Blog, Consultancy, Shop
From Tokyo, slim Akira has been in Beijing for eight years and thoroughly loves the place. Having just succeeded Charles Saliba as General Manager, he is dedicated to building on the successes of D-22. His fashion heroes are glam-rocker Mick Ronson, Iggy Pop and Ziggy Stardust (Bowie) and his favorite film is a Clockwork Orange. He recommends that hip Beijingers buy their rags at Underground Kids on Gulou Dongdajie.
Sabrina, not the first from Ogilvy to appear on Stylites, says hers is Beijing’s most stylish PR company, due to the influence of its advertising division. She purchased her bag to show support for efforts of the Red Cross in Sichuan. She is believes the Olympics is allowing foreigners to see that China is not as backward and uncool as they might have thought. PR people are generally fearing the end of the Olympics since this has been a very busy time for them.
The French Olympics site has more details on the wonderful team outfits worn at the opening ceremony. To answer some earlier questions that appeared here, the men’s ties are knit and the women’s berets are made from cotton. The sashes and handbags are real leather. The outfits are produced by a company called Elis, though we are not sure who designed them.
What I like is that the look is quintessentially French but also very chic. Most citizenries find it difficult looking both up-to-date and traditional. Despite all the praise in the media for the English team uniforms – they were very hip – they could have done better at looking English, considering the rich sartorial traditions of the island. The Americans looked good and very American, but not exactly fashionable. There was too much of a schoolboy or airline attendant vibe.
Gao Jian grew up in a Hutong nearby Gulou and graduated from the Central Academy of Drama and Theater on Nanluoguxiang. He is in modern dance and his main theory for dressing is to wear clothing that is loose and comfortable. I’m not a lover of crocs, but they seem to be appropriate for him. Despite rumors, the New Zealand team didn’t end up wearing them during the opening ceremony.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I love it when people appear on Stylites more than once -especially lovely young women 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?
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.
Having now appeared on the cover of Newsweek and toured in the United States and Japan, Hang on the Box (and a wiki here) 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.
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.â€
While taking the cat to be neutered at the small animal clinic, I thought I might snap some street fashion in a new part of town: Xinjiekou. There weren’t too many denizens who warranted a second glance, but this new shop caught my attention.
It seemed vaguely familiar.
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.
Comme des Garçons had a 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, Charley Kan, National Creative Director and Managing Director for MEC China, 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.