Balmain x H&M
Another season, another designer/H&M collaboration hitting our high streets. This time it's historic fashion house Balmain who have teamed up with the Swedish retail giant. Known to blend couture spirit and streetwear attitude, the French brand owns a unique style; opulent and direct, sensual and energetic. Such traits are mirrored in the collection, which, from the few campaign images released for it, shows sharp-shouldered jackets and military detailing. It’s good stuff, and under the leadership of the brand’s 29-year-old creative director Olivier Rousteing, it’s set to be a hit among label fans who can’t afford the real thing. We’re into the more simple pieces: the black leather backpack, the suede high-tops and that killer military coat for men, the ruched skirt and velvet jacket-dress for the ladies. A few pieces are uncannily similar to looks from Balmain’s Autumn/Winter collections seen over the last three years, which, again, is going to make many of us ‘commoners’ quite happy. Prices aren’t super purse-friendly, but hey, it’s Balmain, baby. The line hits stores and H&M’s digital platforms on November 5. Prepare for the scrum.
> H&M (www.hm.com)
10/10 Apothecary
Let’s face it: Shanghai gals (and guys) are still somewhat at a loss for beauty meccas. You can find top-notch nail art salons and excellent massage places, but besides the ubiquitous Sephora and Innis Free, solid beauty supply stores are still pretty hard to come by. Well, that was, at least, till Apothecary 10/10 opened shops in Jing’An Kerry Centre and Grand Gateway 66. A Taiwanese import, the sleek, bright emporium – which is beautifully designed and has a clean, glossy spa-like feel to it – boasts an amazing edit of body must-haves and classic skin-care essentials, stocking both indie fragrances, candles and cosmetics brands – hello The Laundress and Eve Lom as well as more ‘famous’ names like Diptyque, Malin + Goetz and Marvis. New brands, niche and non, are set to be introduced each month, making this a truly unique spot for beauty hoarders wanting to eschew Sephora’s sometimes overwhelming array of products galore. Pretty much every line in store is higher-end, so expect to pay premium prices, but we firmly believe that anything that goes on your skin should be of the best quality – and in that sense, 10/10 Apothecary nails it.
> Jing'an Kerry Centre location, Grand Gateway location, (www.1010apothecary.com.cn)
Homes-Up
There are times when one’s apartment needs a sprinkling of originality and Ikea simply won’t do. We’ve been known to turn to Homes-Up, a local home décor website that lets you furnish your home from the comfort of your laptop. Covering practical home basics like bedding, furniture and lighting, Homes-Up also features specialty design collections to add a splash of color and style. Its latest is titled ‘Berbere,’ and sees subtle geometric motifs mixed with raw natural hues inspired by the African Atlas Mountains taking over throw cushions, rugs, tableware, wall decoration and more. Aiming to be a one-stop shop for local and expat shoppers alike, the Homes-Up site offers national delivery as well as in-store pick-up. Homes-Up currently has two shops in both Huangpu and Pudong that function as showrooms, but for tech-savvy shoppers there’s a Homes-Up app and a membership program to take advantage of. Prices from RMB50-2,299.
Zurita
Sustainable fashion is a concept we’re fully behind. Except for its pricing: eco-friendly clothes are usually incredibly expensive or … incredibly expensive. Let’s be real: the average working woman can hardly afford to spend a couple of thousand kuai on a skirt or a blouse. If we want people to embrace ethical style, we should make sure they can realistically afford it. Zurita is trying to do just that. A tiny, tastefully arranged shop on Wulumuqi Lu, just opposite Avocado Lady, the boutique is the brainchild of Spanish entrepreneur-turned-designer Monica Zurita, an avid promoter of sustainable garments normal ladies can get their hands on. “I firmly believe what you wear should be good to your skin,” Zurita says. “But I am also aware of the limited reach most sustainable fashion still holds today. With my brand – and my shop – I want to change that.” Made with all-natural fibers and fabrics like bamboo, cashmere and silk, each piece on sale at Zurita is indeed incredibly affordable. Ultra soft silk tops start around RMB300, while a cashmere coat – the most expensive item in store – is priced at just over RMB1,000. Blending practical and flattering, dresses show form fitting, stretched silhouettes, while trousers incline towards the easy and comfortable. Most products lie within the basics all of us should have in our closets, and come in a range of neutral, earthy hues that never go out of style. Besides its own line, Zurita also stocks a few indie jewelry pieces, accessories by Shokay and a series of ultra covetable pumps from The Collection.
> Zurita
Miamai
The Everyday Bag. Every woman has one. It’s usually a far cry from the so-small-I-can-barely-put-my-lipstick-in-it clutch you go out with on a Saturday night. But it also isn’t the shapeless tote you stuff your groceries in. The Everyday Bag is stylish and practical. It makes you feel good about yourself, and it goes with most of your outfits. It’s like a good, solid friend. This winter, that friend is a Miamai sling bag. Launched in 2009 by German designer and Beijing resident Theresa Roll, Miamai does gorgeous, handmade, foldable bags spacious enough to carry your daily essentials as well as your laptop/tablet/books. Triangle shaped, each of these beauties comes in sleek, super hip prints made of cloth or wool mixes, features two inside pockets – a must for any Everyday Bag worthy of its name – and has a strong lining equipped with a magnetic snap closure. Your new BFF, we tell you. RMB250.
> Miamai (etsy.com/shop/mymiamai or shop110650938.taobao.com)
Pinyin Press
Shanghai-based design brand Pinyin Press never fails to stoke us. Its designs are fun, clever and pretty neat; its products functional and pressie-ready. The brand’s latest creations – these feel-good aprons featuring baozis and noodles – make for the perfect (and only, if you ask us) kitchen look. You don’t even need to cook anything. Just wear these. Your neighbors will be impressed too, we promise you. RMB200.
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