Shopping for fashion

Shopping for the Fashionably Chic

Xintiandi is a truly charming place to stroll and, while it would be entirely possible to waste a day here (especially if you’ve got burning pockets), I like to start out by casually browsing the boutiques, many of which mix traditional Chinese designs with modern motifs to form a totally cutting edge, uniquely Shanghai style.

The most famous of these is the venerable Shanghai Tang, one of China’s first luxury brand. Shanghai Tang’s clothing is a modern nod to ancient Chinese fashion, consisting mostly of tailored silk patterns and new takes on old Chinese clothing styles. Just around the corner in the South Block, PH 7 is a local jewelry shop that specializes in unique bracelets, necklaces and earrings. The pieces are delicate silver decorated with traditional patterns. Chinese fashion designer Coco Ma is also cashing in on the avant-garde trends with Elements, an eco-friendly ladies clothing shop that carries women’s wear made from all-natural fabrics.