Grace Chen, Favored by China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan, Opens in Shanghai from buzai232's blog

World news,China’s first lady has a new place to shop in Shanghai.

Known for looking her best when stepping off airplanes and attending state dinners with President Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan has brought elegance and fashion to Chinese officialdom as the country’s first lady. Though Chinese authorities protect the lifestyle details of top leaders and their families as state secrets, the names of some of the first lady’s favored designers are known.

One is thought to be the U.S.-educated designer Grace Chen. Last week, Ms. Chen threw open the doors of The House of Grace Chen in Shanghai where she is based.Almost all female leaders in China are our guests,” Ms. Chen said. But she said names are confidential and won’t discuss Ms. Peng.

The first lady has been mentioned as a fan in at least one press release from Ms. Chen’s firm. The link has also been reported by the online fashion publication Jing Daily and by China Daily.

Ms. Peng has been spotted wearing outfits from Guangzhou-based Ma Ke, whose brands include Exception de Mixmind and Wu Yong, meaning “Useless.” Which outfits might come from other designers, like Ms. Chen, isn’t clear.Mr. Xi’s crackdown on corruption beginning in 2012, and the general slowdown of the Chinese economy, mean that luxury brands now face tough times. However, growth in Chinese spending on luxurious items far outstrips that of any other nation, according to data from consultancy Bain & Company and Barclays PLC.

Ms. Peng was first known as a contemporary folk singer in China long before Mr. Xi took office. She is still the president of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Art, but her image as the elegant first lady has greatly outshined her artist role now.

In a three-floor villa built in Shanghai’s former French Concession in 1924, House of Grace Chen features a showroom and fitting rooms as well as a library and a parlor. Currently on display are some of her proudest designs including a floor-length gown decorated with embroidered flowers and butterflies in Ms. Chen’s favorite color combination of ink black, rice paper yellow and peony purple.

The villa also features a selection of dresses that Ms. Chen debuted last month at London’s palatial Lancaster House as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday celebrations. While Ms. Chen didn’t actually dress the Queen, her design of a soft-green gown was worn by Russian Princess Olga Romanoff during a fashion show that was part of the birthday celebrations and is now displayed at the Shanghai villa.

The 45-year-old Ms. Chen graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and for 15 years worked for other designers in New York City and Los Angeles. Her firm says Ms. Chen has designed for American media icon Oprah Winfrey and British actress Helen Mirren.

Ms. Chen returned to China in 2009 and established the Grace Chen brand after sensing a rising demand in China for couture design. In 2012, she opened a boutique in Beijing’s Yintai Center and became known for dressing the country’s rich and famous.