KELE is Shanghai dialect derived from the English word "color," meaning taste and refinement.

It refers to a group of Western-educated Chinese who came to prominence from the 1920s to 1940s and lived a cultured and refined life, representing the cultures of both East and West. Many were the social elite and many were involved in the arts.

Today, old locals typically use the term kele to describe elderly gentlemen who have seen the world, cultivate refined taste for the good things in life, and are keen on the small details of dress, dining, including elegant afternoon teas and even ballroom dancing.

The kele glamour of old Shanghai have been fading away, but the Kele Men Salon, which opened last August, aims to revive and promote that culture, ensuring that younger people don't forget the "golden days."

The group has been translated as Colormen Salon. Men literally means doorway or gate, but here it has the meaning "people of refinement."

"Colormen showcases the idea of a 'big' Shanghai and represents the city's noble traits," says Chen Gang, one of the founders of Afternoon Tea for Colormen.

Chen is the famous composer of the violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers" and a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with a wide social network.

"Shanghai was the cultural center of China in the 1930s, but it no longer is. Today the mass media promotes low-taste and fast-food culture that misrepresents the city's real culture. As a Shanghai artist, it is my responsibility to talk about Shanghai's glorious culture," he tells Shanghai Daily in an interview.

Reviving noble traits

Supported by Hotel Equatorial Shanghai, the Colormen Salon, an afternoon tea, is held once a month and each session has a theme. Teas and desserts are served and events include guest talks, musical performances, art and photo exhibitions and video screenings.

Attendance is limited to 100 guests. It is not open to the public, but fans who are active on the group's Weibo social networking site may be invited.

Every session has a theme related to old Shanghai.

Last month the theme was the city's younger kele, including offspring of older gents and ladies. Shanghai-based award-winning musician Song Siheng played the piano and talked about his experience in growing up and becoming a musician.

The July theme is about love, since Chinese Valentine's Day is coming up on August 13 this year. Details of the event were not immediately available.

"Frankly, I didn't expect such enthusiastic feedback from attendees and those who heard about the salon both online and by word of mouth," says Yan Hua, a core organizer and television presenter for Shanghai Media Group.

"The event was initiated through our personal interest," she says. "I was born in Shanghai and as a young person I was eager to approach the cultural core of the city, but I felt separated by a mysterious veil. That's why we are inviting some real Colormen to talk about their dreams and share their experience in salons."

"We chat about many interesting topics concerning Shanghai and the talks generated interesting ideas and inspiration," says Chen Gang the composer.

Topics have included qipao, the traditional tight-fitting gown for women, Shanghai movies, Shanghai-style Peking Opera, poetry and harmonica playing.

"People in Shanghai deserve a colorful, refined and elegant life. The real old kele are now very few and we are documenting their memories in an artistic way. We are looking deeply into a bygone are in which a certain culture thrived," Yan says. Artists in many fields are invited.

Yan and Chen are responsible for developing themes and inviting guests. Ji Dongming, general manager of the Hotel Equatorial Shanghai, arranges the salon, decor and catering. The hotel covers all costs.

"This is a non-profit event and no one comes here to make money," Yan says. "Ji is a rare hotel manager with a passion for art and culture and he gives generous support."

For example, in one salon, every corner was decorated with a garland of fragrant magnolia, the city flower with a perfume that evokes nostalgia.

Ji sometimes selects a particular tea to complement the theme.

"In my eyes, this is the sophiscated lifestyle of old Shanghai kele," says Yan, adding that they would even choose different background music for their morning tea and afternoon tea.

Impressive guests

The list of the guests is impressive.

Zhou Xiaoxuan, grand-daughter of the famous 1940s "golden voice" singer and film star Zhou Xuan, played renditions of Zhou's songs on the piano.

For the qipao theme salon last November, a 95-year-old tailor surnamed Chu shared stories about how to make the famous garment. He once made qipao for the Soong sisters.

"How many of us knew that you have to measure the figure in 30 places to create a haute couture qipao?" Yan says.

At the Shanghai-style Peiking Opera salon last December, Hu Sihua, son of the former owner of the Shanghai Grand Cinema, told fascinating stories of movies and movie stars.

In May, 88-year old Yu Minzhao, the last surviving pianist of the original Paramount jazz band, performed.

"The elderly lady needed support to walk to the stage, but when she sat down at the piano, she was immediately transformed to a different person," says Yan.

She played a lively rendition of the old son "Rose, Rose, I Love You," which was popular in Shanghai in the 1930s. It was composed by Chen Gexin, Chen Gang's father.

The April salon remembers famous ink-wash artist Chen Yifei who died in April 2005. His younger brother shared little-known stories.

At each salon, the 100 guests include some local celebrities and they know each other well. "The salon is a meeting place because there are few other events that focus solely on art and culture in the city," Yan says.

"The principle of Colormen is not only to take a retrospective look at the city during its peak of cultural prosperity," Yan says. She quotes Pai Hsien-yung, the famous author and Peking Opera fan from Taiwan, saying at the salon: "Shanghai will never grow old.'"