Stylites in Beijing: A Street-Style Blog in China

Most of the news we receive about China in the States is baaaaaaaaad news. And almost all of that news pertains to the Chinese government, making it easy to forget that there are actually people in the People's Republic. Who are these people? What are their hopes and dreams? What kind of music do they listen to? What do they wear?

The last question, at least, has its answer in Stylites in Beijing, a two year-old street-style blog by Nels Frye that I only recently discovered, much to my delight. Back in the mid-90's, when I was teaching in China, Beijing was pretty cool and cutting-edge compared to the rest of the country, but it was still rare-ish to see people there with unique style. I was rocking a Jenny Shimizu buzzcut and regrettably dark lipstick at the time, and most people mistook me for either a boy -- despite the lipstick! -- or Japanese (because looking different equaled Japanese, apparently). I definitely stuck out like a shorn thumb.

But the times, they are a'changing, and Frye is documenting it all. What I love about Stylites, though, is that it doesn't just show fabulous people roaming the narrow hutongs of Beijing, it tells mini-stories of their lives, why they're in Beijing, what their professions are, what they're shopping for in the food markets, regular people-stuff that you're just not going to hear about on CNN.

And that is very good news indeed.

[Stylites in Beijing]

 

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Comments

[manicd]

01:38 PM on 03/27/2009

funnily, i don't disagree with you that china has some way to go with regards to human rights but it's not some Orwellian nightmare to be living there that you imply it to be - a lots happened since 1986, i think it'd be a poor experience to judge how China is like now, just as it'd be silly for someone to think back to his trip to the states in 1963 and cast judgements on your great nation from that time. My point before is why you gotta be coming down on this country when somebody brings them up for something positive for a change? that's like someone telling me how great this year's Oscars red carpet walk was and i reply by saying 'yeh, but well, whattabout gitmo? you crazy americans' where's the connection? this article starts by saying how most of the stuff you hear in western media is negative Chinese govt stuff and how they'd just love to talk about the human side for a change and you go bringing it all back to politics.

The blogger penned a great word on their site "Chinysteria - The alarmist fear that China is our new enemy and wants to poison our food, eat our dogs, take over the country and force us all to speak Ching-Chong."

Anyway. sorry about the last reply. maybe i came across a bit harsh.

oh and btw. stop that petty embargo thing you have going with Cuba.

[Nels Frye]

01:23 AM on 03/27/2009

But you will have to confess that "unique dressers" really are more interesting in the Chinese context where everyone actually dressed identically not so long ago and where modes of individual expression remain curtailed for political and social reasons.

[DAE]

02:59 PM on 03/28/2009

Been traveling to China since the 1980s (nearly 30 years). Nobody actually dressed nearly identical then or now and individual expression was never curtailed for political or social reasons there anymore than here. Americans who have not lived in China don't know what they are talking about.

[Nels Frye]

03:45 AM on 03/29/2009

I've lived in China for five years, and have visited in the 80s and 90s as well. I don't really have time to begin deconstructing your statements. The only question can be why you are saying what you are saying. Where are you from and what are your goals?

[Dawkins]

05:39 PM on 03/26/2009

Wasn't bad enough that the Sartorialist photographed all the edgy NY dressers who think looking like a walking rag pile is stylish. Now we can see the same "unique" dressers in China.
Oh happy day!

[altohone]

11:32 AM on 03/26/2009

Bad news indeed.

The billion plus can't read this nor see anything on YouTube now.


I suppose a focus on fashion would grow in importance as a tolerated outlet of individuality.
I worry for any that express hopes and dreams beyond fashion.

[manicd]

01:10 AM on 03/27/2009

does your country not have enough problems of its own that you are still able to find time to worry about people halfway around the world? every nation has its great points and its not so great points. this is one of the few refreshing posts that's actually positive about China and yet you still feel you gotta bring up the age old issue of human rights and government oppression. if you've ever visited the country, you'll realise all this injustice and oppression isn't as bad as your media makes it out to be, that the average chinese citizen doesn't live in fear or danger. and i'm sure they'll manage without youtube in their lives, as outrageous as that might seem.

[Pema]

09:21 AM on 03/27/2009

whoa. hey I HAVE been to China. in 86 and it was horrible we were followed around. I could tell you alot of instances where I just got so creeped out I wanted to leave before my time was over and I travelled abroad 2 or 3 times a year. I just wanted out. I was not a tourist who was flim flammed, its still leftover Mao and thats very very bad.
there is something called free speech and as bad as this country has gotten we can change it. Chinese cant change their country. go back and tell your prc masters you failed at media watch. go on now run along tell them no hoho....
oh and btw. FREE TIBET!

[DAE]

03:00 PM on 03/28/2009

Nonsense. YouTube will be up in another couple of days.