Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the fashion industry is yet to reflect this. Therefore, expats of larger proportions typically
need to resort to tailor-made attire or hold out for shopping holidays at home.
It's next to impossible to provide a realistic conversion between Chinese and American
clothing sizes. From label to label, sizing swings like a pendulum in a hurricane. It's no sur-
prise to squeeze into a Chinese extra-extra-large and come to the conclusion that, in your
mind, it's really a medium. Generally, you can assume that if you're in the extra-large or
above group back home, then you will have limited choices here, so come prepared. Note
that China uses centimeters, so if you're used to inches, you'll need to convert.
Definitely keep in mind winter wear, from top to toe. There is no shortage of affordable
winter wear here for the average size, but again, if you're of a larger build, comfortable
winter boots, long johns, and trousers can be hard to come by. Many a well-built expat, es-
pecially unsuspecting ones from warmer regions, will find themselves suddenly poorly clad
in Beijing's icy winters.
A particular garment category you may want to bring with you is underwear. Going by
what's on the shelves, fat-bottomed girls (and boys) seemingly don't exist in China. If you
typically reach for a women's size 8 at home, then here you'll need an extra large, and
even that might be a tad cutting. Up top, things are no better. The alphabet of Chinese bras
doesn't exceed a D cup, so well-equipped ladies must bring a good supply of bras.
As far as style goes, it's hit and miss, but things are improving at an eye-watering pace.
Just five years ago, you would have needed to be satisfied with poor-quality knock-offs,
high-waisted jeans, and unruly embellishments. Today, however, the choice of international
brands is constantly diversifying. Zara, Gap, H&M, Adidas, Puma, Marc Jacobs, and Miu
Miu are all here. Unfortunately, smaller brands are still not strongly supported. Instead, big,
well-established labels are king. So if your preference is for niche names, you may need to
look at online options. As for price, cheap clothes come by the container load in Beijing,
but the quality definitely equates with the price. If you want genuine Western clothing, then
expect to pay for it, plus some.
Shoes can also present a challenge—for quality, style, and size. While the clothing industry
has come a long way, unfortunately Beijing's shoe industry is still just shuffling along.
Some expats simply resort to restocking when they make trips back home. If your feet are
wide or above a size 8.5/42, you'll find rocky love here. That's not to say it's impossible
to find larger shoes. There are a few specialty stores around the city, such as along Zhang-
zizhong Lu in Dongcheng district, and in 3.3 shopping mall in Sanlitun. There are also cob-
