China style file-Shanghai fashion posters

Fashion posters at the beginning of the 20th century by the Shanghai fashion magazine “雙妹”(roughly translated as The two sisters). These are the rare fashion references to the old Shanghai style where Cheongsam was most popular and women adorned themselves in unique asian style. The fashion magazine “雙妹” used to be the chinese fashion authority equivalent to Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar and played an important role in influencing the people’s perception of fashion, life style and aesthetics.  How interesting it would be if this magazine had carried on until today?  But I suppose everything happens for a reason and good things are always rare so they can tease us for imagination.

The style of the painting reminds me of Paul Poiret’s fashion illustrations during the 20′s.  Editorials are great but a great illustration is irrisistable!  It’s artistically fashionable which is appealing in an idealistic way.  These posters would be hand painted by famous artists of the time and the style of the painting looks like traditional fine brush water colours.  I have luckily been taught during a sunny summer holiday back in China by a great chinese artist Chenghai Zhai on this interesting painting style, where accuracy and colour are vitally important, two brushes are used at the same time to apply colour then blend.