Red laces and tan leather with wood heelsRed leather accent piece added to the back to “pop” the rear viewCarved wood soles…a work of art!
My handmade shoes finally arrived four weeks after the initial fitting and design and a mid-project fitting of the initial mold. I was able to take the features of several of the showroom models and design a totally unique lace up, side zip oxford boot in dark tan leather with red laces and red leather back panels and wood soles and heels. I am in awe of these shoes. Not only do I love the look but they fit like a dream. I may never take them off–bury me in these babies!!! Yan Ye Shoes on Fuxing Road and Mr. Zhao, the manager are the lovely folks responsible for hand crafting these boots for me. Now, Thom has serious shoe envy so I am sure he will hot foot it over there and design his own soles of heaven soon. Now excuse me while I take these puppies out for a stroll…
AFTER PICTURE–Handmade and one of a kind-designed by ME!BEFORE PICTURE-This is the mold they made for the first fitting.
Silk dress Marilyn Monroe style with fan flowing out skirt on display
When you peel back the layers of fashion in Vietnam, you discover that besides the Vietnam traditional outfit for ladies which consists of a flowing tunic with pants, the fashion here varies widely with trendy boutiques offering truly fashion forward choices for shoppers in Saigon. Of course, you’ll pay to be unique so you better load up at the ATM with millions of Dong ’cause you are going to need it to take home one of these outfits. Hot Damn, let’s do some shopping!!! Not only are the stores decorated with trendy touches from statement art to industrial chic with stained concrete floors, steel lighting plus the visual displays make you want to touch and buy their products. One chic store had everything from b/w Vietnam portraits screenprinted on iPad covers to brightly colored recycled vinyl bags and sandals to handmade necklaces. Hold me back–my luggage is already too heavy! Lured in by the outfits in the window featuring men’s pants with a studded fly (for dudes who want some attention I’m guessing), this gallery of fashion finds featured garments that were works of arts accented by the dragonfly wire hangers they were hung from. Very expensive and probably too nice to actually wear in my lifestyle, I admired the artist’s embroidered shirts and wraps as well as her one of a kind necklaces. Thom shot off some photos for me while I tried to distract the shop girls because I knew they wouldn’t allow it–sure enough, they shut him down quickly but not before I got a few to share.
Studded fly for the man who wants a little attentionClassic Lambretta scooter on display with fashion art
At yet another gorgeous showroom, the beautiful silk prints in heavy brocade fabrics draped just right were set off with huge statement necklaces. I wouldn’t dare buy silk because I would almost surely dribble coffee on it or, God forbid, sweat while wearing it. Still, I appreciate the gorgeous styles that are too expensive for most folks here in Vietnam. I was surprised to see as many luxury retailers here with the large showpiece stores-LV, Chanel, Hermes, etc. all are represented here in Saigon by our hotel. Our last day is today so I’m off to pick up a few more items to remember our great stay in Saigon.
I was lucky enough to spend time with my family this week in South Bend, Indiana. Clean air and blue skies! Even better, my gorgeous daughter Hannah and Baby Mia accompanied me to spend quality time with my sister, Mom and best friend Patti. What a great time we had!
My beautiful daughter and stylist Hannah
When it proved to be too hot for a Zoo visit on Saturday, we hit the mall instead. Yes, it cost me more than the Zoo but we so rarely get quality shopping time together so Hannah took advantage of the opportunity to style an outfit for me. I also had to procure a statement necklace for her so that she would give me back the one she is wearing in the picture–I love it and just am not willing to give it to her–yet! No worries- we found a beautiful substitute at the mall.
It was fun visiting the University Park Mall where I worked as the Assistant Store Manager many, many years ago at L.S.Ayres when Hannah was only 2 and James was a baby. That’s a story for another time but, desperate to leave my job that I held while pregnant with James, I interviewed for my new job that would take me to the UP Mall only 7 days after giving birth. Several week later, we loaded up the car and moved to South Bend, Indiana. We were, and are, truly crazy but enough reminiscing and back to my new outfit.
