Wonderfully photographed and paired with the most heartfelt narrative, this book gave a really pleasant surprise. Coming from a city with a very small Chinatown, it's very interesting to see how the biggest Chinatowns across North America are like. I found the stories behind each senior photographed and interviewed a delight to read, and I feel a new sense of appreciation for my own Chinese grandma (whom I absolutely adore) as well as other seniors in my community.
Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for a chance to review this wonderful book.

I loved paging through 'Chinatown Pretty's beautiful images and wished I read thid book on paper. So gorgeous and inspiring! This book shows insights of the older generation living in various Chinatowns in America. The vibrant pictures show that you nevver should be afraid to go bold and yes, if you want to, wear three scarves or double hats. A big plus were the smiles; they really captured a mood.

Bright-green jade shoes, power gloves in a striking red tone, multi-coloured silk ties and and the courage to wear the uttermost unique fashion combinations I have ever seen. I was browsing through this collection of photographs and reading the shared personal stories on Chinese-American culture with great interest. Six Chinatowns are portrayed in this book & they provide proof that we should never be afraid to wear strong colours and to create our own fashion style. The vibrant pictures and many smiling faces captured here proudly show that happiness is a lot about: living with joy. A mindset.

Chinatown Pretty, as the title might suggest, is a gorgeous book. Fundamentally, this is a book about fashion and it absolutely delivers on that premise. The subjects of Chinatown Pretty are senior citizens of Chinatowns across North America in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Vancouver. On each page, the reader experiences novel combinations of clothing varied in texture, pattern, and origin. The portraiture throughout the book is gorgeous and captures the character and creativity of each subject.

I appreciated the care that Lo and Luu put into honoring the creativity and resourcefulness of each person documented in the book. Each outfit in the book was accompanied with some amount of text ranging from a few sentences to several pages documenting the individual's experiences with clothing and throughout their life. Frequently highlighted throughout the book is the fact that so rarely are some senior adults involved in conversation by young people and given the opportunity to share their stories. The stories are often powerful, moving tales of resistance and endurance in the face of hardship but just as often they are silly or flashy or scandalous in ways that do not get regular representation in media. In addition to cultural representation, this book also takes on the structural racism and immigration in its past, present, and future that informs culture.

Like any good book, Chinatown Pretty sparks interests and makes you want to pick up 5 more. A must read if you are interested in fashion, age representation, or Chinatown history.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Chronicle Books for an advance reader copy of Chinatown Pretty in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning photography paired with poignant stories of the Chinese seniors that live, shop, and play in the Chinatown districts here in the U.S.

The photos capture the essence and spirit of the grandmas and grandpas dressed in the signature style associated with Chinatown residents; and oooh, the stories of their hardships and immigration will touch your heart.

An excellent book that is sure to grace your coffee table or library shelf. Five stars.

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so beautiful! It serves as an homage to the style of the seniors in Chinatown's around the world. So many of them have insightful, inspirational, tear-jerking stories to tell, as well as innovative fashion sense. I loved reading about the histories of each Chinatown as well and their impact on their local communities.

Chinatown Pretty was such a charming book. I loved the photos and stories of the grandmothers and grandfathers Even if the book focuses on the fashion, it's still a wonderful tribute to an older generation that has some really fascinating stories to tell.

I have a tiny Korean grandmother so I may be partial to this book, but I absolutely ADORED the photos and stories of grandmas and grandpas in different Chinatowns across North America. Each unique persona and soul captures the energy of their city. You will be filled with joy and creative fashion inspiration after reading.

"These outfits weave together the seniors' diaspora: where they came from, what they did for a living, how they made the best of their circumstances" (p. 9).

I have a university degree in China Studies and as such, the Chinese diaspora is one of my main academic interests. But more importantly, like anyone intimately familiar with China or any of the global Chinatowns, I've always been mesmerized or *shook* by the clothing choices of elders in these locations. As Lo and Luu frame it perfectly, "these seniors cause us to to do a double, sometimes triple take when we pass them in the crosswalks." That is so relatable it made me laugh! At times astonished, at times chuckling and always impressed, I've fallen in love with the style this books calls Chinatown Pretty: "a delightful mix of modern and vintage, high and low, bold patterns and colors and contemporary streetwear - like Nike sneakers or a Supreme hat."

This book is a splendid collection of fashion photography paired with stories of each recognized person - their story of immigration or growing up in Chinatown, hardships and joys, as well as how Lo and Luu met them. Honestly, I came for the dazzling photos but stayed for the raw, funny and at times heartbreaking narratives. Better yet, we get a very wide range of styles and histories, as the research took place in Chinatowns of San Francisco, Oakland, LA, NYC, Chicago and Vancouver.

"Chinatown Pretty" is a true delight and I honestly couldn't recommend it more.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As much as I wanted to view this book - Chinatown Pretty - I was unable to download. There is no kindle format and what was available was not a format that I could download.

A charming book celebrating the seniors living, and sometimes working, in five different North American Chinatowns. While the pictures celebrate their style, the essays tell their story.

The surprising thing about the book is how trendly and individual their clothes are

A lovely lovely book an ode to Chinatowns to the beautiful women who live there.Their outfits unique original.Fantastic photos essays.A book I enjoyed from beginning to end.Will be buying a copy for myself and giving as a gift to special friends.#netgalley #chinatownpretty

**I received 'Chinatown Pretty' from NetGalley and Chronicle Books, in exchange for an honest review**

I loved viewing 'Chinatown Pretty's lovely images of an older generation nestled in Chinatown culture. It was so precious glancing at these individuals' unique sense of fashion. Browsing through this digital copy drew me towards the Instagram account of the same name.

I love the fact that Andrea Lo and Valerie Luu appreciate the style of an older generation, one that they long to maintain a connection with. Maintaining the bridge between young and elder generations is something that's extremely important, since we have much to learn from the older age group. Maintaining connections is something that's extremely important, regardless of culture and ethnic background.

I look forward to purchasing 'Chinatown Pretty' when this becomes available!

Chinatown Pretty by Andrea Lo and Valerie Luu 3.5 stars

A charming pictorial of the fashion sense of the local elders living in various Chinatown's in North America and a tribute to the resilience of an the immigrant population. Many of the elders immigrated because of war, government crackdowns and economic circumstances. As such their fashion is governed by practicality with bits of whimsy and color. I think waste is a four letter word for many of them and slow fashion was a way of life before it became a trend. I enjoyed this book as a tribute to a community that may be disappearing before our eyes.

Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC.

This is a wonderful book of the many Chinatown’s around the country and its older generation, the grandparents. It’s filled with beautiful photos and stories. Wonderful to learn about different cultures! Thank you to Chronicle Books, authors Andrea Lo and Valerie Lau, and NetGalley for an ebook ARC. This is my honest review.