Gao Yuan-Yuan stops traffic in Shanghai

Gao Yuan-Yuan put on her red dress, skinny gold belt and gold pumps to appear at what was helpfully described in the Mainland entrainment press as "an event". She ran through a quick manual of arms for handling a microphone:

A few minutes earlier the scene was more hectic outside the auditorium. The traffic control sign painted on the pavement (looks temporary) probably says either "park here" or "don't park here". Nice ride.

Gao Yuan-Yuan is the calm center of the storm, looking unruffled in the midst of the usual bunch at a celebrity appearance. Paparazzi, interested onlookers and people just trying to get across the street, all kept in check by uniformed policemen. She was trailed by the usual thuggish security men in nondescript suits and buzz cuts:

Another successful arrival, having shed her (or someone's) coat:

Ifeng; Sina slide

Marie Claire awards in Shanghai

"Marie Claire", generally the fifth or sixth most popular fashion magazine in each region in which it publishes, had a bash in Shanghai a few days ago. It was an awards ceremony, giving meaningless awards to people who probably didn't know they were in line for one until their agents called to tell them they were working that evening.

The red carpet/photo-op was pretty interesting though, with several of our favorites looking great, none more so than Gao Yuan-Yuan in a Stella McCartney gorgeous green silhouette dress with mesh panels:

Coco Lee vamped it up in a dress with a (very) asymmetrical neckline and split skirt:

Coco had a backstage wardrobe malfunction attended to by an extremely alert seamstress using huge clothing clips while getting her nose powdered:

Li Xiaolu (Lu Lu) brought her cheekbones:

But somehow missed being included in the Celebrity side boob continuing feature in the Huffington Post:

Tiffany Tang was lovely in frou-frou chiffon while Yang Mi had a slightly edgier look in black leather:

Neither looked thrilled to be there in this shot:

Ni Ni dazzled with her million yuan smile:

And was so well coordinated that the trim on her handbag matched her lipstick--strange but true:

A good time was had by some. Sina; Eiffel in Seoul; Huffington Post

Gao Yuanyuan busy on the commercial/diplomatic front

Gao Yuanyuan was recently was named California's official tourism ambassador to mainland China. Her duties will be to hype the attractions of the Golden State that will encourage even greater numbers of mainland Chinese to book a trip that includes Universal Studios, Disneyland and Fisherman's Wharf by appearing in commercials and posing for photographs that run on Chinese websites. As the representative of the California almond growers for the past couple of years Gao Yuanyuan has some experience with having her picture taken while advocating international trade.

The new ambassador's official portrait:

Here are a couple of pictures made to look like tourist snapshots (other than being properly focused, exposed and composed) that show the uncrowded splendor of California shopping areas:

Two model type shots, one jumping on a beach, the other serving as a backdrop for yummy strawberries--another potential sponsorship, perhaps.

For the almond growers she is gamboling through an almond grove while being filmed for a commercial. For some reason the image that the PR agency moved was focused on the film cameraman and not the spokesperson or even an almond tree.

California almonds--the snack for those awkward social occasions where no one looks at anyone else:

or when you want to eat just one:

China Daily; L.A. Times; Xiaman

Gao Yuan-Yuan at Vesace and everywhere else

Gao Yuan-Yuan was in the front row at the Milan Versace Fall/Winter 2012 show along with blond English singer, a football player, a football columnist, the next Bond girl and someone's boyfriend.

Before the show she looked devastating in white with a white leather jacket, all studded with gold rivets. She has a real presence and the still camera loves her as much as does the movie camera.

"China Daily" ran a number of pictures of Gao Yuan-Yuan from Milan without identifying when they were taken. I think the mission of "China Daily" (or at least part of its mission) is to portray the official policy of the PRC to an audience that doesn't read Chinese. If that is the case, then the Party is going in the right direction in its celebrity coverage. The first two pictures from the shoot before the Dolce & Gabbana show.

Not sure of the provenance of these but they are lovely (and a bit unusual) images:

Before some show--more traditional but still nice.

And a strange one from the Versace show--that's Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan in the middle taking up a lot of space and crowding Gao Yuan-Yuan and Ilaria D'Amico, football commentator on Italian TV. Keep those knees and elbows in, Wesley.

Sina; China Daily; Fashion.It; Daily Mail

Gao Yuan-Yuan takes fashionable Milan by storm

Milan is the fashion capital of Italy and, some would say the center for fashion and design for the entire world--although they almost always say it in Italian. It is an essential stop on the twice yearly slog of Fashion Weeks that winds through New York City, London, Paris and the home of A.C. Milan. Gao Yuan-Yuan made quite a splash, hitting several of the most important shows and openings, hobnobbing with designers and owners while seated in the first row. She was all over the place at Dolce and Gabbana, here with another brown-eyed movie goddess Monica Bellucci:

Deploying her million Renminbi smile in the country (but not the city) where "paparazzi" was first defined. It is as if someone told her to "stand in the gutter and look great", so she did, gorgeous in a form fitting sequined dress from D&G:

Inside waiting for the show to start and going along with the photographers' request for "just one more".

And then there was the Giorgio Armani show:

She lit up the Ferragamo flagship store; designers take their branded stores veryseriously. They are hugely profitable and serve as a literal shop window for their entire line:

And off to the Ferragamo show sharing the place of honor between Leonardo Ferragamo (striped shirt) and James Ferragamo (scruffy) with Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor:

Lovely outfit, perfect colors for a sun-kissed afternoon:

I don't know if Gao Yuan-Yuan was the only Chinese actress as a guest at Milan fashion week but she was the only one covered in any detail by the PRC entertainment press. The Italians love selling luxury goods in China, not only clothing,. For example Bulgari gets most of its sales and profit growth from their boutiques throughout the mainland and China is the second largest overseas market for auto maker Ferrari. But women's garments are the most heavily promoted high-end products. In years past Zhang Ziyi has been the face of both Fendi and Emporio Armani. She was succeeded by Shu Qi for Armani. Shu Qi has also been a brand ambassador for Cavalli and Ferragamo. It may be that Gao Yuan-Yuan will be the next heavily promoted style icon for the Milanese.

Xinhua; CRI; Yahoo; Zimbio

Gao Yuan-Yuan in Milan for Fashion Week

Gao Yuan-Yuan lit up the Gucci Fall/Winter 2012 show at Milan Fashion Week.

Striking a pose outside the show.

Casually elegant and perfectly gorgeous inside while waiting for things to start.

Possibly working on her Victoria Beckham pout/scowl/sneer?

Thinking "this fashion stuff is hard work--I'm glad that is over".

Xinhua