Like Shen, only children are common in China. However, it is uncommon to possess the acuity of Shen’s eye for what’s next in fashion, especially in the heavily traditional world of Beijing. In short shorts paired with a sheer blouse and polka dot details and a fondness for jeweled tones, Shen was channeling Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 a full year before it hit the runway. I love the royal blue suede belt on a leopard romper and the way that a gold and emerald suede cummerbund makes a blouse and basic shorts look sophisticated. On most, I find granny boots overly trendy, but on Shen they look timeless, as is her respect for traditional values. Of her culture’s reverence for unwritten laws she says, “You have to respect your elders,” and certain details require special attention, like “the way you sit and the way you talk and the way you communicate with people.” There is a seductive innocence to Shen in the emerging exploration of her visual expression within the the structure of her time-honored heritage.

If you love Shen, you may also like Alessandra Calabi, Masha Orlov and Sophie Conti.