What is one of your favorite things about Shanghai? Is it the food? Is it the fashion scene? Or is it the constant fear that your newly found favorite coffee shop will close after just three months? My personal favorite is Shanghai’s exquisite architecture. That is the thing that still inspires me every time I walk around the city — “city walking,” if you will. Even after 15 months of living here, I still find beauty at almost every corner of this timeless city. However long you might have been in Shanghai, you surely know about its history of French influences. The blend of traditional Chinese ways of organizing their buildings with the decadence and familiarity (to most foreigners) of European architecture is what makes Shanghai such a unique city.

The former French Concession is one of my favorite places to be — I even moved there after spending some time in Shanghai. There is always something going on: the launch of a new brand, a restaurant opening, or an all-you-can-drink Lana Del Rey night at a cozy bar. All of this happens in some of the most aesthetically pleasing buildings you can find in Shanghai. One such building is the “Polo,” previously a restaurant and now a fashionable and picturesque spot for anyone to visit.

Located on Fumin Road — what I like to call the “foreigner corner” — near “Chicken and Egg,” “Funkadeli,” and the “Supreme” store, the building was once home to the iconic “Polo Restaurant.” Known for its seafood and old ambiance, it’s a gorgeous red-brick mansion built back in the 1930s. What can I say? The atmosphere of old Shanghai, with its lavish decor, stunning staircase, and access to a cozy inner garden, really sets the right vibe. However, since it’s no longer a fancy restaurant but a contemporary fashion establishment, anyone can freely enjoy its hibeauty without the need for a reservation.

When entering through the main entrance, which has remained largely unchanged, you’re greeted by a clothing brand all the way from New York: Staple Pigeon. An iconic New Yorker’s staple, if you will. “STAPLE is now a world-renowned brand that reflects the gritty and never-ending energy New Yorkers (and all urban dwellers) possess,” their official website proclaims. Founded by Jeff Staple in 1997, the brand has been on the rise ever since. With an iconic Nike collaboration, authentically East Coast-inspired design language, and worldwide expansion, Staple is the brand to watch if you’re looking for simple and effective street-style clothing that not only looks and feels great but also carries a deep narrative.

“A constantly evolving fictional universe storyline” — this is one of their main taglines. Hamcus is a brand that doesn’t entirely position itself in the reality we currently inhabit but perhaps in one about 500 years into the future. Oh, and that future is an MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) game. Imagine trying to survive an apocalyptic dystopia while being controlled via a PlayStation 5 — that sums up its aesthetic quite nicely. Established over a decade ago, this Chinese brand takes world-building through clothing to a whole new level. When you dress in Hamcus, you become part of their extensive lore, a piece of their broader “cosmic axes,” as they call it. Unsurprisingly, Hamcus is quite well-known in the West, especially in the rap scene, with Kendrick Lamar and ASAP Rocky among their most famous clientele.

One of the best archive-style vintage stores I’ve seen in Shanghai, hands down. One Gallery held a big renovation party just a couple of months ago. Founded just about two years ago, One Gallery has managed to amass an incredible collection of runway pieces, rare archival clothing, and even their own line of products with exceptional quality and design. Their assortment includes brands like Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, and many more.

One Gallery also cleverly organizes its clothing by price range, making it easy for customers to navigate. Prices range from 1 yuan to 10,000 yuan+, offering a wide variety to browse through. The store itself is beautifully set up — stunning jewelry displayed in marvelous cabinets, extremely unique and rare pieces hung on the walls (priceless, really) — and most of the staff can answer your questions in English (or will do their best to try).

Currently, they have a single store in Shanghai, but there are big plans for expansion, and I personally wish them the best.

Our last store to visit is right behind the One Gallery, that would be Times Remake. Another vintage-focused shop, however, as the name suggests, they also remake things (shocker). At the eye-catching entrance, Times Remake usually displays their upcycled collection. Vintage Carhartt jackets adorned with hand embroidery, patchwork jeans from the 90’s and rhinestoned baseball hats, all of that is made by the store itself. The people working there said that you can bring your own clothing, and they can fix or remake it into something new. Besides that, Times Remake has a large collection of vintage and secondhand jeans and T-shirts from brands like Levi’s, Nike and many more, there is a whole wall with just different Levi’s jeans, it’s pretty awesome. They also proudly told us about their exclusive collection of rock band T-shirts all the way from the 80’s and even 70’s, which you can buy for a modest price of 20,000 yuan+. There is also a large collection of more reasonably priced garments, not to worry. Moreover, Times Remake features contemporary Chinese brands (new clothes), my personal favorite is Birth of Royal Child, I still dream about those jeweled pants. So, overall, it is a very versatile store, anyone can find something that they would like.

If you go:

Address: 271 Fumin Road