By the way, the title of this photo when it was sent to me was “idliketorollyoudownthestreet” and I can only say that I am in complete agreement.  Strange things happen when cuteness is involved.

You too can look like a hot tudou:

• American Apparel and H&M have a huge variety of leggings [cairn says: i think h&m is good for basics and accessories. nothing else. i think people who buy strictly from zara and h&m (granted the choices are limited here in China) look like they only shop at those 2 stores and though it can be cute, always still  come out looking generic]
• The original Dr. “Doc” Martens
• Hit up your local Salvation Army for what promises to be a great selection of men’s shirts – belt it and it’s a dress; personally i like to partially tuck them into low rise shorts (high-waisted would work too)
• Blazer inspiration

As I’m sitting here writing this, the clouds outside the window loom near, the droplets piddle down the window, and I’m mentally shopping for sweaters online.  Shame.

The point is: summer is coming to a close.  It’s inevitable.  But don’t look back in anger – look back with abundant, loving joy.  All those barbecues with great friends and delicious food.  That deep golden tan you got on your relaxing vacation in Bali.  Fully grasping the significance of the Pimm’s Cup even though you’re not British.  And those lovely, patterned, long flowing dresses you wore because they faithfully hide under-boob sweat.

The summer is fading.  The days are gradually shortening.  Soon, we will be covered from head to toe in woolly hats, scratchy scarves and the dreaded tights that pinch our tummies no matter where on our torso they sit.  Therefore, let us revel, in our Rainbow sandals, for a few more precious weeks, in what is left of the summer that was.  And then let us hibernate in front of the television for several months as we watch entire seasons of Doogie Houser, M.D. in a single day while the unfortunate delivery man sloughs through sleet to bring us our Mediterranean take-out, for which we will not tip him, because we live in China.

Bid an early hello to next year’s season:

• Everyone in California owns some version of these sandals
• Marc by Marc Jacobs might be the king of big sunglasses
• Send the ones you love some sunflowers
• The dress…is vintage!

Post by Cristina Ng

A wise man recently told me, “si usted habla Inglés, Español y Chino, tiene el mundo entero en sus manos,” and our clever, chic, little friend here is well on her way to world domination with her trilingual skills.  Yes friends, she speaks all three. What you say? That makes you feel dumb for barely speaking your native tongue? Sucks to be you.

But back to the girl, being smart is just one piece of the pie and lucky for Miss Thang, she’s gussied up a simple black jumper with some seriously fun accessories brought back from Barcelona. The belt is unique without being outlandish, making it virtually impossible to snap up a copy round town. It cinches in what could have been a very boring line and that turquoise collar necklace helps fill the line between neck and bust (at least I didn’t say bosom, whoops!) nicely.

La Chiquita obviously has it going on, but I’m going to channel my grandmother and say, “I wish she would do something with her hair.” She’s a cutie, so I would love if she would pull some of it off her face. Possibly a cool summer French braid? A deeper side part with a low side ponytail? Messy chignon with a few loose wavy tendrils in the front? Or if she’s married to her current style, it’s nothing that a trim and deep condition wouldn’t fix. And while I love that she’s keeping her face au naturel, a little bit of black eyeliner never hurt anyone.

Finally, I applaud this risk taker for giving us an example of black and brown playing well together. Let go of your grade school – I learned everything I know about getting dressed from Seventeen magazine – matching rules and have some fun!

Besitos,

Cristinita

For your information:

The wise guy’s restaurant

An almost as pretty necklace

Messy, on purpose, hair

Waterproof Bad Gal Eyeliner will kick Shanghai humidity’s ass in a fight.

More proof that black and brown can be friends.

To be honest, not a huge fan of the outfit. Wishing she had colored wellies on and a different colored bag. I don’t really get the all black outfit. I am sure this is her lazy sunday hangover outfit, to which many of us can relate. But she’s so cute cause she reminds me of my Caucasian friend Cori in high school, in face and hair. You wonder why I even have to mention Caucasian? Well, this post has now given me a reason to add this blog’s link below…

Real reason for this post.

She came into the BeeKeeper shop. She gave me a curious look, with a head tilt, then proceeded to try on some high waisted shorts in the middle of the store. Outside the store, when asked if we could take her photo, she started posing. I suggested maybe away from the telephone?

In our second attempt at a photo we see she has taken it down a notch. Immediately.  She tries to convince us, on the other side of the lens, that she is as demure and normal as anyone else.  But, clearly, that is not the case.  Her outfit may be mediocre to some, but she designed the button up shirt she’s wearing. Much better, I say, than another H&M or Zara piece.  Boring.  My favorite part of this outfit is the invisible pair of high heels she thinks she has on.  She’s practical; she didn’t need to shell out $3600 for a pair of heel-less Antonio Berardi shoes.   On her tippy toes, she has a lot of personality that even she can’t hide. And that is the most fashionable thing a person can wear.

