by stylites -

A Sartorial Model for Beijing Men

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Born in Beijing, George headed to the States at 13, but still believes the East is the best. He is back in Beijing to bring his family business to new heights after serving at an investment bank in Hong Kong for around four years. Like many, he prefers Beijing to Hong Kong, believing that the southern city has little of interest happening beyond money-making. The northern capital offers a more diversified lifestyle. We hope that George’s dress sense will be frequently imitated by his fellow Beijing men.

Hong Kong does have one advantage over Beijing for George. It is has more outlets offering fine menswear and accessories. George is fond of the Neapolitan silhouette and construction methods and here he wears a cotton, unlined, Borelli suit and Canali silk knit tie.


by stylites -

Chaoyangmen Subway Station Blues

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I just encountered Adam, a rather remarkable fellow who will be blessing Xicheng district with his gentle but quirky charm for the next two weeks. He is a Wushu practitioner who is, rather amazingly, just back from teaching this Chinese martial art in Shanxi. Fluent in Persian, French and English, this LA-born half-Iranian has become quite good at Chinese after just a month in this country.

The all blue, all linen (besides the gator shoes) ensemble includes a sport coat from Armani and trousers from Comme des Garçons.


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Shenzhen Girl up for 东方神起 Concert

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Sometimes I like to just throw in something random. I had to check out what was causing all the traffic around the Worker’s Stadium this past Saturday. It was a concert of a Korean band called “东方神起” (can’t seem to find the English) and the two blocks around the northern entrance to the stadium was filled with young vendors selling cheap souvenirs and other youths laying waste to the area with the packaging of those souvenirs as well as half-consumed junk food.

Up here just to witness it was this young high school student who hopes to be a graphic designer. Her first time in Beijing, she is staying for a week. Visiting with two home friends, she does not have friends or relatives in the capital. She describes Beijing as less developed than her home town, citing the lack of a glass wall between the platform and the tracks on several of the older subway lines. She has not made the half-hour (but special authorization requiring) journey to Hong Kong. So far in Beijing she has visited Xidan and Nanluoguxiang, and much prefers the former.

by stylites -

Rofty Designing Pair

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Having graduated from Beijing Agriculture University in ’08, Li Huawen (李画文) and Zheng Ran (郑然, English name: Ro) are now devoting themselves to their own brand that blends illustration, design and fashion. Called Rofty (ro联厂), they produce original T-Shirts, various badges, graphic posters, environmentally friendly shopping bags and other items.

The more vivacious one in the pair – she will inevitably handle the marketing – Ro studied landscape architecture and environmental planning and he graphic design. He has worked in an advertising firm before, but now they are both freelancers at the moment and hoping they never have to work in an office in the future.


by stylites -

A Top for Real Men

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I’m surprisingly fond of this fashion magazine editor’s look. The hat and rolled up trouser legs are rather trendy, but the see-through sweater and pink belt peeping out show some real verve. I also like the spectacles.

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Mobile, White Shades

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This is the first time I’ve taken someone talking on a mobile phone. In her spare time, Nicole writes a lifestyle column for Madame Figaro. Full time, she worked for a investment consulting company, but she just quit. Her lovely daughter is a model for children’s clothing.

by stylites -

In a League of Her Own

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Not long before seeing her at the Burberry party (the post before), I encountered Ivy in the hutongs. Born in Beijing, she grew up outside the Second Ring, she now lives near Nanluoguxiang. At the moment, in addition to studying design and designing, she writes for a range of fashion magazines. Ivy frequently travels abroad, preferring Paris and Tokyo.

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This pair of shoes is part of one of her collections. Anyway, I am eager to see more. Her website will be up soon. I’m sure her aesthetic thoughts will creep into our hearts and enchant us away from the codes we hold to most dogmatically, the way ivy encircles the most stolid, old, structures, breaking them down…