Being Dolled-Up in Shanghai Tuesday, 23 November 2010 10:52 Written by Florencia Giner

The following article was written by a good friend of mine and co-worker about his experience tagging along with the Dolls. He is a little bit shy and he wants to keep his ‘cool dude’ status so for now we can call him ‘Charlie’.

Hopefully we can convince him to keep writing articles for our website and to come to visit us on Hump Day. Enjoy!!!

Being Dolled-Up in Shanghai
by Shanghai Dude Anonymous (aka Charlie)

Is it heavy silk, cashmere, or cotton? As a matter of fact, this is a question that landed on my lap not long ago. You might wonder (as I still am) what the fundamental reason behind this question is. If you knew me, you will quickly realize that the word fundamental almost paints a picture perfect of myself. Fun & mental. I try to have fun as much as I can in my everyday day life in Shanghai, and yes, I am mental.

But, let’s not deviate. Allow me to go back to the essence of this article.

Everything starts with my colleague and friend Florencia (aka Coco Shanghai, aka Fashionista Per Excellence). One day she mentioned about a magic place called… The Fabric Market. As many of you already know, it is the Mecca for getting nice clothing done, tailored, at almost insane prices. In this case, insane means inexpensive.

Florencia naively asked: "Do you want to come on Sunday to the Fabric Market with us?" Immediately I asked myself: "Who is us?" Without having a chance of answering, Florencia said: "We are the Shanghai Dolls!" 

Again wondering… Am I getting invited to a porn club… by my colleague and friend? What is going on here? How am I going to face her everyday at work? Am I entering into a fourth dimensional world where there is no return? I had very strange experiences since my arrival to Shanghai. But this? Maybe Asiana airlines flew me to heaven and I did not know? And if that is the case, why in the hell is so humid in summer?

No, no porn club. Don’t get excited. Too many questions for such a short answer.

The Shanghai Dolls is a fun (at least the ones I know) group of women (expats) that get together for events, happy hours, and of course, to go to the fabric market (at least with the ones I hang up with).

So, a few weeks ago everything started with brunch at a restaurant picked by our Fashionista per Excellence. Good food and intelligent conversation as the main ingredients for a perfect Shanghaniese Sunday afternoon. Azul did the trick for me. Then… the real deal: The Fabric Market. Why do I make such a big deal about it? Because going with or, I should say, mostly following, a group of girls to such a place takes not only courage, but also a bit of insanity.

We already covered that.

I thought it was going to be torture, but since I had nothing to do, there I went. Couple of subway stations later, we were stepping into IT. One after another, one after another… of tailors, fabrics, textures, colors, and of course lots and lots of people. For my astonishment and after four hours, I was still standing (there). Learning about fabrics, bottoms, different types of cashmere, and many, many, and MANY other things.

The real dessert for that wonderful brunch that, I must say, was already forgotten, was to see The Shanghai Dolls in action. How many coats four women can buy in one afternoon? The answer is… a dozen?

What a treat that was. Pointing, selecting, discussing, bargaining (a lot), more pointing, more selecting, more, more, more...

I am tired already.

In the middle of such social phenomenon I glanced that one of the Dolls was asking for her black and white coat she ordered the week before. Outside - perfect. Inside… Oh my God!!! The screwed up on the…the…well, whatever the name of the piece of fabric that goes inside the coat. It was the wrong color!!! This particular Doll, an Italian one, unveiled what I would call: Italiana All'arrabbiata. I thought that a murder of a tailor was imminent. Did not happen. Deep breathing and slow English did the trick. New color is coming for that fabric (what is the name?) and we can all go back in peace and in one piece.     

In the meantime, I was leaning against a pile of fabrics just across the almost murdered tailor. Kate, another tailor, in surprisingly good English said: "Do you need a shirt?" Of course I said no. I am not going to buy if I only came to see what this place was all about and nothing else! A week after I picked up my first tailored shirt from Kate. Very well done I must say, from Kate’s part, because, obviously, I am weak and with no convictions whatsoever.

That is a subject for another article.

All of a sudden I realized that my life had changed. Me spending four hours in fabric market with four girls, women, coat fanatics? Is this the fourth dimension? Or is it a porn club? I need some serious help.

Of course, I realized… I have been Dolled-Up. Dolled-Up by the Shanghai Dolls. That’s it, there is no look back.

So my (dude) friends out there. Take a leap of faith. Do not be afraid of the Dolls. Go to a Sunday brunch. Follow them to the fabric market or somewhere else. You will feel no regrets. And if you want to join me on this adventure, I will love to talk about cars or soccer for a change… while I am getting tailored, of course.

So, come on! Take a leap of faith. Allow yourself to be Dolled–Up. I promise that your afternoon will be soft as a (heavy) silk and smooth as cashmere.

Yours truly,

Shanghai Dude Anonymous

Comments 

 

#7 Sounds like fun! — albie 2011-07-04 12:15

I know this is quite an old article, but as a newbie to Shanghai and the Dolls this sounds like such a fun experience. Would there be a chance that the dolls might organize a trip to the fabric market to take some new Dolls to experience and maybe offer some tips?

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#6 Love it! — JenSomeone 2010-12-03 23:58

What a great read! :)

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#5 Italiana all'arrabbiata — simona 2010-11-27 12:59

Hey, green lining (that's how it's called) on a white coat!?!?

We loved to have you there Charlie and thanks for writing, it was fun to read!!

I could hardly believe that not only he stayed the whole afternoon, but came back again the following Sunday!

Charlie, you should host training sessions to some of the boys out there!

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#4 RE: Being Dolled-Up in Shanghai — julia 2010-11-25 10:43

Love it! Can we adopt Charlie as an honorary Doll?

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#3 RE: Being Dolled-Up in Shanghai — Mirna 2010-11-23 18:57

Ha!!!! very funny, indeed.

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#2 so funny! — Astrid 2010-11-23 16:30

Even me who is a girl I don't like shopping and fabric market--- ing but your blog is so fun! I would almost be tempted! Keep on the good work!

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#1 Bravo! — elena 2010-11-23 12:12

This gave a great laugh! Charlie, thanks for sharing your experience. Hanging out with Dolls is not as bad as you thought, is it? I hope that after this article more guys will dare to join our "boys friendly" events.

You are more than welcome to join our events. Our Hump Day is a perfect opportunity to meet other Dolls and some of their Dudes and get great drinks deals in different Shanghai venues.

Keep writing! You are very good in it!

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