of cool in Beijing. I guess they tired early of black, blue and white. The best part here is the waste-length jacket, actually a vintage piece made in the good old US of A, though the overall effect seems more London than Motown.
Theater students Haini and Coco also like Obama. They comment that Obama is younger and seems to have more of a long-distance vision. Haimi, from Mao’s home province of Hunan, comments that with his fresh views, Obama can bring the US out of its current rut. She points out that even though America is very advanced, its current growth economically and otherwise is slow. A new type of president will bring new energy and all-important “change” like his famous slogan says. Obama is also a “nicer person who seems to love peace,” unlike Bush, and that is the face the US needs to present to the world. The world’s citizens now regard America as “hegemonic” and warlike, Haimi adds. Obama represents something different.
Stylish youngeons abound in the hutongs of Beijing. Older fellows in something other than a baggy suit and faded shirt are rare. That’s why I was surprised to see Prof. Zhang right outside the front door of my courtyard amidst all of the workmen and vagrants. There had to be some kind of foreign connection – and there was. He taught medicine in Houston and Tampa for some years, apparently finding both these provincial towns quite acceptable. Now he is back in Beijing, living in the vicinity of Panjiayuan.
Despite his time in the States, Prof. Zhang did not seem interested in the election. He does prefer Obama, but the reasoning is that Obama is the more well-liked candidate. Mr. Zhang is content to go with the crowd on political matters.
Holding her first album, which she gave me, Mimi, 21, is a Hunanese Folk Indie singer now studying Chinese literature at Beijing Normal University. She reads classical Chinese literature and modern western literature. She wasn’t aware that there was an election going on right now in the US and didn’t know the names of the candidates. Ignoring foreign most foreign news, her main focus is on events relevant for ordinary Chinese people. In her opinion, major problems facing China right now are environmental degredation, the growing wealth gap (she has an ipod nano), and, she says smiling, government. These challenges are similar to those facing other countries and the foremost one at this moment is probably the financial crisis, which she has heard quite a bit about. Her colorful bag was specially made for her by a friend.
Photographer Wang Yimeng, from Liaoning province, did not immediately recognize the Chinese names of the two candidates in the US election. The important thing is which one can bring the economy out of the current economic crisis. In general, however, Wang feels the US election is too far from his life for him to give it too much consideration.
With the US election next week, Beijing residents are sharing their views. NYT columnist Kristoff opened this column on world opinion of the US and Obama with one such view. Stylites will be presenting savvier views of hipper Beijingers. Chrissy, a theater student, would vote for Obama, originally because a favorite rapper (Ludacris?) supported him in a song. Now she has seen convincing proof that Obama is “better than the other one.” The main reason is that he is black and stands out from the boring succession of white men. She wants America to have a black president because it never has in its entire history. Obama will bring improvement in the US economy, now so afflicted and the conservatives were bad because they “always go to war.” Several leading pundants did note recently that opinions of pretty pedestrians in Beijing could tip the balance.
Jean Pierre Braganza is a London designer whose fashion creations are sold throughout the world and soon in Beijing. In Beijing to teach local designers to inject sophistication and cool into their brands, he was strolling down Nanluoguxiang, enjoying the street festival and drinks at Salud.
Jean Pierre describes 27 as the best age. A man finally has some experience but is not yet overburdened with the worries and responsibilities of life. The possibilities can still be endless, but can be explored armed with a bit of wisdom and experience. In the early and mid twenties, a man is a boy, naïve and ignorant in the ways of the world. At 28 and 29, he frets about the impending thirties with the first sappings of physical strength, the restrictions on freedom imposed by society, career and a young family, and growing distance from dreams as well as old friends. In the late twenties, the pressures of a girlfriend to marry or a young wife to produce children become louder and louder. Jean Pierre has succumbed to both of these pressures, but he still enjoys nights out with friends, as long as they don’t involve surprise encounters with Karl Lagerfeld and the inevitable catfights.
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