5 Things: Staying Stylish in Shanghai This Winter

A That's weekly series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life. This week we turn to style guru Cidonie Richards, author of fashion and travel blog Threads and Ginger. Want to know how to update your style this season, keep on-trend and add only 5 key pieces to your wardrobe? Here’s how...

Step 1: The way to look really on-trend is to walk sultry down a crowded Shanghai city street, in a full length tartan skirt, plaid shirt, cape, tall boots, gold-plated designer sunglasses with a take-away coffee cup in one hand, green super smoothie in the other, while checking your social media accounts on your brand new iphone.

Step 2: Try really hard to be photographed on the street by a social media photographer with a moody filter, posing like you’re walking with the wind in your perfectly styled hair but looking the other way to show that you were indeed just ‘captured’ spontaneously and didn’t actually pose at all, before uploading the image to an esoteric blog where you can convince the world that you are in fact on-trend and part of the cool set.

Now for a reality check... In the real world, for real people, there ARE a couple of note-worthy new trends this season that will keep your style on check without the pain of trying too hard.

1.  Cape – Short or long, the cape is great way to stay on trend this season... 

Avoid ones in red so you don’t look like Red Riding Hood! You’ll find them in most big department shops and boutiques in Shanghai but we like a couple at Clothes & Fashion Boutique, 1522 Nanjing Xi Lu and The Villa. 

2. Tartan -  Love it or loathe it, it’s back in a big way...

If dressing like a Scot or punk rocker of the 90’s is not your thing, grab tartan in a more subtle way buy adding it to a bag or plaid shirt with jeans. Love it or loathe it, it’s back in a big way. Check out Uniqlo, and Gap for some good basic styles.

3. Long coats – It’s all about the length this year...

Keep it long and slim-lined so you can wear it dressed up or casual. Go treat yourself and have one tailor-made at the South Bund Fabric Markets or check out the new styles at Zara for good options.

4. Pointy-toe flats – These will make you stand out this season...

Keep your round toes for another year. Perfect for making smaller feet seem longer. We’re loving the new styles at Chloe Chen, or have a pair made at Junyuan Handmade Footwear, 255 Hengshan Lu.

5. Fur – The stress is on the 'FAUX!'...

But if wearing the real thing is your thing, then go for it. Big, comfy, fur is back. Have fun with it but only wear it with something slim-lined on your bottom half or you’ll run the risk of looking a little more polar bear than polar chic. Check out H&M, or more up-market versions and the real thing at Style & Butler.

// Check out Threads and Ginger here  or follow her on Instagram @threadsandginger. To see more from our 5 Things series, click here. 

By Cidonie Richards for Threads & Ginger Style and Travel blog.

Photo credits: vogue.com.au, style.com, popsugar.com.au, empirestyleofmind.blogspot.com