Barbie Megastore Opens in Shanghai
Remember how we proclaimed Barbie as our Icon Of The Week during her birthday? Well, Mattel went as far as opening a 6-storey megastore for Barbie in all her pink glory! Which is strange, because between you and me, Barbie doll sales took a plunge by 21% this year.
Shanghai AA Adventure
When I received an email from American Apparel informing me that they had already opened a store in Shanghai, I was ecstatic and immediately dragged a friend along to check it out. The location surprised us as it's quite out of the way, in a building we had never heard of. After many questions for directions posed to many a passerby, we were finally there, at a new building called 1933.
M&S
By: Ai Mei
The largest British garment retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), will be opening its first store in Shanghai, China. As my office is a ten-minute walk away from the building site, I can tell you first hand that it will be a huge four storey building located on Nanjing West Road. From the looks of it, it might be the biggest M&S store in Asia or, the second biggest after Hong Kong. The British retailer is already looking for the opportunity to open its second store in Beijing city.
Shanghai - Qipu Wholesale Market
By: Yu Shan
Think you've discovered truly low prices at the ubiquitous Shanghai street-side stalls or its hip independent shops that ship items in from Hong Kong, Korea and the States?
Think again. All these places get their fashionable togs from QiPu Wholesale Market at low prices by virtue of bulk buying, and who’s to say us chic mortals can’t steal a slice of this delicious, budget-friendly fashion pie?
Underground Haven Temporarily Shut
By: Ai Mei
For those heading to Shanghai and are looking forward to shopping at the underground shopping arcade
which I recommendeda while ago, brace yourself and don’t be too disheartened... It has been reported that the underground shopping havens have closed till the end of the Olympics.
STRUT: from Singapore to Shanghai
By: Ai Mei
A few weeks ago, I was invited to a private fashion show for the launch of the brand STRUT at Attica, Shanghai. The show was an instant success with buyers and fashionistas, everyone was trying to get their hands on the sample pieces after the fashion show!
RDI Fashion Show
By: Ai Mei
Hot Hot Hot! Scorching summer has arrived in Shanghai and so has the graduate fashion show of Raffles Design Institute (RDI). It was my first time attending a local graduate fashion show - I have to admit that I was not let down by the ray of amazing selection of colours, ideas and craftsmanship of the graduate students.
Take Fashion Into Your Own Hands, Shanghai Style
In a world where Project Runway gives us inspirational insight to the flurry of fashion design and high street brands collaborate regularly with runway designers, fashion is no longer as inaccessible or mysterious as it once used to be.
Now, anyone with a sewing machine and enough talent or dreams can become fashion’s next big thing. Combine this with the desire, innate to every individual, to be unique and different; and a new trend is born - making your own clothes.
In Shanghai, one of the biggest cosmopolitan cities in the world, the trend of acquiring personalized garments is rampant and those hungry for fabric hunt for cloth in Shanghai’s Shi Liu Pu (十六铺) Market on Number 168 Dong Meng Road (东门路) near The Bund.
The Creator of Beautiful Legs
Shoes, shoes, shoes – women just can’t get enough of them. Viewing all the posts of Charles & Keith on Tongue in Chic – I felt like one unlucky fashionista who can only purchase a pair of C&K if I fly to cities which carry the brand. But the world is fair and my aching will be appeased when I head of to Stella Luna - one of China’s leading shoe makers who have branded themselves “the creator of beautiful legs.”
Shopping Beneath Your Feet
Shanghai is one of those cities that’s a nonstop shopping heaven. (I know because I live here!) From designer wear at Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, cheap bargains at Qipu Road Wholesalers Market, to the boutique stores at Chang Le Road; shopping opportunities are endless in this part of the world. You name it, they have it.
The only thing that can ruin a shopaholic’s day is when it rains. Walking down the street in a pour can be an unpleasant experience. There is no shelter, hailing a taxi is somewhat impossible and the Metro can be a distant walk from wherever you may be. I have had my fair share of wet shopping experiences, so when it rains I stay home, pop in a DVD and sip my cup of hot Chinese tea.
Fashionista Heaven - Gubei XinMao Shopping Street（古北鑫茂购物中心）
[editor: Please welcome Yu Shan, one of our contributors who’s based in Shanghai]
Probably one of the best kept secrets nestled in the heart of Gubei District in Shanghai, this shopping street is every fashionista’s dream - it not only has about 25 to 30 independent boutiques with clothes and accessories for the young, daring, and fun-loving; but it also has shops that stock maternity wear and office wear, all at extremely reasonable prices. If you come to Shanghai for a visit, do spend a few hours here to see what it is all about.
Supermodel Du Juan
Picture courtesy of oknation.net
Being an Asian model and having international stardom is a huge achievement. I can count on one hand the number of Asian models with international recognition – Hye Park, Ai Tominaga, Liu Wen, Emma Pei and Han Jin.
One in particular who has attained stardom and caught my attention is Du Juan. The willowy, pouty Shanghainese is the first Asian supermodel that has graced the cover of French Vogue.
American Apparel and Takashimaya heading to Shanghai!
For the past year, arrivals of international brands like C&A and H&M have caused quite a stir in Shanghai. The latest news indicates that the brand American Apparel will be opening outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou in the next few months.
