Haipai Fashion - At the forefront of trends

Author: Hu Genxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: [Preface] Autobiographical Preface Suddenly, I found myself becoming younger! You can't help but be young: In this era filled with fashion elements, in Shanghai—this city on its way to becoming an international metropolis—fashion is like a youthful gene that has entered your bloodstream, making you unable to resist following it. In Shanghai, people are no strangers to fashion. For the Shanghai people who have stood at the forefront of Chinese fashion for a century, this is not a new term. The earliest Shanghai people to feel the influence of Western winds and rains in the 19th century knew how to cut their black hair into a three-part Western-style small bun, which was far more comfortable than the heavy and cumbersome braid hanging behind their heads, losing their gender identity in the process. A suit of Western clothes also added a touch of vitality. Even though the old scholars and gentlemen in Beijing were still wearing long gowns and horse collars, basking in the dusty, ancient imperial city in winter, when the streets of cities large and small echoed with the "haoyao" sounds emitted from the chests of sedan chair bearers, the Shanghai people had already taken up the improved rickshaws introduced by the French. In no time, Zhou Xiangyun, a Shanghai resident, even surpassed the foreigners by owning a car license plate printed with the English "No. 1," letting this gasoline-powered "iron armored guardian" proudly race through the streets of the concession. Even a cheongsam—the smart Shanghai women would pick up scissors, take the pride of the Manchu people's robes, tighten the waist, straighten the collar, raise the side slits a few inches, and add colorful lace, turning them into a stylish Shanghai-style cheongsam that became fashionable for nearly a century. How fashion can be! Even during the Cultural Revolution, when the women of the entire country adopted a masculine style, the women of Shanghai cleverly turned the collar of a white shirt outside the yellow military uniform, revealing a feminine charm. Even in times of material scarcity, they would tie a white handkerchief around their "one-hand-gathered" black hair, exuding a different kind of elegance. After the reform and opening-up, the people of Shanghai ushered in the true age of fashion. People no longer had reservations or constraints; as long as they dared to think, there was no fashion they couldn’t design, no face they couldn’t make up. On the basis of maintaining moral standards, fashionable women were not afraid to wear anything or play anything. Shanghai is, after all, a metropolis with a deep cultural heritage. In the face of fashion, the people of Shanghai always maintain a certain reserve. No matter how avant-garde or fashionable they claim to be, the people of Shanghai will never cross the moral benchmark. However, Shanghai was the first to be tempered by the Eastward spread of Western culture and has always been at the forefront of fashion. Thus, the noble horse racing grounds, the golf courses that are gradually becoming more accessible to the masses, the emerging yachting industry, as well as high-end clubs and fitness centers—all set the trend for stylish men and women, giving their lives a strong sense of confidence. Today in Shanghai, whether it’s the young and vibrant MM, the elegant middle-aged women, or even the elderly grandmas, they all pursue fashion and beauty equally. The people of Shanghai know how to cherish their youth and understand how to make the most of their limited lives, enjoying life and creating romance to the fullest. As long as their psychological age is not old, anyone can make an appointment with fashion and live freely in the pursuit of it. There is no age distinction or gender difference in the pursuit of fashion. May everyone find their own joy in the pursuit of fashion. Among the three thousand rivers of weakness, only one is taken. The Shanghai Style has only plucked a few flowers from the kaleidoscopic fashion life of Shanghai, hoping to share them with those who appreciate fashion! Those who walk at the forefront of trends are blessed, and those who live in Shanghai style are lucky. This book guides you into the life of the people of Shanghai, preparing you to hold hands with fashion at any time. Shanghai style showcases the exquisite life wrapped in the packaging of Shanghai culture. This book strives to present these unique fashion elements to you, allowing you to enjoy fashion while feeling the lingering charm of history and culture. The people of Shanghai know how to cherish their youth and understand how to make the most of their limited lives, enjoying life and creating romance to the fullest. As long as their psychological age is not old, anyone can make an appointment with fashion and live freely in the pursuit of it. There is no age distinction or gender difference in the pursuit of fashion. May everyone find their own joy in the pursuit of fashion. Among the three thousand rivers of weakness, only one is taken. The Shanghai Style has only plucked a few flowers from the kaleidoscopic fashion life of Shanghai, hoping to share them with those who appreciate fashion!