After finding Baby Mia the perfect dress to accompany her parents to a friend’s wedding in Coeur d’Alene next week, we had some time to shop for ourselves and we made the most of it. Finding fashion bargains is truly one of Hannah’s skills. She can go to a thrift store and come out with a stunning outfit originally from Anthro for less than $20 and looking spectacular.
I love the quality of Banana Republic and know what size I wear without needing to try anything on-a time saver! Hannah combined the trendy polka dot cotton shirt with basic chinos from there but made it POP with the new statement necklace and my zebra belt. My new nerd glasses from Warby Parker, bought on our last NYC trip, give the hipster edge to the look while the Cole Haan wedges, which are actually comfy to walk in, give me a needed lift since I am severely height challenged. Thank you, Hannah darling, for making your Momma look stylish for her meetings! Watch out Hotlanta-here I come!
Good bye blue skies and fresh air! Hello grey, chunk-filled air that causes me to cough..hard. So long family and friends! Hello insane work schedule though I love what I do. Tomorrow I will make the long, long journey from Boise, Idaho to Beijing, China. Leaving behind my new granddaughter Mia and my lovely family including my husband, who will stay to oversee the purchase of our new home here in Boise, our retreat from China but primarily a vacation rental till we expatriate. Though I have been busy working from Boise to get ready for my big project in China, I have been blessed to at least be able to see the baby and family every night. We take a walk around the neighborhood-the whole crazy crew: Baby Mia, Hannah & Mike, Thom and I plus the crazy canine duo pulling us along, Izaak and Ollie, plus Det. Stabler, the only cat I know who goes for walks too. Now, I really don’t favor cats, being a dog person, but I will acknowledge that Det. Stabler is an unusually loyal and smart cat. Not that I ever want to support a cat again. Ever. I prefer dogs who love you always and never give attitude.
Thom enjoying some puppy love from our Izaak. I miss him so much!Det. Stabler coming along for the walk sans leash
For the next month or two, I will be all alone in Beijing working hard. More days in a hotel than I want to think about, not that it is a bad hotel but I miss being home. Our Ayi Pink probably thinks we bailed on her. I wonder what she does all day in the apartment with really nothing to do except dust the ever present dirt that is spewing out of the vents and hopefully watering our plants so they are not all dead by the time we return. The wave pool with sandy beach will be open for the summer by the time I return to Shanghai in late June. I’ve been watching the feral cats use this sandy beach as their own private litter box all winter while working out in the gym overlooking it. Wonder if they’ll clean up all the cat poop before the season starts? Oh, right, I live in China. Note to self–wear shoes in sand.
What do I miss from Shanghai? I miss the daily adventures walking the streets with Thom. Experiencing the unusual and crazy life in China. I don’t miss the pollution AT ALL. My lung scare is still top of mind and I don’t look forward to wearing my mask more to protect myself but I will because I value living and breathing. My CT scan showed lung damage caused by remote exposure to TB but thank God, I was tested and it’s not active TB. Did I get “exposed” to TB in China. Yep. Damn Subways. Oh well.
Three generations enjoying lunch on a sunny, clear day in Boise.
Packing today was an experience in futility. Due to the lure of low, low prices in the U.S., I may have overdone the shopping a bit. Well, maybe more like 20 or 30 pounds worth. Don’t judge me–the top size in China is a small 4 so I loaded up on the generous US sizing to help my self confidence. Now, I am forced to make my son bring over some of my clothes when he comes. Sorry dude but you’re Momma’s mule! (He doesn’t ever read my blog so I’m safe) He’ll come over with Thom at the first of July with an extra bag or two to have adventures all summer exploring the China that I’m too afraid to see. Yes, until you live outside the U.S. you never consider that your travel plans will be heavily influenced by the reality of “are there are toilets or not?” In pretty much all of rural China, it’s a definite “NOT”. No toilets, no go -just my policy. Men can go anywhere, anytime–females are challenged in that regard especially if you don’t like to squat by the side of the road. So, Thom and James will take the trains here and there and see lots of crazy shit I am sure. I will stay home and work where there are heated TOTO toilets close by–my new office is AMAZING!
