For many foreigners, shopping for clothes in China, where they must ask for a larger size, and then a larger size again, is embarrassing - especially when looking for pants or shoes. Other than that, shopping for clothing is a breeze in the endless malls, outdoor stalls and boutiques. And if you can't find what you want, you can always have it made.

Silk Alley
(Xiushui Jie Shichang)
Where and oh where can you find high fashion brand name mark-downs amid high-fashion backpacking gear, athletic shoes, South Park silk boxers, North Face jackets, and insistent offers on CDs, VCDs, and CD-ROMs? Nowhere else than in Silk Alley, the long-time favourite haunt of foreign shoppers in Beijing.
Address: Jianguomen Wai, 50 metres west of Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: 9 am until sunset

Mu Zhen Liao Boutiques
Mu Zhen Liao Fashion Boutiques is a chain of boutiques offering the latest designs in a wide selection of traditional and modern fabrics, and you can also have things custom made.
Address: Sun Dong'an Plaza, 138 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Address: COFCO Plaza,
18 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Address: Modern Plaza, 130 Haidianlu, Haidian District

Mystery Garments
Similar to Dreamweavers Aesthetic, Mystery Garments offers off-the-rack garments in linens and silks. Chinese-style skirts, dresses and jackets are decorated with Chinese minority embroideries, mostly from Guizhou Province. This shop is pricey, with most items running over 1,000 yuan (US$120).
Address: China World Shopping Mall
No 116, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Hours: 10 am-9:30 pm

Dongdan
Touted as one of Beijing's main shopping drags, Dongdan is a long street with a smattering of clothing shops on either side. Starting at the south end (intersection with Chang'an Jie), a trio of chain stores - Azona, Jeanswest and Feel 100% - mark the starting point. One advantage of these shops is that they tend to have larger sizes (at least up to European 44). North of the intersection with Dengshikou, Dongdan becomes Dongsi Nandajie. The boutiques continue, mostly carrying women's clothing and women's shoes. Close to both Wangfujing and Dongsi shopping districts, Dongdan is a bit more low-key and the styles are not so trendy.
Address: where Dongdan Beidajie meets Dongsi Nandajie
Hours; 9 am-7 pm

Longfusi Jie
Shopping in this area of Dongsi, your shoe selection is pretty much limited to styles with 3-inch platform heels. How about an afro wig and fake eyelashes to go with those thigh-high boots? The street is closed to bicycle and car traffic and runs parallel to Chaoyangmen. Both sides are filled with small-scale shops specializing in clothes and accessories that walk the line between being simply tacky and uniquely fashionable. Local shoppers come here for club clothes and "hip" styles. Many garments are oddly accentuated with fur, glitter, and bits of plastic.
Address: Enter through Longfu Guangchang on Chaoyangmennei Dajie, or through the entrances on the east or west sides of the strip - off Dongsi Beilu or Meishuguan Donglu.
Hours: most shops open 9 am-8:30 pm

Kylin (Qilin) Plaza
Located near Sanlitun, this is a very popular place amongst Beijing expats for tailored clothing. Several tailors are always on hand and are capable of making both men's and women's clothing in Chinese and Western styles. Tailors are of varying quality, so you may want to ask to see samples of their work before selecting one. Prices here are reasonable - a cheongsam can be made for under 300 yuan (US$36) - and credit cards are accepted.
Tel: 6415 9570
Address: 58 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
Hours: 9 am-9 pm

Wudaokou Boutiques
In this area, quite a few shop owners have pinpointed student tastes better than most. About 20 independent shops have popped up around Wudaokou, grouped around Wangzhuang Lu and Chengfu Lu. Some have men's clothing, but most racks are filled with women's clothing. All the boutiques do a pretty brisk business, and turnover is quick, so new things arrive all the time. Bargaining is acceptable, but whatever price you pay, it will be a slight mark-up from the general markets. Colours and sizes in stock are limited to whatever they have on hand, but it's still much easier to find unusual and stylish clothes here.
Address: on both sides of Wangzhuang Lu at the intersection with Chengfu Lu; also on the south side of Chengfu Lu
Hours: 9 am-8 pm

Xinjiekou
This is a long and bustling strip running north roughly from Ping'an Dajie to the Second Ring Road. Besides the cheap local clothing chain stores like Appleshop and Robinhood, there are quite a few small independent shops that are hit-and-miss in terms of style but cater mostly to young women. The shop at number 46 is a popular one, with men's and women's clothing that tends to be a little more distinctive than the stuff in the others.
Address: Xinjiekou Nandajie, Xinjiekou Beidajie
Hours: Most shops open 9 am-8 pm