If Carolina's Dian has a kingdom of fabrics, Carolina's Libertad is your go-to destination when…read moreyou're looking for all sorts of trimmings. It is literally shelves and shelves and shelves of laces, sequins, gems, beads, ribbons, chains, and everything you need to embellish your dresses. In fact, the store is so loaded with the pretty stuff that I can see sparkles in my vision the moment I enter. They even sell ready-made accessories, and those little flowerettes you now rarely see at other Carolina's branches. Whatever it is you need when it comes to prettifying; it's more often than not available here. No other store comes close in the metro (unless you're a very good fashion supply hunter, but that's a different story entirely). When it comes to fabrics though, it doesn't have much. I mean you can probably buy a decent material enough for a fabulous dress, but there's not much to choose from. It's really a literal lace shop, to put it to simpler terms.

very helpful!! quick service, good prices, so much to look at, extremely smooth process! salamat po!read more

This place is a costume and dress maker's wonderland because they have everything you can…read moreconcievable need to make that costume or dress work. Not only do they have fabrics of all types and colors, they have enough buttons, beads and sequins to dress all the religious statues in Manila. They have lace and trimmings, all sorts of yarn and thread and all sewing accessories. They have crochet needles and patterns, embroidery boards and patches. It comes in pretty handy when a trip to Divisoria is a little bit too difficult.

Ever since I started working, there was never a year that I did not receive a gift coming from…read morePapemelroti. This just goes to show that this rustic-vintage inspired store is on top of a lot people's list for gift items. I can't blame them, it's on top of mine too. The place sells a wide array of stationery made of recycled paper which gives their items the old fashioned vibe without making it look used or scrappy. They also have small trinkets and thingamajigs perfect for giveaways or tabletop displays. What I usually get from this store is their small boxes of inspirational messages that can brighten anyone's day in a jiff. I would just tie a little ribbon around it and it's good to go. I wouldn't have to spend a little extra for gift wrapping. So the next time a friend or family member celebrates anything and you can't think of a present to give, you can always go back to the basics and give this place a visit.

I may be giving out my age here but this shop used to be my best friend when cellular phones and…read morethe internet are not yet household names. I go to Papemelroti when I need to send a love letter to the girl I'm courting. Yes kids, it's that thing where you use an actual pen and paper to communicate with the girl you like. We really used to do that. And you have to wait for a day or even several days just to receive a response. Papemelroti has stationaries and notebooks made out of recycled paper with cute designs and vintage look. The said stationaries and notebooks also have nice designs and even sayings. They also sell trinkets like brass necklaces and bracelets. They even have little jewelry boxes made of recycled materials. The fact that Ms. Patty, who partly owns Papemelroti together with her siblings, is such a nice person is another reason for me to continue patronizing this store. Yes, the first two letters of Papemelroti is from her name. RO is for Robert, the sibling who is the creator of the designs and drawings you see in their products. Their classic and beautiful items should be more than enough reason for customers to continue patronizing them. If you need another reason then it's nice to know that the crafts and trinkets that they sell are handmade by mothers living in destitute areas. Papemelroti provides them with materials and pays them for the labor. Just keep in mind that everytime you purchase an item from Papemelroti, you are also supporting these mothers who found a decent livelihood because of Papemelroti.

I am a Cotton On girl. Like seriously, when we go to SM North's the Block and my friends would walk…read morestraight to Forever 21 or Uniqlo, I go for the smaller Cotton On shop. I couldn't leave without at least one thing from that place. During the rare times that I shop for clothes, Cotton On will always be my first choice. So when they opened their store in UP Town Center, I was all "YAY! Nearer branch!" But what I got was more than the jubilation of finding out my favorite store's a few meters away from my place. PROS: This Cotton On branch is a two-floor, sprawling expanse of bright lights and high ceilings filled with pretty clothes for the twenty-something; Their selections have more variety than their SM North branch. They even have a whole section for underwear and lingerie; In a world where clothes only fit for those with perfect curves, I have found my niche in their fit-and-flare dresses. Plus, their name pretty much says it. Cotton On's wares have great fabric quality because it's mainly cotton. Perfect for me who easily itches or sweats; You know the perfect balance of a store attendant who helps you when needed but doesn't hawk on you when you're still browsing? Their staff's like that. CONS: Sales are rarer in this branch, but I don't really mind since they're not that expensive in the first place. TL;DR: This is my favorite branch of my favorite store. Cotton On is one of my happy places.