So, on my last day in lovely Boise, we went to a great lunch, sat outside on the patio and soaked in the clean air. I will never, ever take for granted the simple things in life like being able to drink a margarita on the rocks with no worries that the “rocks” will be made of toxic water that will induce projectile vomiting. Ahhhhh….I will miss those little things….Beijing, watch out, here I come!
Spring has sprung in Shanghai! And about time thank you very much. While we didn’t get any snow, it’s been a long, dark winter. I’m tired of trudging through the gloomy cold to work and looking forward to some sun and longer daylight hours to enjoy exploring all that China has to offer. We’ll be in Beijing alot so looking forward to getting to know that city quite well.
Trying to name the “captains” pictured-got Captain Crunch right!
We had a blast at Trivia Night at The Bookworm in Sanlitun this week and will definitely go back. We killed in many categories but the music was a bit too international for our brains. We hadn’t even heard many of the songs or artists featured. Of course, Thom was overly generous when he gave one team credit for naming Bruno Mars’ song, Gorilla, when he put down “f*&k the monkey”, a loose interpretation of the lyrics of that crazy tune. Trivia Nights are all the rage in China for Expat’s–this one was even smoke-free!
The ponchos come out when it rains!
Rain + Spring = GREEN! The newly revived grass and trees were a welcome sight amidst the grey polluted skies today in Shanghai. Oh what I wouldn’t give for a blue sky day!!! I worked the past week in Beijing, where it was 200+ AQI every day and so depressing. You could tell Michelle Obama and the girls had gone–fire up the furnaces and let the pollutants loose ’cause the liberals have left the building!
Enjoying my new patio chairs from Ikea on our balcony.
No matter, even though there are very few days to enjoy the outside air, we braved the crowds at Ikea to grab some patio chairs for our balcony. While we can’t leave them out every day because they would just get filthy, we are ever hopeful that we will have a few fine days to sip coffee and enjoy a rare day where you can breathe in without coughing. Look, they’re still white!
If you want to enjoy a clusterf&*k of epic proportions, visit Ikea on a weekend in Shanghai. HOLY. HELL. Get those elbows out and jump into the fray. There is a steady parade that you just have to join in as people take pictures, nap, use the somewhat clean bathrooms, socialize, eat and do everything BUT buy anything. Thom and I are veteran Ikea shoppers so we just took off cutting through departments and grabbing what was on the list as quick as possible. No browsing for us and who could nap with all that noise! Obviously someone could because the beds were almost all taken-there being no trespass laws here in China.
New Converse for me!
We also visited the AP market and haggled for some Converse-like sneakers for me. Nothing says SPRING like some new shoes. They take their fashion very seriously here and my casual look is very counter to the ruffles, bows, and frilly look favored by many of the females here. To each their own!
Spring fashion includes lots of prints and ruffles.
Window shopping at the IFC mall, the many boutiques featured beautiful outfits from shoes to hat. Of course, they are all in size 0-4 so I can look but not buy. The largest size even in the US Brands like Gap is a small version of a 8. No more carbs for me! Some day I would like to buy some local fashion so I’ll just have to get out the duct tape and starve for a few weeks!
We leave in a week to visit the US to work and then get to be with Hannah and Mike as Mia arrives in May. From her current antics inside, she is already enjoying being active and will no doubt keep her parents very busy from the get go. Put on your track shoes, Hannah and Mike! We love little Mia already and look forward to her getting to know her Nai Nai, While I wish we could live closer, the day will come when we are all together. Until then, Mia will get lots of cute outfits as we plan to spoil her rotten.
