One of the hospital theme party held in Fee Café.

Alice works at a gothic-themed hangout tucked into a quiet street in Shanghai. We were keen to share her impressions of the sub-culture and understand how the cafe helps to build a community.

The Bergstrom Group: What products and services do you offer besides coffee and drinks?

Alice: We also sell Gothic style clothes, do Tarot cards readings, organize themed events, and host a weekly movie night.

TBG: Could you tell us more about the Gothic style clothes? Who are the designers or brands?

Alice: There are more and more original Goth or Gothic Lolita brands, such as 表面咒语(Surfacespell), 第69部门(The 69^th Department), Kred Lanrete, and le Flacon. Some of the brands have 7-9 years of history, they are sold online, some even internationally. The designers and most of the customers are Chinese youth. These indie brands belong to an underground culture, we just provide a platform for them.
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Jack & Jones experience show (on the left), gothic style (in the middle), Jack & Jones promotional photograph on its international site (on the right)

Danish menswear brand Jack & Jones’ gothic-themed tour came to an end in Shanghai this December. The tour was named “Gothicise Your Wardrobe 2011, Jack & Jones Brand Experience Show” and hit many cities across China including Dalian, Beijing, and Jinan.
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Yuerong (in the middle) and the model with her design on (on the left)

Creating a collection to be sent down the runway, students got a taste of what pursuing a career in fashion would be like. 

In her junior year as a fashion design major, our trendspotter Yuerong was enthusiastic to share her experience with us:

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Mid-November marked the height of online shopping in Shanghai with the rise of “social” shopping websites, such as Mogujie, Meilishuo, and Duitang. This new breed of online shopping sites combines e-commerce and social networking by allowing users to share fashion photos. Users can sign up via a Sina Weibo or a QQ account, which makes it easier for them to share new fashion and fashion items they like on Sina or Tencent Weibo or Qzone.

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We spotted some fun new vending machines for magazines in Shanghai metro stations – an easy and fun way to grab a read before a commute.

The machines are well lit and include titles such as Marie Claire, Elle and Elle Men. We’re interested to see if this kicks in elsewhere. For previous reports on vending machines: crab, fresh fruit and subway souvenirs, and fresh fruit juice.

Once upon a time, 80s youth used to pay 19 RMB to play at Be For Time tea houses with an all-you-can-drink menu. Recently, we checked out one of the popular spots in the Zhongshan Park area of Shanghai to see how game bars have changed. Located in a normal apartment on the opposite side of Cloud Nine shopping mall, the bar was full of young people playing Killer of Three Kingdoms (aka KTK or 三国杀 in Chinese). Entrance and drinks is now 35 RMB but – as you can see – cups are also printed with characters from KTK.

Jimmy is a 24 year-old Shanghainese who just got married. Marrying at this young age is uncommon in Shanghai – his career is just starting and most of his friends are still single. We asked Jimmy to give us his perspective on sex, marriage and gender dynamics.

TBG: What do you and your wife think of premarital sex?

Jimmy: We actually had sex for the first time one week after we started dating exclusively, but it was not what I had intended to do. I accompanied her one night for her CET4 (College English Test 4). I told myself – and her – that nothing would happen. We talked about our past and then naturally, it happened. We had a serious talk afterward. Because we love each other, we didn’t feel bad or guilty. We agree that sex is one of life’s desserts, but not a necessity.
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