I was in Shanghai last week as part of a showroom project, presenting Australian fashion to Chinese buyers, and I was interested to see what the prevailing dress sense was.

Turns out, they leave us in the shade.

Shanghai is the most stylish of cities, and brilliant for people watching, my head was swivelling for most of the trip.

For starters, the children are adorable and dressed up to the nines, in sporty little looks including bomber jackets, baseball caps and cute jeans.

A guest attending Labelhood during Shanghai Fashion Week. Photo: Getty

I was mesmerised by them, walking around exclaiming, “OMG, isn’t he/she just precious” out loud to strangers every five minutes, a trait I found excruciatingly embarrassing when my mother used to do it, but apparently I’m that person now.

The young women in Shanghai are drop-dead gorgeous, their most common go-to look being a short beige trench coat over black pants, with sneakers or flats, and a bright red lip against luminous skin, which is just so effortlessly stylish.

I spent some time with a group of wealthy, professional women and was entranced by their signature looks, one in particular called Sylvia.

Everyday Sylvia turned up in another variation of head-to-toe cashmere, all in creamy beige, camel and white shades: cashmere track pants, with a loose sweater or a sweater dress, topped with a cashmere double faced coat and accessorised with a brown crocodile bag, and deep red lipstick.

Fashionable Chinese women are obsessed with skincare, and their complexions literally gleam.

The influencer business is huge, and hours can be spent watching stunning and completely self-absorbed Instagram stars striking poses in posh hotel bars and foyers.

Shanghai has a very urbane, sporty feel; there are lots of designer trainers and bags, leather jackets and well-cut overcoats.

More fun fashion spotting can be done along the Bund, the bustling walkway by the river, which is crowded with touring Chinese out-of-towners.

Singers Kong Xiaoyin and Qian Beiting of SNH48 girl at the Top 100 Fashion On The Bund event during the Shanghai Fashion Week. Photo: Getty

What I have discovered is there is a certain type of middle-aged Chinese lady who just loves a picture hat, with bows, and flowers and floppy brims.

It’s such a cute look, they’ll put them with anything, tracksuits, dresses, often with trainers.

Whatever the motivation, it appears that the Chinese have a lot of fun with fashion, for some it’s drop-dead chic, for others it’s like a giant Gucci–esque mishmash of clashing styles – tulle skirts, sequinned dresses, trousers, floral coats, sneakers and denim jackets, worn all at once.

A guest attending the Labelhood show during Shanghai Fashion Week. Photo: Getty

But the one ubiquitous accessory was that red lip, which was everywhere, and just added an extra layer of glamour to an already glamorous and adventurous Shanghai.

The days of the satin cheongsam might be over, but glossy black hair, and a lacquered lip is a perennial, even if it’s with track pants and a T-shirt.