Old Shanghai is the fusion of tradition and culture new and old…

My parents who started the business were first generation immigrants from China. When they first arrived in San Francisco, they started their business to service the local immigrants. They offered things that fit the daily lifestyles of the immigrants then. We take a lot of things for granted like chopsticks, rice bowls, tea pots, stir fry woks… these things were not always regular household, staple products like they are today.

Over time, my father’s business changed with the landscape of Chinatown. Now that we think about it, the stores have actually changed a lot over the years… it was only in the last 20 years have we seen such a strong interest in Asian culture. More and more people from all parts of the world come to Chinatown to find something “Asian.”

With this idea in mind, my father, Tiffany and I want Old Shanghai to be the ultimate showroom in San Francisco for something new, something old, and of course, something “Asian.” You see some of the home furnishings in our store and it really takes you back in time.

When I got married a few years back, my father picked out a few traditional items for me to have in my wedding such as these antique rosewood baskets for Chris (my nervous husband) and his family packed with gifts and blessings and brought over to my house to start the wedding day court ship. We first played the traditional games then Chris had to serenade me, and offer my family gifts in those large baskets. For my wedding ceremony, I wore the traditional qipao (long dress) and around us, we had much of the antique furniture that you can find in our showroom. We kept the wedding very “traditional.”

Fast forward to the present and you can see that our concepts and designs are very much inspired by our traditional values and rich Asian heritage as well as today’s contemporary fashions. With every design, we want to keep the fashion chic but at the same time keep a sense of Asian heritage within it. Tiffany and I are avid shoppers so designing comes very naturally for us. We have a lot of traditional houseware, clothing, and accessories, but where we really let the creative juices flow is when we design our style of housewares, clothing, and accessories. We design it with today’s style trends in mind.

Tiffany and I started off working in our father’s store when we were only 5 years old and today, we add the something “new” to Old Shanghai.

Who are your style icons?
Renee & Tiffany: 1930 Chinese Couture for Eastern influence, Rachael Zoe Rosenzweig for glamour & subtle sexiness, & Jackie O for elegant classics.

Where do you love to shop?
Renee: Old Shanghai!  All over Asia…Neiman Marcus, Ambiance, American Rag, Nordstrom, Express, Vintage shops like Ver Unica in Hayes Valley. [Renee]  Ambiance in San Francisco.  Henri Bendels in NY.  Xin Tian Di in Shanghai.

What is something in your wardrobe you can’t live without?
Renee: White Express tank, Seven Jeans , & Old Shanghai beaded gold slippers.

What is your current style obsession?
Renee: The perfect flat.  The perfect vintage chiffon.  Old Shanghai mother-of-pearl bangles & handbags. 

Favorite item in your closet (as of this week)?
Renee: Vintage beaded lace tank.  Old Shanghai semi-precious stone necklaces.

Old Shanghai Silk Cushions - Tasseled Bolster $39.95 each	Silk Jacquard Elizabeth Purse $39.95 each
Beaded Velvet Slippers $6.95 pair	Cloisenne Thn Bangles $3.95 each

1. Renee, "I can’t go anywhere without my Old Shanghai silk jacquard business card holder, palm, cell phone"

	Silk Jacquard Business Card Holder $3.95 at Old Shanghai

2. Old Shanghai silk brocade cosmetic pouch

	Silk Brocade Cosmetic Pouch $12.95 Old Shanghai

3. MAC blot powder

	MAC Blot powder $17.50 MAC Cosmetics

4. MAC “Fluid” lipstick

	Mac lipstick in "Fluid" $14 MAC Cosmetics

5. Shu Uemura concealer

	Eye Pro Concealer $21 Shu Uemura

	Kiehl's Since 1851 Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 $7.50 at Neiman Marcus

Top 5 favorite secret spots in Chinatown

1. Golden Gate Bakery for the best Chinese pastries. Golden Gate Bakery, 1029 Grant Avenue,
415-781-2627

2.Gold Mountain for dim sum. 644 Broadway. 415-296-7733

3. Hon's Wun Tun House for the best soup noodles.

4. Peking Bazaar for jewelry.

5. Tru Spa for amazing massages.

6. Old Shanghai for essential accessories and home décor.