When French flair meets Shanghai style

Courtesy of Charles Belin

Florence Paget

Florence Paget, a French expat living in Shanghai for 13 years, is managing high-end luxury events in China with her agency, TWIST of PARTI PRIS. Just like her personal style, she is addicted to details and wants each of her events created for premium brands to be memorable and unique.

My personal style is to mix high-end brands, street fashion and no logo to give an eclectic total look.

The best outfit I've ever worn for a special occasion was always sequins mixed with casual jeans to highlight the dramatic effect.

I follow fashion trends by following Instagram, Pinterest and my fashion clients.

I usually shop for clothes and accessories in my favorite tiny boutique in the city center. H&M capsules collection in Paris when I go there once a year. I am also lucky to be invited to some fashion brands family sales too.

If I have to limit my shopping to one neighborhood in Shanghai, it is definitely the former French concession.

My favorite fashion brands are difficult to pick. I like to mix and match cloths, so mixing many brands together, big and small ones.

Courtesy of Charles Belin

The designer I most admire is Albert Elbaz.

The style icons I look up to are Iris Apfel, Giovanna Battaglia, some bloggers such as Man Repeller.

The last item I added to my wardrobe was a beautiful pleated skirt from the last H&M studio collection.

The fashion item I'm eying next is the next capsule collection from H&M: H&M x Erdem. I saw the collection there are beautiful pieces I already know I will purchase!

I collect bags and shoes.

My grooming staples are to perfectly clean my skin morning and night with Lu Min Tang soap then use the same brand products.

My signature perfume is Chanel N°5 L'EAU.

Courtesy of Charles Belin

The best souvenir I brought home was my Lanvin pleated leather black dress.

The most memorable place I have traveled in the past was Italy and Corsica and recently I had an amazing weekend in Taipei for the birthday of one of my very good friends.

The best thing about living in Shanghai is the energy, the security, the business and of course the people!

The last books I've read were all Lisa Gardner books, Franck Thilliez. But my best souvenir is "I am Pilgrim" from Terry Hayes. For art, I bought a Prune Nourry one at the Guimet museum last July in Paris _ an amazing artist!

Except Shanghai, the city I would love to live in is probably still Shanghai. I just love Shanghai too much.

courtesy of Charles Belin

Charles Belin

Born epicurean French, Charles Belin is a veteran of Shanghai's restaurant and nightlife industry. He has founded or supported more than a dozen food and beverage brands. Recently, he took over the French institution that is Le Bouchon, the historic oldest French restaurant in Shanghai. An abstract lover, when Belin is not busy promoting French gastronomy and wines, he spends most of his time in his painting studio, letting the inside out.

My personal style is timeless classic, with seasonal updates and a hidden element of fun (could be my a pair of socks branded with my favorite TV or an Hipanema bracelet, a geeky pin).

The best outfit I've ever worn for a special occasion was a tuxedo once in a while, which does make you feel like 007.

Fashion trends are getting more and more diverse, offering more choice, leaving more room for self expression. A generation ago, we used to wear all the same brands and styles. Now, people pick and assemble defining their personality better. I like the idea of looking at an old picture of me when I'm older without laughing at my hairdo or togs; so I never go too far in one direction, trying to go through trends, not always with them.

I usually shop for clothes and accessories in Tokyo. That offers a great choice of international brands but also very cool local and affordable Japanese designers.

My favorite fashion brands are Ferragamo's accessories, Weston's shoes, Nike's Air Force One, UNIQLO's v-neck t-shirt.

Courtesy of Charles Belin

The designer I most admire is Tom Ford, for his design and filmography. And generally speaking any designer that still believes in women's femininity being one of the most precious things in our world.

The style icons I look up to are those who express their freedom of style and manage to find their own way of being and wearing: Jane Birkin (the Denim & Tee queen); Johnny Depp for his deconstructed grungy style. But eventually, men's fashion is more about an attitude than an outfit. Gregory Peck or Cary Grant would remain icons of style wearing H&M's.

The last item I added to my wardrobe was a nice duffle bag from a Korean designer. 

The fashion item I'm eying next is a 1967 Breitling watch. It might take me a bit of time.

I collect vintage watches, paintings, antiques. 

My grooming staples are whatever my female friends recommend or buy for me.

Courtesy of Charles Belin

My signature perfumes are Kenzo Homme and L'Eau d'Issey.

The most memorable places I have traveled in the past were hidden non-touristy spots on the French Riviera.

The best thing about living in Shanghai is a "je ne sais quoi" that reminds me of home.

The last book I've read is called "Hyperobjects," by Timothy Morton. I managed to make it through the introduction.

Except Shanghai, the city I would love to live in is Tokyo, at a later age I'm thinking a wine region of Italy.