After she was gone, I Google Hong Kong-ed her and found out she is a fellow designer. And that her quirky follows her everywhere she goes, and is in everything she touches.

• Why we Google HK-it
• She is Andrea Crews
• Antonio Berardi
• Non- related article on Antonio Berardi and his beef with Lady GaGa

*source unknown

At first glance you might think that this is the girl who played Randy Quaid’s daughter in the 1996 blockbuster and Will Smith vehicle, Independence Day.  Well, she might be, but I don’t think so.  To me, she’s just an awesome vaguely European hair-blowy girl who has obviously perfected the hard science of blending comfort, elegance and style.  It’s like when Newton invented calculus, but more fashiony.

The belted shirt, a classic updated.

What do you think?  Does she have a PhD in casual chic?

When I lived in Paris for a summer my friends and I used to play a little game called ‘spot the American.’  Telltale signs: North Face fleece.  Rainbow or Reef sandals.  College sweatshirts.  Loud voices.  Broad gesticulations.  Chanting, “U-S-A” repeatedly and for no apparent reason. (Just kidding about that last one, kind of.)

Of course my friends and I considered ourselves too continental to be lumped with the touring Yanks, and very carefully attempted to blend in with the populace whose lithe bodies, lightly tousled locks and androgynous-with-a-hint-of-the-feminine clothing choices gave them their distinctly parisienne look.  Margaux (let’s call her Margaux) here exemplifies the Parisian essence that my friends and I, with dubious success, strove for.

Tell me you can’t imagine her sitting at a café in the quartier Latin smoking a Gauloise over a carafe of Bordeaux reading Sartre or discussing the finer points of love-making for hours on end.  Or scooting through traffic on her Vespa with a baguette, block of brie and a poodle in tow.  I could go on and on with the Paristereotypes (see what I did there?).  But really, there’s not much more to say.  Elle est magnifique.

The Parisienne Look:
Top by Cos
Scarf by Antik Batik
Vintage black leather belt
Trousers by Hartford
Shoes by Heschung
Glasses by Oliver Peoples

One of the best shops in Paris: Zadig & Voltaire

Real fashion should never be constrained by rules set by someone else. That wouldn’t be you.  But in truth, some are more inept than others at dressing themselves or maybe they have more important matters to think about other than what they are wearing. I, on the other hand, have no important matters to contemplate, so I proceed.

I much prefer coordinating rather than matching an outfit.  But if nothing else comes to mind, I guess you could match your cardigan to their boots slash shoes.

If I were to throw out some rules though, I would say the following:

Vintage shopping is unquestionably one of our favorite past times in modern day but it’s unfathomable in a country with new money. Everything must be new. But, unbeknownst to this lady, she is in fact wearing vintage. She looks effortless mixing a short girlish slinky dress with a more mature rust orange draped cardigan from her mother’s closet! Matching her cardigan to a T are her custom made leather boots. AND, most importantly to me, this young Classical composer has strapped over her shoulder a huge carry-on crocodile print leather bag. I truly believe all great leather carry-ons should dual-purpose as everyday purses as well.

Moral of the story… throw some vintage into the mix for some real personal personality. And carry-ons for everyday wear.

footnote: been reading Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead. Thanks ChanChan!

Need it:

Edgier draped cardigan

Custom made or Vintage inspired boots from Cydwoq

other Weekend/Carry-on Bags for everyday wear

Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Sigh.

Hey there! This is Gardenia, guest contributor. I’ve had the pleasure of being asked to give my ever-so-humble opinion on this smartly dressed lady on the streets of Shanghai. She’s got sass, she’s got style. I love the way her outfit is pulled together and screams EARTH TONES. But before you label her as little bohemia (read: flawless flowy hair I wish I had, wood earrings), there’s a little Mad Men to her too: the high waist skirt, the super cute black wedges with the gold button, etc. And to make things a little more special, her leather jacket (I’m so glad she didn’t go for a black one cause those are waaay overtrended) was purchased at the Forte dei Marmi Street market in Italy! According to these folks, Forte dei Marmi is “the place to go to get cut-price reproductions of expensive designer clothes.” And can you believe “the town of Forte dei Marmi is centered around the market and the marble fortress built in 1788″? If the market was in America, they would have forced the marketers to leave and put up a big Costco or worse, Staples , in the middle of the courtyard by now. Anyway, I think it’s pretty cool that she probably got a great deal and managed to mix it in effortlessly with her H&M pieces. Bravo, girl-with perfect-hair!

The ingredients:

• Earrings: H&M
• Leather Jacket: Tommy Rind Leatherwear New York (But bought at Forte dei Marmi Street Market – Italy )
• Polo shirt: Calamai, Milano – Italy
• Skirt: H&M
• Shoes: random

Thanks Gards!  Now go waste your time at her wall of thoughts and inspirations.