To get our travel photography competition in association with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts rolling, Elle China Fashion Editor Leaf Greener offers her guide for a
metropolitan Shanghai adventure. “This is the most convenient and
spontaneous city, you’ll never know what you’ll encounter,” says
Greener, a Beijing-native who started out as a freelance stylist, but
quickly caught the eye of blogs like Garance Doré and Streetpeeper, and
started working with leading celebrities to grow into one of Asia’s most
influential—and most followed—fashion editors, “I think to walk around
without any purpose is the best way to find new things here.”
Kin 宗祠 (The Grumpy Pig)
Kin
is a really cool place that sells street-style brands, typical Shanghai
food such as noodles served with oil, and vintage vinyl records.
Sometimes they also organize a really fantastic flea market.
Maoming North Road, Jing'an
Antik-Nana Studio
I’ve
known the jewelry designer Nana since 2009, when she was still a
student and living in London. She made amazing jewelry just for fun, and
one day she showed me her collar clips. I just fell in love with her
wicked imagination.
129, Lane 67, Ruijin San Road, Shanghai
Le Lutin
I’ve
known the co-founder of Le Lutin, Diana Tu, since back in 2009, when
she just opened her store at Jin Xian Lu. This year she moved to a new
place at the heart of Shanghai city, just next to the Gucci flagship
store, but she has still kept her own low-key, delicate way of defining
luxury. To me Le Lutin is a very personal favourite, it just feels like
home.
Golden Eagle Square 2nd Floor 2A, 278 North Shanxi Road
Arcade Bar
For
me, music is super important when I hang out. Arcade Bar has the best
music and the best crowd in town. Also the cocktails are great. I took
Nicola Formichetti there once and they made us these special shots—I
swear I can only drink shots in there.
2nd Floor, 57 Fuxing West Road, Xuhui
Brocade Country Store
Two
years ago I was walking along Julu Road, and I was amazed by these
handmade vintage embroidered clothes from the Miao people at Brocade
Country store. The owners are two sisters of Miao ethnicity. In China
it’s hard to keep our traditional culture alive—I admire what they do, I
admire their faith.
616 Julu Road, Jing'an
Emporium Vintage
I
just found this treasure chest only a few months ago. The owners are
very low-key, they don’t do any promotions for their store and it’s
hidden in an old lane house. I feel vintage should be very private and
very spontaneous. It’s fate to find something right for myself from
someone, some place, some time I have never known.
No.4, Lane 526 Huaihai Zhong Lu near Chengdu Nan Lu
Dong Liang store
I
went to Dong Liang when the owners opened their first store in Beijing
two years ago, and they opened the second one in Shanghai in 2011. You
can find the best up-and-coming Chinese designers there.
184 Fumin Road, Jing'an
Dr. Wine
This
place has good wine, nice music, smart food and also a very chilled
environment—it has been my casual dining room for four years already.
177号 Fumin Road Jing'an
Four Seasons Hotel Pudong
It
has a great view—you can see the Oriental Pearl Tower next to the Bund.
I’m looking forward to eating at their three-Michelin-star French
restaurant soon.
210 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai 200120