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C. Lee in the French Concession is a true gemstone for fashion lovers who are looking for more exceptional items. This treasure trove is for females only - or those looking to become one.
My first impression of the store was that of a fantastic tale: a strange breed, half-giraffe half-mannequin welcomed me, and there was no doubt that Eva, the owner of the shop, has an eye for details. Shelves and walls of the little boutique are cluttered with antique ceramics, pink vintage mobile phones, Buddha statues and oversized jewellery. If you think this is the perfect recipe for eye cancer, let me tell you: it most certainly is not. Surprisingly, these seemingly clashing items only add to the fantastic ambience of the store.
Fashionable Eva and her equally fashionable co-workers blended in with their environment so perfectly that I had to look twice, just to make sure I wasn’t addressing on of the clothing racks or mannequins.
C. Lee on Xinle Lu opened five years ago, and Eva runs two more stores in Jing'an and in the French Concession. She is very serious about creating unique stores where fashion victims in Shanghai can satisfy their hunger for original and unique vintage items. Once a month, Eva travels outside of China to hunt for new pieces, her main destinations being South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and the U.S..
 
The shop is bursting with clothing and accessories. You can find lots of clothes in metallic and pastel colours, decorated with sequins, studs and other playful knick-knack, giving each item a special and unique character. “I am absolutely in love with vintage and I think there is something for everyone in here, you just have to look closely", Eva says.
Prices for jewellery range from RMB 200 to 800, clothes go between RMB 800 and 1200. It is obvious that the shop is very popular - during the hour I spent in C. Lee, customers were continually coming and going, most of them leaving with at least one of the many treasures that can be found here. And I can only agree with them, this simply has to be one of the coolest shops in Shanghai.
You can find C. Lee at 167 Xinle Lu in the French Concession, right opposite source. The opening hours are 11:00 - 22:00, nearest metro stop is Changshu Road.
 
 
WORDS: MARIA MELAND / SILJE MICHAELSEN
PICTURES: MARIA MELAND / SILJE MICHAELSEN
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