Shanghai Street Style...Huai Hai Lu

I can always scout some interesting looks on Huai Hai Lu. Here are some looks I liked from this weekend. 
  CONFIDENCE: Although this guy's look isn't breathtakingly-original, I was captivated by his aura of confidence and little bit of swagger in his step. I practically had to beg him to take his picture, a first for me! No lenses in his glasses...no surprise there since that trend is epidemic in Shanghai. More coverage of that to come!
Speaking of confidence, one needs a lot of gusto to wear plaid pants with a eggplant printed tee. The frantic mix of patterns and color is as standard as jeans and a tee in the US. Although this look would certainly would raise some fashion eye brows in NY, I myself have gotten accustomed to the crazed mix-up. 

An ascot for girls? Why not? She confirmed that she added the ribbon on her behalf, which I think makes this look even sweeter. 

Spotlight: Tree Leather Studio

Today was another absolutely gorgeous afternoon in Shanghai. I am glad I left Lounge 18 last night when I did (3:30 AM...sshhhh) so that I had enough energy to wander around the French Concession and soak everything in. I left my apartment on my bike on a mission: to return to a small shoe store that I had passed by while apartment hunting last month. Located on 253 Shanxi Nan lu, it is a bit further away from the congestion of other stores near Changle Lu and Xin Le lu; however, this little shop is worth the extra mileage.

The owner of the store, Yan ChenChen, was a sweetheart! We spent a while talking about her store and the shoes. I had a field day trying on the different pairs and learning about how they are made. Although my Chinese vocabulary does not include the intricacies of shoe-making, this is what I uncovered. All of the shoes are hand-made by cobblers in a factory outside of Shanghai. The wing-tip Oxford style shoes for men are more complicated, and can a single cobbler up to a week to complete. The simpler styles (the ballet flats) are much less labor-intensive and consequently are half-the price. Speaking of price, these shoes are reasonable in my opinion! I bought myself a custom-made pair (I picked out my colors, size, material, etc.) for 580 RMB. They look like the traditional black&white Oxford....a little dorky and old-fashioned. In other words, perfect. They will be ready by the end of next week!

At Tree Leather Studio, what also struck my attention were some of the more whimsical pairs, such as the fuzzy pink leather flats, which reminded me of Miuccia Prada’s furry mohair collection a few seasons ago. I had to dig deeply into my self-restraint to resist buying the black flats that had the Hanzi for “left” and “right” on the toes. Clever. There were also designs that I recognized, such as the replica of the Frye Campus boot, one of my favorite pairs of shoes in my closet (I got them for my 18th birthday!).

There is something very alluring about the nostalgia and old-word craft associated with hand-made leather shoes. It’s nice to come across fashion here that is not so massed-produced and of poor quality. Of course Shanghai does have very high-end, top-quality clothing stores and brands; however, I particularly like these shoes specifically because they are not a brand.

....Under Construction...Where there's a will there's a way

I am currently in the process of obtaining more content for the Shanghai Style File. Having just created this site, I have yet to gather a lot of material; but, I am working diligently on it. Please continue to come back and witness the progress!

Oh how I wish Shanghai Style File were my full-time job! After work, I rush outside with my camera to capture what is left of fashion in the day. After lamenting to my sister over how little time I have to devote to SSF, I will never forget her response. “Hart you can ALWAYS find time for her passion!” She is absolutely correct. I will find a way...hence, I'm spending this beautiful Saturday afternoon in the French Concession to see what I can uncover.

Shanghai Street Style...Color War

In this Color War the two subjects have different strategies for incorporating color into their outfits:

I literally bumped into Mr. Blue Jeans on my out of the very crowded subway. While he chooses to balance his brightly colored clothes with muted accessories, the lady infuses her neutral ensemble with neon by adding bits of color here and there.

Color War...different tactics. I think they both look fantastic!

Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair

Trend Spot: Hip-Hop Han

Trend Spot: Hip-Hop-Han

Although the facades, streets, alleyways, vendors and shops of my neighborhood, West Nan Jing Road, become more familiar with each passing, the myriad of people is in constant flux, providing me with an endless supply of people-watching. I never have a dull moment observing their fashion choices, which range from the elderly’s mismatched pajamas in the early morning to youth’s edgier looks which come out after the sun goes down. Through my initial observations of Chinese fashion, I have succumbed that the range of personal style and taste is as vast as this country’s history; however, there are recurring looks that stand out, which I will document in a segment called Trend Spot.

I am not sure whether I noticed how rampant this trend is because of my familiarity with hip-hop as an American, or if it is truly as widespread as it seems to be.

The first trend that struck me is how Chinese youth in their late-teens and early-twenties are embracing American hip-hop culture, at least on a sartorial level.
Most of the rapper references are not so full-on as to emulate an extra’s wardrobe in a Ludacris music video; rather, adopters of this trend prefer to pepper some hip-hop taste into their wardrobe.

This trend is being carried forward on the souls of footwear. Nike “Air Force 1s,” loosely tied with tongues hanging out, are popular choices, especially with pops of neon accents in lime, pink, and cobalt. Girls have especially taken a liking to urban footwear. They typically pair the edgy sneakers with capris and graphic tees or occasionally juxtapose the masculine shoe with a dress.

Other accessories, which are not necessarily clothing items but nonetheless still boldly make a fashion statement, include headphones. I’ve spotted guys sporting goliath headphone sets with earpieces the size of baseballs (proudly worn like a necklace when not in use). While most headphones are streamlined and compact, the sheer bulk of these retro headphones assures me that their superfluous size serves only one function: to make a fashion statement. Headphones, of course, are a natural complement to hip-hop, a musical reference.

The hip-hop trend is not limited to actual articles of clothing. Another form of adoption I’ve noticed is in how clothes are worn. Guys tug down their jersey basketball shorts to expose boxers. In terms of shirts, guys will opt for oversized tees that hang off of their shoulders. The baggier the better. The bills of baseball caps are kept flat and tipped to the side.

More pictures to follow soon!

很高兴认识你！Shanghai Style File

This is not just another street fashion blog. While countless looks have been chronicled on the streets of Paris, NYC, Milan, Tokyo and London, this blog is inherently different because of its locale: the Pearl of the Orient, the Whore of the East: Shanghai, China. To document Shanghai style is important because Shanghai represents what fashion truly is about: satiating the thirst for change while balancing the dichotomy between old and new.

The pulse of this metropolis is not unlike the rapid heartbeat that pumps through fashion’s veins. Shanghai’s infrastructure is constantly ripped to shreds. Razing an old neighborhood to make room for a dazzling new high-rise is part of the globalization routine. Futuristic peaks appear over the horizon as quickly as H&M turns over its own merchandise. Both hemlines and silhouettes & Shanghai’s horizon are under constant deconstruction and evolution.

My objective in creating the Shanghai Style File is to research the questions, “How does fashion fit into Shanghai as they both constantly evolve? Where are the two heading? Down the same paths?”

My guide on this quest to the answers? Shanghai Style File will rely on the documentation of the “who, “what,” and “wear” of everything fashion in this city to lead the way! The File will include an inclusive list of anything and anybody with Style: bios and interviews of fashion leaders, artists, designers, DJs, stylists, and of course the 时髦 folks on the street.