fearless-in-beijing - New Stella McCartney Boutique

All photographs courtesy of fearless-in-beijing.

This post is mostly an excuse to show some beautiful clothes and beautiful women, but it's also to promote Gabrielle Bonheur's wonderful blog and Facebook page fearless-in-beijing 北京街头风格 - which captures the spirit and energy of the New China perfectly.

These pictures are from the opening of Stella McCartney's new boutique in Beijing, and display a truly elegant collection in white.

As Gabrielle notes on her blog, the prices of Stella's clothes for the Beijing boutique are accessible only to China's rising middle class - a $300 bag, for example, represents a full month's salary for many in China.

But China is changing fast, and there is a rapidly growing sector of the population who both aspire to and can afford these prices - and who represent a major culture shift in China's recent history.

China is at a great turning point, and the growth of boutiques like Stella McCartney's or of Apple Stores are as significant a measure of social change as unrest in the countryside or the rapid urbanizaton of great parts of the country - or the recent announcement by the Chinese government that it will be playing a smaller role in the economy in the future, and allowing a more market-oriented approach to develop.

In any case, enjoy these pictures, and make sure to visit Gabrielle Bonheur's blog fearless-in-beijing and its associated Facebook page of the same name.

Stella McCartney with two models at the opening of the new Beijing boutique.

Angelica Cheung of Vogue China with Stella McCartney.

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