Décor/fashion
These shops are spaced out, so hire a car or grab a cab and keep the meter running. Note that the XTD, Taikang Lu and Changle Lu shopping itins are also in the French Concession. Start at sweetie Shanghaitique / 699 Huashan Lu / 6249 5986 /華山路699號/ crammed with Art Deco fixtures, gramophones, leather sofas and twiddle, then jump in the car and zip to 2 Lane 299 Fuxing Xi Lu /復興西路299弄2號/ for pretty Eurasian embroidered table and bed linen + sweet kids’ clothing at Rouge Baiser Elise / 6431 8019. In the courtyard behind is French café cutie Vis-a-vis / 1 Lane 299 Fuxing Xi Lu / 6433 9437. Now, zip back out onto the street – this next bit can be done on foot, but get your cabbie to trail you. Totter on down Fuxing Xi Lu, then turn right at Wukang Lu /武康路/ to #376 for the tad sanitised fash n’ lifestyle compound Ferguson Lane /福開森路/近湖南路. Look for local shoe designer Mary Ching / 5465 2335; Dutch-designed attire at D.I.S / 6126 7661; casual counter Le Petit Franck (see Lunch); bountiful boulanger Farine (see Coffee); plus fluffy-banishing duo Browhaus and Strip (see Spa for both). Nip out the way you came, and turn right at Wukang Lu for irresistible, locally handcrafted home items at Platane / #439 / 6433 6387, urbane cashmere togs at Feine at #392 / 6437 3835 / feineshanghai.com, then right again into Tai’an Lu for Mars Hsu’s delectable pottery at 100 Color Ceramics at #29 / 3414 1337. Spin right into Xingguo Lu for rock-chic boutique Where What Who at #372 / 5230 6736 / and Hong Merchant (see Adv. Shopping). Hop back in the car to Urban Tribe / 133 Fuxing Xi Lu / 6433 5366 /復興西路133號/ for hippie-chic apparel, then saunter down to Yongfu Lu and turn right for Cha Gang at #70 / 6437 3104 / Tue-sun / chagang.cn / edgy, androgynous outfits by designer Wang Yiyang. Take a mid-retail tipple further down in glam club house-cum-bar Yongfoo Elite at #200, or nip upstairs at #47 to find El Cóctel (see Bars for both). At #2 is Lolo Love Vintage / 6433 9987 / for classic frocks and faff, then spin right onto Wuyuan Lu, cross Wulumuqi Lu and at #87 is local, indie designer showroom Xinlelu / 6433 1789 / xinlelu.com. Uturn back to Wulumuqi Lu, note speakeasy Senator Saloon (see Bars) at #98 for later, turn right and then left into Anfu Lu /安福路/ for eye-popping home décor at #167 Kava Kava / 5404 3873 / and Mayumi Sato’s Nippon-euro garb at #169 / 5403 3903; then #195 for Baker & Spice (see Coffee) and Mr. Willis (see Brunch). Retrace to Changshu Lu, hang left then next right for ancient Chinese textiles at Nankeen Exhibition Hall / #637 Changle Lu / 5403 7947. Exit, cross, and hook first left into Fumin Lu. Beijing’s Dong Liang is at #184 (see Stand. Stores) for the best homegrown avant-garde fash, at #172 is fashionista Helen Lee’s flagship / 5465 6618, and across at #207 is Madame Mao’s Dowry / 5403 3551 / for rustic-y and Cultural Revolution-themed lifestyle. Need a break? At #183 is woody Subconscious Day Spa / 6415 0636. Refreshed, continue to meet Julu Lu /巨鹿路/ and turn right for #777 Aegis / 5403 9869 / projectaegis.com / imported hip m/ wear from hard-to-find brands and Shang’s own Flying Scissors leather bags. Next door at #741 is funky designer eyewear boutique Coterie / 5403 8608, and at #616 Brocade Country (see Standout Stores) has beaut tapestries by ethnic Miao women. Done! Now head to Maya for margaritas (see Restaurants/smart), or to Song Fang Maison de Thé (see Standout Stores) to rest those tootsies with a cuppa cha-aah!