Well folks, July has really been testing the resilience of us Shanghai dwellers. Scorching heat, pouring rain, my birthday, this city has been through a lot this month. However, no weather is going to stop me from harassing strangers on the streets, asking for their personal information and taking their pictures, Street Chic for shorter.

In this kind of weather, it is tough to catch stylish locals and expats, since the only people who are still unaware of Shanghai heat are usually clueless tourists, and I wouldn't call backpacks and Gore-Tex boots very street chic-y, but we managed. In this July Street Chic we picked six friendly faces (we got turned a couple of times, idk why, maybe the heat), and talked about their fun outfits, their stories and thoughts on their life in our lovely city.

1. Tima, well, me... the benchmark.

Brandon McGhee

To be fair, after a whole week of non-stop raining, Shanghai did cool down a bit. HOWEVER, the humidity is really all-sort-of-phobic, like, it is so hard to give and serve full fashion when I feel like I just came out of a pool. Pro tip: don't wear synthetic tops during high humidity. Do you see the lovely #softgirlcore humidity prison, aka my ivory longsleeve? Sure, it looks good and effortless, but I think I will put it off until September maybe. Its a sweat machine. Also, trend alert for you all, jorts (jean shorts) and minimal, vintage inspired sneakers. This combo, plus the white socks, has been popping off with the stylish crowd. Try it out.

2. Sofia, a girl of experience, 25

2. Sofia, a girl of experience, 25

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2 Photos  |  View Slide Show >

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  Instagram: sfgrv

  Brandon McGhee
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  Brandon McGhee

Sofia comes from Russia. She arrived in Shanghai through her line of work (she is a lawyer). However, as she enthusiastically mentions, the fashion world has been intertwined with her life for a long time.

"Even though my main career is law, fashion has been a part of my lore for a while now. I've been actively working for magazines, billboards and shootings back in Russia, as well as internationally. I worked in Cambodia for a while, four years, if you can believe it. I even walked for fashion week, which was one of the most rewarding experiences."

Sounds like quite a journey, doesn't it?

"Yes, it does ha-ha. But Shanghai is one of my favorites, I must say. It is not my first time here, in China in general. I think I've come here at least 50 times. Hong Kong and Shanghai are my top two for sure. I love the metropolis that Shanghai is such a perfect blend of old culture and modern way of life. I'm not even mentioning the food, it is really quite special."

Tima's note:

If you notice, Sofia is wearing a sort of pajama-esque matching set. Remember how they were rising in popularity in 2020-21, for obvious reasons? Well, since we know that fashion is cyclical, pajama sets for the outside are coming back, perfect for the hot and humid weather.

3. Tamara, a sweetheart from Italy, 18

3. Tamara, a sweetheart from Italy, 18

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  Brandon McGhee
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  Brandon McGhee

You can always spot a tourist by their disoriented, but full-of-wonder gaze. It was Tamara's first day in Shanghai, ever. I remember how overwhelmed I was, but at least it was the end of August, so the outside didn't feel like an oven.

"My name is Tamara; I am from Italy but currently live in Switzerland. It is my first day here, and it's been pretty great! The people are very kind, fashionable and there are a lot of them ha-ha. I am also a big fan of the architecture here; it is very different from both Italy and Switzerland. I will be here for just a week, but I have experienced so much already, and it's all been positive."

I must commend Tamara for wearing all black in Shanghai. It really is a fashion sacrifice that some people are willing to make... Also, the Labubu, how can we not talk about her. She adds a nice touch of color to the whole outfit.

4. Another hero in black, Hetcher, north China, 26

4. Another hero in black, Hetcher, north China, 26

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  Brandon McGhee
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  Brandon McGhee

Hetcher isn't local, he is a northerner. You could've guessed such from his height and a little shyness in the voice. I've noticed that with interviewing people from the north of China. He came to Shanghai for a very interesting and, well, appropriate reason.

"I am not originally from here. I came from Beijing to actually do some research for my upcoming business venture I am planning out. I want to open a café in Beijing and Shanghai is truly the GOAT in China for a lot of things, but especially when it comes to coffee and its consumption. It is a lot to research, of course, but Shanghai really gets it. I heard it's now has the most coffee shops of any city in the world?"

5. Simmy, a visiting stylist from Thailand, 25

5. Simmy, a visiting stylist from Thailand, 25

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  Instagram: simmy_kokobop

  Brandon McGhee
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I've said it before. It's easy for me to spot someone on the street who's working in the fashion field. There are always some stylistic choices that people make to indicate their relation to the fashion world. I loved Simmy's pants, so I just had to come up to him and pester him with an interview.

"It is my first time coming to Shanghai and I've been loving it. I am working as a stylist in Thailand, so my favorite thing to do in Shanghai is for sure #citywalk, seeing all the stylish people walking around and all the shopping places. I am here for 10 days, and so far, it's been great."

6. Page, our recurring guest, 20

6. Page, our recurring guest, 20

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  Brandon McGhee
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  Xiaohongshu: Mrpage88v1111

  Brandon McGhee

You may recognize Page, my fellow fashion design student from Donghua University, in our previous Street Chic. Actually, he plays the role of my little helper from time to time, when we need Chinese communication assistance. As a nice bonus, he dresses up nicely for us to take his photos as well. And somehow, today's theme has been decided by the fashion gods to be all black.

Tima's note:

With wearing all black, it is recommended to add some interesting textures, so you don't look like a solid blob of black, like Page did here with his hat and bag. Plus, when you mix all black, I would personally recommend sticking with the deep blacks, not washed-out dark greys. Because sometimes, it can look like you washed that particular piece too many times and it lost its color.

7. Raisa, a local mentor, India, 37

7. Raisa, a local mentor, India, 37

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  Brandon McGhee
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  Brandon McGhee

Raisa has been in Shanghai for a while, since 2020. She is a primary school teacher, which is very cool (and something I could never do myself ha-ha...). It is always interesting to ask people who have been for more than a couple of years, pre, post and during THE thing.

"Yeah, I have been here for a while. It is fascinating to see how Shanghai has changed since the beginning of the 2000s. Before it was always so quiet and chill on the streets, at the cafes and malls. But now everywhere I look is bustling with people and energy. Sometimes I think oh, maybe there is some celebrity standing about, so people are gathering to take a picture. But no, it's just everyone doing their own thing or hanging around together. But yeah, I love this city, mostly for its safety. I think for me that's the best part, to never worry about your well-being while walking outside, not a common thing these days."

There's July for you readers. Want to get some hot photos snapped? Send us a message on our official WeChat account, we'll let you know when and where we shoot next.

See you next month Shanghai-ren.