(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-12 16:24

Selina Zhou travels regularly to France and Italy, attends all the shows and has set aside deals with some boutiques. She even gets clothes right off runway models' backs - perfect for Asian sizes.

You don't really have to travel a long way to Europe for less expensive branded names. Check out Selina Zhou's "1st Selection" boutiques in the center of the city: You will be surprised.

The two stores, one on Changshu Road and the other on Fuxing Road M., sell the latest collections of almost every top fashion house at the best prices. The business is so good that Zhou is planning to open a third one soon.

"Most of the garments in my stores are one-of-a-kind," she says. "They are all big brand names and I guarantee the authenticity of each and every piece."

The young lady travels to France and Italy on a regular basis and is a regular at all kinds of fashion shows. The smart Shanghainese manages to get those sample pieces worn by models at low prices before shipping them back to Shanghai. And the sizes worn by models are perfectly suited to Asians, she explains.

Zhou also works closely with some popular boutiques in France, whose buyers will reserve small sizes for her when they book clothes from the brands.

According to her, some of the clothes in "1st Selection" are up to 80 percent cheaper than those sold in the brands' own stores in Shanghai. For example, a pair of Gucci pants is less than 2,000 yuan (US$267). A Paul Smith suit is less than 4,000 yuan.

"I have developed a group of loyal customers in a short time, thanks to their trust of my taste," the owner says. "I choose the clothes based on my own taste and my understanding of my customers' needs. Personally, I prefer the feminine style."

The 26-year-old is not led by the trends but insists on choosing clothes that she thinks are "beautiful."

"All in all, women all fancy beautiful things, and feminine things are always attractive to most of the women."

You can find almost every top brand in the boutiques, from Louis Vuitton, Prada and Channel to Chole, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga. Dresses that can be worn both in day and at night, glamorous evening gowns and furs are the best sellers of the season. There are new arrivals every two weeks.

Zhou is planning to open the third store on either Xinle Road or Changle Road, both known as popular haunts for the city's fashionistas. This one will be more "fashionably" concerned, introducing more sexy, cool brands such as Versace, D&G and Just Cavalli. It will offer more relaxed, casual, mix-and-match style, together with a series of second and third lines from Italy suitable for young people.

Address 1: 137 Changshu Rd
Tel: 021-6474-0624

Address 2: 569 Fuxing Rd M.
Tel: 021-5465-1953