Interview: Chiara Maria Sassu of Chiara's Coffee Table

Chiara Maria Sassu has taken aside some of the biggest movers and shakers in Beijing's fashion scene and asked them about what inspires them, and it's time for us to turn the tables on her, especially in light of her lifestyle blog, Chiara's Coffee Table, undergoing exciting updates in the coming months.

Does anyone inspire you in Beijing's style scene at the moment?
I get continuous inspiration from people on the street sporting avant-garde style. This would definitely not happen in Europe, where people are not that daring.

Any particular person?
Angelica Cheung, editor-in-chief of Vogue China. She is currently one of the most powerful women in the Chinese fashion panorama, and yet she seems down-to-earth and easy-going. I would love to work with her to share more news about China with a wider audience. And I love her cutting-edge style and asymmetrical bob.

Who is the most interesting person in the style industry you have interviewed for your blog?
It’s difficult to say. All the individuals I’ve interviewed in Beijing put their energy and passion into filling the fissures and cracks that are so common in this multicultural city. They do this by being creative, unconventional, and brave. They constitute a very special international fashion community, which continuously draws inspiration from the playful metropolis they live in and its bright inhabitants. It was very interesting to talk to Christine Lau, founder of Chictopia, a Beijing-based pop fashion label, Doris Kwaka, Kenyan top model and proud ambassador to her own country, and Patrick Wong, a talented photographer from Hong Kong who traveled all the way to Beijing with his camera and dreams.

Has your style changed since you've been in Beijing?
Definitely! I came to Beijing as an architect and the city put a creative spell on me. I ended up writing my own lifestyle blog, biking around with a camera in my bag and sunglasses on and feeling a hunger for inspiring stories. My style has evolved as well. I’m more free and daring, I feel the urge to completely be myself without compromising, to surf my wave and contribute to making an already vibrant environment more sparkling every single day. This means that I’m not afraid to mix and match fast-fashion items with niche pieces from up-and-coming international designers. I love when my outfit tells about my story, my trips, and my experiences.

What kind of interviews can people look forward to on your blog in November?
I just returned from an inspiring trip to India, where I talked to local designers, buyers, and photographers. My followers can expect a very detailed report on Mumbai and its stereotype-defying sparkle. Also, I’ll be covering this edition of China Fashion Week, so there will be exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes specials only for the readers of www.chiarascoffeetable.com. Readers, #staytuned!

Read the full interview in Get the Look in the upcoming issue of the Beijinger magazine, out on stands at the end of this month.

Photo: Patrick Wong