LIFE&STYLE
STYLE RADAR
Edited by marianna cerini Lifelines
ST YLE SECRE TS
You work between Beijing and Shanghai. How do you think the two cities compare and differ? I get asked this question pretty often, and I could give you a number of answers. But, essentially, Beijing loves me in the harshest ways and Shanghai tells me she loves me all the time. Beijing makes me say “I do” as if we were married, so I take the traffic and swallow the air. Shanghai romances me like a lover who knows how to pamper
me and on whom I shouldn't overdose. How would you describe your style? When it comes to fashion, I don’t only have one style. I believe in consistency as well as appropriation. I have had the same haircut for the past seven years but I know how to rock it in different ways: it can be a 1920s Shanghai bob cut or a Blade Runner kind of hairdo. What’s in your beauty bag? Ruby Woo lipstick and black eyeliner (both by Mac), Bare Minerals Powder Set, Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate (especially when I’m in Beijing – I use it in the morning, midday and midnight),
City times Yes, you probably already have a digital watch, or have ditched watches altogether because, really, what’s the point of looking down at your wrist to get the time when your phone is already in your hand? But if your old-fashioned self still likes a nice timepiece, you’ll love this number by Mr Jones. Called ‘All Around the World,’ it has eight distinct hour hands, each in the shape of an architectural landmark from the city they represent (London? Big Ben. Paris? Eiffel Tower. You get the idea) and a minute hand in the shape of a pigeon – because all cities have flying rats. Genius. RMB1,580.
Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, antiseptic cream, floss and brushes. Latest fashion purchase. A pair of nude Tom Ford cateye shaped eyeglasses I bought on the first day of the Year of the Horse. One of my New Year resolutions is to no longer deny that I am shortsighted. Shanghai style vs Beijing style. Discuss. I feel defining a city in terms of ‘style’ is pretty limiting. Both cities are very international and celebrate individuality and idealism in a way that, to an extent, is no less stylish than London, Paris, New York, Berlin and Tokyo. What inspires you? Science and biology. // jellymon.com
//www.feilook.com
Photo by Noemi Cassanelli
Grownup crayons
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March 2014 // www.thatsmags.com
“Local flavor has made it to the international arena!”
COVE T
Lin Lin, co-founder of Jellymon Jellymon in a nutshell. A boutique creative agency that always aims to push boundaries to do great work in China.
bjlifestyle@urbanatomy.com
More playful than lipstick and way less sticky than chapstick, lip crayons combine the best of the lip world and are a cinch to use, even if you’re clumsy. With a slew of eye-popping, long-lasting colors, Guangzhou brand Thehotshop offers a good way to turn your purse into an art box, and it does so at prices so affordable you’ll be able to try the whole range without breaking the bank. Time to jump on the lip crayon bandwagon – your inner 8-year-old will love you for it. RMB35. //www.yetang.com
A sarcastic netizen on the new-found popularity of migrant worker-style plaid in the fashion world. The blue, white and red pattern typical of the bags touted by millions of Chinese migrant workers has been all the rage among fashion elites over the last few months, appearing on the catwalks of Stella McCartney and Celine. Chinese web users, however, have sourly ridiculed the style. Looks like ‘migrant chic’ isn’t going to be a thing in China just yet. Made in China
Under the Lens
Double duty Ever found yourself at the cash register, unable to decide which purchase to go for: the luxe and snuggly sweater or the shift dress that fits you like a glove? We hear your pain. Choosing favorites – especially in fashion terms – can be tough. That’s why reversible clothing – nifty two-in-one pieces that are adaptable and transformable – should find a well-deserved spot in your closet.
A perfect example of sartorial inventiveness sourced and produced on our very own stomping grounds is Shanghai brand EK|Reversible. Founded by New Yorker and experienced designer Emily Keller, the brand creates sleek and innovative knitwear items that can be worn on both sides, offering a solid option to double down the smart way. Proving a far cry from the puffy jacket-to-vest thing you sported
as a teenager, each and every piece from the EK|Reversible range shows simple, classic designs (think linear dresses, sweaters and jackets) made fun and interesting by contrasting stitches and intricate constructions. Best yet, the entire collection ranges from RMB600-1,000. And you get two items for that. // www.emilykeller.co
‘Shanghai blogger’ The description accompanying the looks for the Kate Spade Fall 2014 collection at New York Fashion Week last month. Among the pieces were cigarette pants and short coats in candy-colored hues, feather-flocked bomber jackets, leopard print button-down shirts and a very clever Chinese takeout purse. The Shanghaiinspired line is not that surprising, as dataresearch company Global Language Monitor recently named the city Top Fashion Capital in Asia. Expect Victoria Beckham and co to pull out similar threads soon. March 2014 // www.thatsmags.com
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