Don’t be fooled by the jubilant façade. For Nels Frye, style is no laughing matter. Combining a love for China and a love for fashion, Nels has made a name for himself as a serious fashion commentator with his Beijing blog, Stylites. Painstakingly selective when it comes to the color, cut and class of fabric that will have the honor of appearing on his body, Nels says he prefers to stay away from flash-in-the-pan trends. “My style is rather traditional,” he says. Local tailor Senli and Frye (as in Nels Frye) did this classic navy blue suit. Nels also recommends Lane Crawford to purchase one of his favorite luxury brands on sale: Santoni. For scarves and other woven knits, Nels heads to Woo on Nanluoguxiang. Nels loves outlandish tie-clips, funky shirts and natural fabrics, but he is more apt to discuss what he loathes. Ladies take note: “I judge women based on their sense of style. No matter how pretty she is, it’s hard for me to find a woman attractive who wears fake fur, anything with metal studs or Ugg boots.” We bid bonne chance to this fastidious fashionista—may he find kindred fashion spirits amidst our kingdom of knock-offs and synthetics.

Name: Nels Mishael Naby Frye
Occupation: Editor-in-Chief of LifeStyle magazine; Creative director of Stylites.net
Nationality: American

Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn
For more style analysis or fashion insight, visit MeiLi's website, www.MeiLiAutumn.com
Photographer: Tao Zi
Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn