Laura, the weather *is* transitional. We arrived on a relatively cool and rainy evening...it was cool enough for me to want my trench coat and booties, but I was a bit hot in my opaque hose. The next few days, it turned very warm again. So people weren't really sure how to dress and that is reflected a bit in the outfits, as it would be in any city.
Ornella. the footwear was really a mix. Lots of ballet flats. A few (but not many) oxfords and slipper flats. But also a TON of sky-high stilettos and plenty of high platform sneakers as well. Not as many wedges as in Beijing, where that style is quite popular both in boots and pumps.
There was a lot of black being worn, for sure -- black is definitely the dominant hue. But there was also a lot of bright colour and pattern in Shanghai as compared to Beijing.
I also saw plenty of slouchy skinnies, drop crotch baggy trousers, shorts, and yes, tights of all weights and levels of sheerness as well as bare legs.
And Deborah, yes - skirts are impossibly short. Micro minis. On the young, mostly. And I doubt if anyone is wearing them to work in law offices. Our friend who is a lawyer was dressed very simply and conservatively in a black knee length dress and plain black jacket when she met us from work. She was wearing sheer black tights and low heeled wedges with sparkles on them. Those sparkles (and the subtle red highlights in her hair) were her only hints of personality in her look.