Opened in September 2013, this high-design concept store comes to China from Milan. Alone the setting, in a five-story building with a glass façade, makes a visit worthwhile. As in Italy, the concept here is "one-stop shopping," and so the boutique leisurely expands across the floors, offering everything from fashion and accessories to tech toys, books and an incredible magazine collection. There's a café and restaurant, making this a fun destination for browsing and a break. Don't be surprised if you see lines outside the boutique. The combination of high-fashion, design and Euro concept shop has hit just the note in this ever-trendy city.

I didn’t have time to try Dave, but he is reputed to be one of the very best tailors for both men and women, putting 40 hours into each suit. You can buy fabric here or find great quality at his shop in the Xuhai district.

Fashion mavens interested in Chinese designers must make time for this three-story boutique in Jing’An. The design studio—with a winding staircase, whitewashed floors and decorated nooks throughout—is a delight to explore, but even better to browse; the boutique stocks a curated selection of cutting-edge local designers like Chictopia, Uma Wang and Xander Zhou. The fashions are pricey, but if you want the best Chinese designers, this is the place to go.

The soft cashmere creations on sale here may not be the super discounted wares you expect in Shanghai, but the quality is spot-on, which is not always a given when it comes to cashmere according to personal shopper Francine Martin who highly recommends this boutique. Feine has an especially terrific selection of children’s sweaters and accessories and the designs are timeless and very wearable.

In this shop, part of the fun Taikang Road shopping district, you can find cashmere shawls with rabbit trim and intricately embroidered pashminas.

Part of the Red Town artist enclave, Joyce Warehouse is a two-level outpost of the famous Hong Kong–based fashion and lifestyle brand. Some of the items they carry are marked-down leftover stock, so it’s a great place to treasure hunt.

This showcases the clothes of a number of local designers but doesn’t seem to keep regular hours. In the courtyard, which has an outdoor café, be sure to check out the shops.

The British-Chinese designer Alison Mary Ching Yeung has used her unique East and West heritage to found China’s first luxury shoe and accessories brand. Her picturesque flagship store, which sells everything from shoes to handbags, is located in the former French Concession. Mary Ching is aimed squarely at a newly wealthy Chinese clientele: shoes use ample gold, silver and crocodile skin. Still the shoes, if occasionally outlandish, are incredibly constructed and a lot of fun.

Here, a French designer has enlisted local artisans to create her beautiful embroidered linens and children’s clothes. There’s a Gallic delicacy and sophistication to the styles but the palette is vibrant.

Shanghai’s go-to tailor for top-of-the-line designs, Royal Gold Thread makes custom qípáo and cheongsam, the traditional Chinese evening wear for men and women, respectively. Cheongsam should fit like a glove and are tailored to flatter the female figure, so it is recommended to have four fittings, but for the sake of time, they can be made with just two adjustments. The stunning designs often feature head-to-toe embroidery, gold trimmings and dragon patterns.

This is the atelier of a French expat who pairs European standards with Asian textiles to create unusual bags and scarves. There are also smaller, fun accessories and gifts on sale.

One of the city's best places to find very elegant Chinese style clothing that will appeal to a high-end Westerner. The Taiwanese brand already had an outpost in Paris on Rue St. Honoré, so only the Bund would do for its Shanghai boutique and it is a glorious addition to the international labels filling in the grand riverfront facades. Expect splendid tailored silks and cottons in understated colors with embroidered details like butterfly or dragonfly adornments and brocade hems.

This tiny boutique on a side street off of the Bund carries the beautiful hand-embroidered silk shoes that are designed by a Shanghainese woman and made by local craftsmen. There are a variety of models and many patterns with fish and flowers. Wrapped in little velvet sleeves, they make great gifts.