How delightful! We need far more flower power.

And smiles like this.

There is always an overload of photos after a music festival, so let me apologize for the sheer number of images from Strawberry as compared the normal volume here.  There is just no other place in Beijing where one can see so many hip youths in notable attire.

I go to Strawberry Festival to take photos of stylish young things.  The point for the attendees of this music festival also seems to be getting photographed.  The two purposes go together well.

Most attendees probably know few of the bands featured and may not even be rock fans as such.  They are there to walk around in their fashionable clothes – to compete with the other spectators to see who is most stylish.  The point is more to see the other hipsters than the bands themselves.  In addition to droves of college students,  young authors, magazine editors, make-up artists, and rising fashion designers all form the crowd.

“Strawberry is more a festival than a music festival,” according to one of its organizers.

It is more an opportunity for over 100,000 people born after 1980 and 1990 to congregate, promenade, shop, and escape the center of the city than a music event.

Starting in 2009, Strawberry provides four stages for a range of music, including pop, folk, jazz and indie. The three-day festival at Tongzhou Canal Park occurring during May Day holiday features over 100 artists, bands, and DJs from around the world, though local acts are in the majority.

Young revelers, 30% of whom are from beyond Beijing, come for the carnival-like atmosphere.  It must be among the largest forums for youth in China and the feeling is that everyone will be there.  You are bound to run into friends.

There is a definite Strawberry aesthetic that represents well the look of young hipsters in Beijing.  A walk through the fields, past the queues for the sani-cans, and through the flea markets selling all manner of cheap-chic will reveal a penchant for dazzling patterns, dot dresses, brightly colored tights, oversized sunglasses and various brogues and tasseled loafers.

Photos: Suzy

Style is mostly cute and a bit vintage-inspired. The grunginess and roughness that must characterize fairs in the West is only in evidence here on occasion, and then too it seems more to be a deliberate “look”.

There are some hippyish and punk characters at the festival but far more quirky ladylike or sweet wood-nymph styles.  Style at strawberry is more cute than hardcore.

There are other music festivals that have been around longer like Midi but Strawberry is the one where Vogue and GQ tents can be found.  The fashion magazines know the festivals are about fashion so they organize styling events and cultural lectures to attract young readers.

Going far beyond the original intention of Modern Sky, China’s largest music label, to promote good music, Strawberry is promoting popular culture at large.

The colors reflect the upbeat nature of the festival as does the relative lack of drugs and alcohol.

The main intoxicant at Strawberry is fashion.

Though I think she may be eating seeds rather than nuts.

Here is famous young author Yuan Yuan, who now works at Modern Media, wearing a top purchased at Triple-Major.

What a brilliant assault of pattern mixing!

There was a new type of seductive stuff salesgirl in evidence at the Strawberry festival this time.  

They were always in super short skirts with interesting tights.

And often leather jackets.

But there could be the obligatory cute nurse.

Ready to sew confusion…

She was sitting behind her little stand selling various trinkets.  What a pleasant sort of expression!

Just not sure if cowboys ever have long hair…

The Schwansee Trocken is the perfect sparkling wine for your stylish courtyard party, as I have found.  The price is reasonable, but the taste is similar to entry-level champagnes – that is to say, it is dry and immensely drinkable.  Without seeing the bottle, all but true connoisseurs might mistake it for Moët & Chandon.  One can certainly be fabulous while drinking Schwansee.

Schwansee Rosé blanc et noir must be the best priced sparkling Rosé on the market.  Fragrant but crisp, this will work nicely at a sunny afternoon picnic nearby Xihai.

We would like to extend a warm thank you to Cheers for sponsoring Stylites’ Spring Preening party with Jeans Team last Thursday.  Cheers offers the best values in Beijing for good table wines as well as sekts for parties.

You can also follow them on weibo.

The Strawberry aesthetic, in the end, is all about patterns, bright colored tights, and big sunglasses.

This makes me think of some figure from the 1920s, though I can’t recall which one.

Beer was available at the strawberry festival only from the bags of old ladies and the various vendors.  Apparently, they had snuck it in as if it was contraband.  Alcohol is no longer allowed to be sold at music festivals in Beijing.  It’s interesting being at a festival with so little liquor.  Holding a beer can makes one feel like some kind of deity because everyone is so impressed.

Ah yes, the perennial crowds for the bathrooms at music festivals…

The stripes on her pin seem to match her shirt.

This strange guy in a mask came up to me with his business card. I felt a bit bewildered at the time, but even more so when he showed up at my house the other day for a party. More on him later.

In a saffron dress, before the Blonde Redhead show.

Dancing to heavy drumbeats by the electronic stage at Strawberry, these two were both in very voluminous tops – though the picture doesn’t quite show it – and shades.

Bunny ears are quite the thing at Strawberry Festival. There are all sorts of varieties selling on the premises and people come with more elaborate versions of their own. I need to research to find where this tradition started.