beauty could be appreciated as artwork . In addition to this , everybody , no matter their social status , were able to view - turning it into the most accessible form of art . Some were given along when the product was purchased , and most were placed on the windows of the most prominent stores , or even as wall art inside the homes of the people !
A Girl ’ s Pursuit of Indulgence
With western shops scattered all over Old Shanghai , ladies in the city were introduced to the charm of western fashion , and this radically altered their perception of beauty . Shopping culture was on the rise , and the excessive , materialist lifestyle became all the more alluring . Below is a glimpse on the little things Shanghai girls adored !
The Brilliance of Makeup - A Lady ’ s Must-haves in Old Shanghai
To have hair like a dream of cloud , to glimmer under the sight of others … No matter where the girl is from , or what her background is , she desires in some way to be beautiful , and has the right to dress herself up as such . Here is the allure of makeup : on the bare face of an ordinary girl , with a few touches here and there , red lipstick vibrant as day … Look at her now ! The ordinary girl has thus transformed into a princess !
When a lady sits in front of her dressing table , and opens her makeup box , what would she find inside ? In Old Shanghai , she would always see : a powder compact , a tub of snowflower cream , a little jar of lipstick , and a bottle of perfume . In those days , there were no foundation , concealer , or whatever else we have today - thus perfumed loose powder became the base product of all looks , and occupied a designated space in the tables of all ladies .
Just these few items was more than enough for a beautiful makeover , and a bump of confidence ! And where would she have bought all this ? None other than the four big department stores : sincere , wingan , xinxin , huiluo . The first two : sincere and wingan , still have branches in Hong Kong and other parts of China to this day .
The Splendid Heels of Shanghai Women
By the end of the Qing dynasty , the practice of foot binding was completely abolished . Once seen as a symbol of beauty , women from all social classes sought “ 3 inch golden lotus ” feet - which entailed the practice of binding their feet from young , undergoing great pain to prevent growth and maintain the smallest feet possible . Thankfully , with change in the feminine beauty ideal , women no longer sought “ lotus ” feet , and were instead attracted by a new , less painful trend - high-heel shoes .
In those times , if a lady were to seek a charming outfit for her party , it would normally consist of - a one piece qipao , matched with the most beautiful high-heel shoes . Not too different from today , when visiting an Old Shanghai department store , a lady would be able to find : Peep-toe heels , the mary jane style , those with a butterfly ribbon on the tips , rounded and resembling the crescent of the moon … there are too many to be listed !
High-heel shoes became the must-have for all socialites and ladies of Shanghai - to go to all sorts of parties and dinners , and to present themselves glamorously . By the time a girl turned 16 , she would no doubt already have owned her first pair of high-heels . This was the extent of which they were sought-after and adored .