Hennessy Artistry ConcertShanghai Mercedes Benz Arena
Free VIP Tickets and Free Hennessy cognac cocktails! Hello, date night! Thom and I experienced another side of Shanghai last night attending the Hennessy Artistry concert at Shanghai Mercedes Benz Arena. Walking the red carpet and entering as VIP’s thanks to one of my co-worker’s connections, once again we were spoiled to be standing right by the stage to enjoy artists from around the world. Most were winners of X-Factor like contests and all were wonderful including Rebecca Ferguson from the UK and The Dickpunks from Korea. Yes, that’s really their names and they rocked it out with a Beatles-like feel and look.
Thom enjoying the view by the stage.Hipster famous China rock star hanging with us by the stage. Love the bow tie and plaid jacket!
The hipsters were out and rocking all the latest fashion. I saw lots of sequins, Doc Martens, skinny pants, boots, bow ties, plaid and Thom was rocking his kangol hat. At one point, they interviewed one of the performers next to us at the bar by the stage. Thom, looking so cool, was standing next to her and showing his big smile up on the jumbotron for all to see. He is so spoiled! Then, a band from China complete with silver metallic leggings tucked into their boots and fur accented jackets stood next to me to get their press pictures taken. Since we were one of the few Laowai’s there, I think they liked including us in their press photos. We made a friend from France who was with the event coordinator and Thom enjoyed talking Shanghai expat stories with him. When he found out we moved over here without ever having visited, he remarked how “brave” we were. He was probably really thinking that we are crazy but what an interesting life you can lead when you appreciate every moment of every day as an opportunity to experience new things!
I, of course, worked my way up to the special leather couches up front only to be told politely that this area was reserved seating for the Hennessy executives at the event. No problem! The lovely event coordinator introduced me to her boss, who was rocking thick black framed glasses and a fedora plus a metallic shirt, and we became friends when I won him over with a big smile. You do get much better treatment when you’re nice vs. acting entitled or being demanding. He escorted us to the bar instead to enjoy “the best seats in the house” PLUS immediate access to the various complimentary cognac cocktails being liberally pushed upon us because, after all, the concert was really a big marketing event for Hennessy and extremely well done to seduce all the rich Chinese to buy their liquor. I was happy to sample the offerings and enjoyed the apple and berry concoctions. Cognac and The Dickpunks…just another night in Shanghai!
Never having been to China before I moved here four months ago, I couldn’t have imagined the super trendy Shanghainista scene I have found here…from the coolest shoes (including lots of handmade shoe stores) to fur galore to an obsession with lace/plaid hipster outfits, I am loving all the diversity, even if I can’t pull off wearing every trend I see or agree with where it originated.
Let’s start with the touchy subject of fur-yes, it’s real here and no, you can’t tell from
what animal it came from but probably most are outlawed in the U.S. From regular brown tones to the wild and crazy pink, purple and you name it, you can find it because the fur is flying everywhere in Shanghai. Once upon a time, I had a full length fur coat because it was the “thing” to wear in NYC and I spent a whole month’s salary to buy one to look cool. It weighed a ton and smelled nasty when it got wet but I felt like a million bucks wearing it and thankfully never got paint thrown on me by a protestor. I would never wear one now but I can relate to the status of it (very big here in China) and the warmth of it as well. You can even buy fur pelts right on the street—name your price, guess your species. Again, not my cup of tea but it is very common in China to see these street pelt vendors, especially in Beijing.
