Dandy and contradictory collide
Print Edition
American Steve Shen has lived in Shanghai for the last six years. His sense of fashion involves adding playfulness and expression to his office world of financial services. A pair of colorful socks and dandy cufflinks works wonders. He adds warmth and personality to his office with a lively coffee table book.
My personal style reflects where I am in my life. In my 20s, my style was geared to the unknowns of travel: rugged enough to keep me warm hiking in the snowy mountains of Patagonia, Argentina, or light enough to beat the heat in the middle of colorful summers in musty India. Now in Shanghai, my style reflects the chicness of the city — think of 1920s Bund, where my great grandfather (even as a Chinese) played away the evenings with Europeans next to the Huangpu River. Now in my 30s, focused on my career, friends and family, my style is decidedly dandy.
I usually shop for accessories and the little “extras,” ranging from a deep red cashmere cardigan worn over a crisp white shirt, under a fitted navy suit to a colorful Shanghai Tang pen that I carry at all the time. I love hunting for classic items with a funky twist.
If I have to limit my Shanghai shopping to one place for the time being it would be Corso Como for its collection of inspiring books. My most recent purchase was the colorful cookbook “Vegetables from an Italian Garden.” I love the charm of physical books.
The designer I most admire is Begum Kiroglu, a designer of cufflinks. Men have only a few accessories, so each must say something. Prior to her designs, cufflinks were not that inspiring to me, just designs in square or circle shapes. Then I saw her oversized silver Happy Birds and knew she was onto something.
The most interesting outfit is my navy velvet dinner jacket. Proper enough to substitute a traditional black dinner jacket, it adds depth, color and personal expression.
My best recent purchase was a winter jacket in Tokyo. A slim, down-feather, grey plaid blazer with nice brown buttons is sure to help me stay warm in the bone-chilling months of December through February in Shanghai. And stay elegant at the same time!
The next fashion purchase is a grey wool tie. I want to try to wear wool ties to the office instead of silk ones this winter. It just feels right in the cold weather.
My grooming staple is a sharp pair of little scissors to trim my mustache. I love to change my mustache to fit how I feel, a luxury we gentleman have. Sometimes I grow a 1920s mustache, other times a Jack Sparrow look-alike. When I want to feel dapper, I keep a clean face. I also like to wear a very dandy outfit with an unkept mustache because the contrast is killer.
My signature perfume is Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta.
The best things about living in Shanghai in the winter are quieter streets and my cozy lane house.
Hailing from Istanbul, Begum Kiroglu, founded her elegant cufflinks brand BEGUM KHAN in 2012. Since then the brand has featured in many international publications including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire, Instyle, Elle, Cosmopolitan and GQ.
My personal style is contradictionary. I love to see an elegant woman in a tuxedo. A woman in man’s clothing can be crisp, powerful, charming and very feminine. But you’ll be able to also spot me with lots of jewelry and playful, colorful accessories. The right accessories complete the whole look for both ladies and gentlemen.
I usually shop in the old markets and hidden nooks of the cities I visit. In Istanbul, my hometown, I grew up seeking to find the answers to the mysteries and the treasures of the Grand Bazaar. In Shanghai I always search for inspiring and cultural items at the Dongtai Antique Market, where I have bought vases I hope come from Emperor Kangxi period (1654-1722) and lamps for home that come from the Art Deco era in Shanghai. I lose myself in these places.
If I have to limit myself to one neighborhood in Shanghai, it would have to be the former French concession area. There is something majestic and charming about these quiet leafy streets where I can feel the Old World charm.
All time favorite designers are — The anonymous artisans of the Old World who are behind distinguished antique pieces and important creations, such as the unknowns who created the details of the Forbidden City’s paintings and walls. I’m fascinated by their passion, devotion and the work that had been put into each piece. It is difficult to find that today.
My last wardrobe addition is Charles Philip leopard slippers custom-made for me. I adore their dandy slippers.
The next fashion purchase I have set my eyes on is a 1930s, Art Deco vintage evening bag in an antique jewelry store in Hong Kong’s Soho. It’s a golden little box with a jade clasp. Love it.
My grooming staple is actually quite simple and ends with a drop of Shalimar.
I wanted to visit Jaipur, India. I find myself always drawn to that part of the world and the rich colors, bedazzled jewels of the Maharajas, and the ancient stories that India inspires.
My most memorable destination was Tibet. I was fascinated and inspired by the richness of the culture, the incredible beauty and wilderness, and the richest color combinations I have ever seen in my life. I am sure some way or other those colors found their way into my cufflinks.
My favorite fashion brands: For me Shanghai is becoming the new Mecca of fashion and its designers are definitely the ones to watch. The eyes of the world are on Asia. Designers like Ma Ke, Liang Zi, Guo Pei, we will hear their names more and more often in the international scene.
The last book I read was “The Last Eunuch” by Jia Jinghua. Recently I’ve been also obsessed with the Grand Bazaar book by Serdar Gulgun. It is always a fun distraction.
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