DEA Kudibal is the creative mind and designer behind her own fashion label, Dea Kudibal. She has been living in Shanghai since 2013 and retains a Danish way of life surrounded by the things she loves. She projects an image of elegant chic and Scandinavian simplicity.

My personal style is to mix and match. I wear classical pieces such as jeans and leather pants and combine them with a chic silk blouse and a soft cashmere sweater or cardigan — and I very often wear scarves or shawls, even in summer to avoid the cold air from the air-condition. So my style is elegant chic, but at the same time comfortable and practical.

The best outfit I’ve ever worn for a special occasion was my wedding dress when I got married in 2012 at the Island of Nexelø in Denmark, where we have our holiday home. The local church is so small that some guests had to stand outside and look through the windows. My dress was my aunt’s wedding dress — a couture model from Escada — which is more than 20 years old and made in the most delicate lace. It fitted perfectly and the only alteration I made was to have the sleeves taken off, making it into a corsage dress.

I follow the fashion trends by looking at the trends every season, but I am very true to my own style. I would never wear a new trend if it did not fit my style.

I usually shop for shoes at Christian Louboutin and Valentino. I wear a lot from my own brand, Dea Kudibal.

My favorite fashion brand currently is Gucci... The prints are beautiful and interesting at the same time and their color combinations are new and daring.

The designers I most admire are Dries Van Noten and Matthew Williamson.

The style icon I look up to is the Danish Crown Princess Mary who has a fantastic style combining Danish and international brands and creating her own personal style.

The last item I added to my wardrobe was a classic Bottega Veneta bag in black. I love good hand crafted items in natural materials. This bag will just get nicer and nicer the more it is used.

The fashion item I’m eying next is a beautiful Gucci sweater in blue with an embroidered bird and flower in different shades of pink.

I collect Chanel Bags. When I was a little girl, I used to collect “national dolls” in their beautiful national gowns and outfits. My father would always bring me one when he was travelling or we would find them when the whole family went on holidays.

My grooming staples are Skin Ceuticals for many years. I recently discovered the Danish brands Amazing Space and Kamameju, where I got some really nice facemasks and efficient skin tonics, which are needed when living in Shanghai.

The most memorable place I have traveled in the past was Kyoto and it was amazing. We visited the beautiful temples, the food was so delicious, the people were the kindest. And just walking the cozy streets of the Gion area was a lovely experience.

The best thing about living in Shanghai is being here with my family and having a project we work on together. We spend a lot of time together and we go through all the challenges and successes together.

Alberto Caiola set up his own Shanghai practice specializing in interior, exhibition and product design in 2014. Through meticulous attention to both process and detail, Caiola succeeds in translating one-of-a-kind narratives into designs to realize their full authenticity and potential. He also takes seriously his efforts to project a decent, somewhat eclectic image of himself.

My personal style is simple casual. I like sneakers, mostly special editions and collaborations.

I follow fashion trends by discovering styles on the streets. The street is probably the most interesting place to look at sophistication and style.

I usually shop for most of my pieces in Italy or during holidays or where the customer experience makes it enjoyable to spend time in a store. Recently I went to Seoul and really enjoyed the new Aesop flagship in Samcheong neighborhood: amazing products, great store design and a pleasant shopping experience. This is the winning combination.

My favorite fashion brand is CP Company. I recognize myself in the way the brand reinterprets urban classics of the man’s wardrobe.

Being an interior designer, I look at figures like Masamichi Katayama who I admire for elevating retail and hospitality to a new contemporary art form.

I like the times where the man was the man. Classic style icons like Steve McQueen and James Dean are just so perfect in their careless perfection. That makes me enjoy looking at them with admiration. I’m kind of nostalgic.

The last item I’ve added to my wardrobe were a couple of beautiful polka dots socks.

The fashion item I’m eying next is a cashmere beanie.

I collect anything that gives me pleasure both visually or because of its history; where it comes from and the memories related to it. I also collect pieces from artist friends like Maeeo Cibic and Raymond Lemstra for example.

My grooming staple is a simple trimmer which does the job for me.

The best souvenir I brought home is a VW Westfalia model car, petrol green and white color with a wooden surfboard on top. It speaks to friendship, sports and surfing, the most liberating activity on the planet: it speaks freedom.

The most memorable place I have traveled in the past was in Itria Valley in Puglia, a southern region of Italy. I was guest at a friend’s Trulli house, the typical ancient small house of stone with a conical roof you can only find in this small immaculate valley. The landscape there is distinct by its ancient olive tree cultivation and vineyards. There the best entertainment at night is just laying down close to a fire and friends, and enjoying the starry vault of heaven. It’s soul fuel what this magical place gives you.

The best thing about living in Shanghai is the trust in the future. Its energy and dynamism are visible in the air and in the street.

The last book I read was “Appia” by Paolo Rumiz, who covered with a bunch of friends the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads which connects Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. He tells of an adventure which is magnificent and terrible, full of wonders but also devastation after centuries of abandon.