Since the 1900s, Shanghai ladies are said to boast the most sophisticated tastes of all Chinese women, with their early beauty recorded on yellow old-fashioned calendar covers. They wore silk gloves and elegant shawls, together with form-fitting cheongsams and curled hair.

Shuttling through skyscrapers like a wind, today's Shanghai ladies have inherited the legendary beauty of their ancestors and upgraded their style. Sunglasses that overshadow the exquisite makeup, knee-high boots, handsome handbags and glittering jewels, every detail poises the heroine between sophisticated and sexual, and forms her equivocal beauty.

A vibrant red short-sleeved sweater on top of a mini-skirt in the same color makes a modern sexy statement, while black enamel leather boots, gloves and an oversized tote bag add a powerful neutral taste to the ensemble.

Over black skintight pants, a tailored pure white overcoat features an elegant waistline and an oversized lapel that is appealingly romantic. Soft black suede gloves and a classical rectangular-shaped black leather tote bag give it a more feminine touch, while the aviator sunglasses and pointed stilt step-in shoes help fulfill a movie star look.

A white fur-lined vest mixed with chiffon at the back smartly plays down the mature luxury of fur and achieves a young playful spirit. Tight black long leather gloves and pocket pants complete the image of a bold Cosmo huntress.

With rivets lining the edge and zippers all the way up the knees, a pair of stilt leather boots can be called a design full of imagination, with the front sticking out a bit like a shield protecting the knees and the back a bit lower allowing for flexible movement. Going right with the boots are leather gloves in a similar shade of beige and a leather tote bag with a shiny buckle in the middle.

A black fur bonnet has golden chains with black bead insets and Chanel logo down its two sides. Along with a black fur shawl, the look, laced with mystery and luxury, recalls a Russian countess. An equally lovely choice is a Prada cotton cap with flower prints in an exuberant sea of blue and yellow.

Editor: Catherine