Fashionista Awards 2011: Cheer on BJ’s Fashionistas

I still remember MY Fashionista Photo Shoot like it was yesterday, except that it was TWO years ago!  Incredible how time flies in Beijing…

My title has long passed as one of Beijing’s Fashionistas, but the line of Meili Autumn‘s celebrated fashionistas continue strong. From the bright and preppy to the dark and edgy, each Fashionista’s style is unique and bold.

With 25 Fashionistas from 2010-2011, come out to cheer on and vote for your favorite CW Fashionistas as they strut the catwalk and compete for “Fashionista of the Year” this Saturday, November 12 at the glamorous R Lounge of the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel (in ShuangJing).

“Come dressed for the red carpet and have an awesome night with your fun, fabulous, fellow fashionistas.” - Meili Autumn, Premiere Make-Up Artist & CityWeekend’s Fashionista Creator

With DJ Chozie in full effect, tunes should be perfectly suitable for Fashionistas to be in full form and the keep the dance floor rocking.

RMB 100 ticket at the door gets you 2 drinks + entrance to the fashion show walk off that happens at 9:00 SHARP and come show Beijing’s top fashionistas some love.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, November 12
• Time: 8:30PM-12:30AM *Fashion Show starts at 9PM SHARP!
• Location: R Lounge (Renaissance Hotel)
• Address:  61号 E. 3rd Ring Road Middle Chaoyang
• Ticket: RMB 100 (includes 2 drinks)

The New Kid on the Block: d. lounge.gallery.food

C-Dice & I @ d.lounge

For over a month now, I’d been hearing about the new kid in town – d. lounge (not to be confused with D-Bar in the Renaissance Hotel). After celebrating my birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant Kagen Teppanyaki, I was eager to check out the space and pay a visit to my dear friend Warren Pang (former manager of Punk in the Opposite House), especially after hearing so much about this new bar and considering Tuesday nights are not exactly the most bumping night of the week.

Unsure if it would even be open on a regular Tuesday evening around 11pm, C-dice & I poke our heads inside and walk down a long corridor to find an intimate, high-ceilinged space covered in red brick with a tall, elegant bar against the back wall and funky leather croc sofas and modern furniture throughout.

After speaking to Warren and seeing their drink menu, I was quite surprised to discover that d. lounge has not even officially opened yet!  According to Warren, for the past month, d. lounge is still in its soft-opening stage, offering private gatherings and inviting limited guests while they are still working out some pre-opening kinks and are in the process of finalizing two other sections that have yet to be open to the public.  Warren may call this an “extended soft-opening period,” I call it a brilliant marketing strategy.

In the meantime, d. lounge is now open daily featuring various artwork on its high brick walls that will be changed on a regular basis and a basic drink list with 9 cocktails and 4 regular well drinks priced RMB 50-60.  In the future, the space will serve a bistro-style menu with mini burgers and tapas and the space will also be a hub to feature designer clothing/street wear.

By the same owners as Jazz-Ya and Izaka-ya, d. lounge is located just behind Nanjie on Sanlitun Nanjie and is set to officially open Mid-October 2009.

Best Part:

• The Bar – its design is original, classy and its very impressive without being imposing
• Their Kiwi & Strawberry Caipiroska is my new favorite drink
• The design of the venue is modern, fashionable, and very New York without being pretentious
• A small space with super high ceilings makes it easy to fill with a cozy, intimate vibe without feeling claustrophobic (I love red brick walls)
• Warren is a fantastic host & bar manager, it’s no surprise he’s got such a loyal following from Punk – he’s personable, welcoming, and his concept of keeping d. lounge in this “pre-opening stage” while being open to public is ingenious PR. Well-done mate!

Comments:

• In my 2 hours stay, my legs were eaten alive by mosquitos
• I am eager to see d.lounge officially open – to see the rest of the unopened space, to taste their bistro menu, see what type of designer clothing they choose to feature, and above all, the type of music they will play (As much as I like the crowd and design at Punk, I never cared for the music).