Alison Yeung, founder of Mary貞Ching. Photo: Courtesy of Alison Yeung

A change in the weather usually prefaces a change in your wardrobe, and shoes are no exception. But as incomes fail to keep up with rising prices, consumers are increasingly looking to the Internet for their fashion bargains. Not that the city's footwear boutiques are unduly concerned: most shoeshop owners contend that customers will always opt for the experience of shopping over online browsing. The Global Times took a walk around some of Shanghai's more desirable footwear destinations.

Shoes for all occasions

Alison Yeung, founder of Mary貞Ching on Wukang Road certainly knows how to make the most out of a small space, even to the point of utilizing the stairwell in this basement/first floor property. Everything from the walls to the carpet is done out in the brand's trademark purple giving the place a distinctly gothic feel. The stylistic whimsy is enhanced by the use of mannequin legs protruding from the walls, modeling the luxury label's latest water-snake skin high heels. And in keeping with the look, Yeung herself sports a pair of leopard skin slippers as she spoke to the Global Times about her career and ambitions.

Half-Chinese and half-English, Yeung believes her multi-cultural background helps her to combine the best of East and West in her designs. The location of her current studio and boutique on Wukang Road makes an appropriate choice, given its rich Euro-Chinese history from its time as a villa in the former French Concession.

Mary貞Ching's newly released Autumn/Winter 2010 collection features her signature platform stilettos in glamorous shades of chocolate, ruby and emerald, and in materials as diverse as water snake, patent leather, pony skin, lush jacquards and lace trimmed with mink. The range also includes a line of luxurious cashmere and leather slippers with laser-cut snakeskin appliqués.

Yeung describes the typical Mary貞Ching woman as a "seductive temptress." "Women should be both professional and sexy," she said. "Shoes should be able to multi-task: that is they should be able to be worn to work, as well as to cocktail parties after work." Yeung is attracted to the idea of dual functions, in much the same way as the Chinese character "貞" in the brand's name. "In Cantonese, it means clarity, but in Chinese, it means na?ve, so it's a little bit ironic," she told the Global Times.

A diverse range of celebrities including Beyonce, Paris Hilton and French First Lady Carla Bruni are all known to be fans of the label. "Chinese women are now as stylish as Western women, except they prefer something more 'bling' and flashy," she said. And after studying in London and concentrating initially on larger-sized shoes for overseas customers, Yeung is now focusing more of her attention on her Chinese clientele.

At the end of our interview, Yeung proudly showed off a pair of slippers that Elton John recently took a fancy to. She may design for women, but the charm of Mary貞Ching evidently hasn't escaped the other half of society.

Add: 374 Wukang Road, near Hunan Road

Tel: 6090-4599