The scope of fashionable shoes here does surprise me because most people have hefty commutes with lots of walking. Believe me, there is a reason that foot massages are part of every day life here. After you walk a mile in stiletto’s, your tootsies are crying out to be rubbed for an hour or so with hot oil. Looking good here takes precedent over comfort (not for me, of course, but for fashionable people-I keep my heels at the office and wear ugly “pillows of heaven” Uggs for the commute). Besides the high heels, though, Doc Martens are featured everywhere right now in fabulous bright colors and patterns. I’m tempted to buy a pair to make a statement AND still be able to walk miles on the streets of Shanghai, as Thom and I love to do on the weekends. Yes, I’m probably too old to wear them but who cares! I’m imagining some thick soled, neon patterned or polka dot suckers worn with black tights (yes, going to the gym is paramount to this look) and a black skirt with a bright wool jacket…also needing to be purchased. The coats here are adorable but not necessarily warm so I haven’t found the right one yet but I will keep on looking.
Then, there is the whole plaid/lace fashionista thing going on with whole stores devoted to this type of outfit. Let’s face it, you have to be petite and below a size 4 to pull this type of look off and look adorable. Thus, the reason you don’t see these stores in the U.S. where the average size is a 12 not a 4. I find here that I am no longer a size 6/small but have graduated to a size 10/medium if I’m lucky and that’s at a nicer European store like Zara….again, another reason to make you want to go to the gym and stay there for awhile. That being said, I could never pull off the plaid/lace look but I do appreciate all the styling that goes into it with multiple layers, jewelry, boots, tights, hats, etc. It’s not easy to be a fashionista and when I see a great outfit styling, I appreciate all the work that went into completing the image. Who knows—maybe I’ll have to crank up my shopping and styling to keep up with the Shanghainistas but I draw the line at pink fur!
The weather is finally getting colder and the Shanghai fashionistas are breaking out their winter wear. The coats are beautiful and brighten up these gray days. With everyone commuting long distances to work in Shanghai, you have to wear layers and dress for any type of weather. Today I actually saw some real fur being worn–not sure what type of fur since pretty much all animals are fair game here in China but I was envious just because it looked so warm though I swear I saw a little head peeking out of one of the folds on this particular foxy cape. A coat to keep you warm AND a pet to keep you company–what a creepy combo!
The shoe story doesn’t really change too much when the weather changes. I still see the stilettos being worn on the street and wonder how on earth these women navigate the uneven streets and dodge the traffic wearing them. You have to be seriously nimble to survive just crossing the street here so I’ll stick to my “commuter” boots that keep me alive and put on the “work” heels after I safely reach the office. You don’t see the ladies here wearing sneakers with their work outfits like you would on the streets of Manhattan..fashion definitely comes first here over function.
I look forward to getting a fashionable Shanghai coat myself soon like the looks I saw out and about this past weekend. Now, if I could just find functional but fashionable air masks to compliment my outfits like this rocking chick–crazy cute coat PLUS matching mask. Keeping warm, Shanghai Style!
The hunt is on…where will we buy our first pair of handmade shoes??? As we explore the streets of Shanghai, especially in the former French Concession, Thom and I have been lusting after leather that feels like butter, hand carved soles and unique designs. Oh my, come to momma!!!
“we are proud of being persistent to make our products by hands” is the proud motto of one shop we found. All small and tucked away on quiet, leafy streets, the cobblers work on their product while you browse their samples of all colors and styles. Thom, who has long been a “shoe whore”, had it so bad for a pair of ridiculously gorgeous boots that I promised that we could each get a pair of handmade shoes while here in Shanghai. Yes, I’m weak but what the Hell, you only live once, right??? And he looked so pathetic cradling the shoe like a little baby..and the leather was as soft as a baby’s bottom to boot. Oh, and speaking of boots, that’s what I’m going for-you can take the girl out of boot-crazy Seattle, but the you can’t take the passion for boots away from this girl.
Many expats have extolled the virtues of getting hand-tailored clothes here in Shanghai and Thom has certainly been eyeing fancy, bold print long “Neo” jackets (he’s a Matrix fan as well as Dr. Who) but I have a feeling that nothing will be as wonderful as boots perfectly encasing my feet. I’ll keep you updated as the vetting process continues and then the fun begins–the creation of our perfectly unique shoes.
Travels with Melinda 