Cotton On - just saying these words make me smile already. Cotton on is a great store to go into…read moreeven if you are on a budget. If you ever find something you like, it does not feel so bad to buy it, the damage would not be that great compared to buying something in Top Shop or Dorothy Perkins. They have really nice basics - tops, skirts, shirts, etc. Their collection is also really nice, it has something for everyone, whether they are the girly, sporty or artsy type. Their clothes also fit very well, just be careful to follow the washing conditions because some of the items that I have bought fit nicely the first few times I wore them, but gradually, the sides started to droop and the cloth got a bit loose. Their 'ruby' shoes are also super cute! They have nice designs and are usually super comfortable! Overall, Cotton On is a good alternative to the likes of h&m and forever 21.

At first you might just pass this shawl shop right at the main entrance of Cash & Carry Mall, but…read moreonce you look closely and dig into the mounds of shawls and scarves they have on display you'll want to buy just everything! They're a bunch of affordable everyday scarves and shawls with a great variety of designs and colors. Although it's not a designer brand, this shop has some really nice, classy designs you can use with office wear and the like. They're not just those tiangge-type designs. They have different pashminas, varying in size, color, designs, and patterns. And since everything is quite affordable, you can buy several all at once. The items are great for personal use or for giving as gifts to your girlfriends, moms, and titas!

I have a love-hate relationship with this Carolina's branch. Don't get me wrong. It's conveniently…read moreplaced in my turf (Ayala is my territory, don't argue). In recent times, they have been improving the shop, like adding more stocks and re-arranging the stuff for easier access. It's small, so a smarter way to organize the items should be in order from time to time. It's actually pretty convenient that in theory, it would take me an hour to drive there, buy what I need and get back to working on my dresses...given that the staff would actually accommodate me. I don't know if it was me being insensitive to the amount of work the staff here are doing but it takes like ten minutes to have your order cut for you. That's sort of frustrating time-wise because what if I just need a yard of one ribbon? It's been known in the fashion world that the service here has a little bit of attitude, but maybe they just need to hire more people. A lot of customers need service at the same time here after all. Overall though, its existence worked wonders in my life, especially when I have some emergency fashion supplies needs. I guess the saving factor in this branch is the occasional (and pretty much unannounced) super sale. They lay out two huge bins filled with older stocks that are still in good condition and you can buy them in bulk. That's actually how I ended up with a mini Carolina's of my own at my workshop!

Carolina's Lace Shoppe is the lazy, city-dwelling, crafty girl's solution to immediate fabric and…read morecraft needs. A lot of craft places require you to venture out to Divisoria, Recto, and Quiapo, and it's quite inconvenient if you're not located near those areas. Carolina's is like your craft convenience store. Yes, prices will be a bit higher, but saves you time, energy and transportation costs. They've got a good selection of fabric and clothes-making materials, so this is a good place to get stuff for those one-off projects, or if you're personally sourcing out fabric and materials if you're having custom clothes tailored. If you make accessories and jewelry, they have a good selection of beads, locks and chains. If you're looking for crochet threads and yarns, they've got a ton of colors to choose from as well. It's great how the existence of Carolina's in malls and other more accessible locations really inspire crafters and make it easier for them to keep on creating despite a grueling, 9-5 day job. Small conveniences such as these go a long way!

A self-confessed ukay ukay addict dared me to check out this place, saying that I would be shocked…read moreat what they have. I wasn't expecting much. to be honest. I know that some of these thrift shops are better than others, but how much better can one be over the rest? Since I had some time to kill, I decided to give it a shot. Guess what? My ukay ukay junkie was absolutely right. I won't comment on the branded ladies clothes, shoes and bags that she raves about. I admit knowing next to nothing about women's wear and accessories. But I do know enough about men's wear to recognize a bargain when I see one. There were Levi's jeans as well as other brands of denim pants and trousers. The price? An unbelievable three for P100. I had to take a second look at that price tag, but there it was. That comes to P33 per pair of pants, doesn't it? The best thing about denims is that the more worn they look, the more comfortable they feel. Jamzel's Ukay Ukay is a small shop, but man do they have a lot of terrif bargains. They have rubber and leather shoes that all look newish and sell for a low P200 a pair. If you have no qualms about buying and wearing pre-owned clothes, head for this store pronto!

I.Candy is a clothing line which has always been one of my favorite stores. Not only do they sell…read morecolorful, updated and retro style clothes, they also offer dresses that suit for almost any occasion. You can work their dresses up as a semi-formal outfit with high heels or wedges, but you can also style it casually, with sneakers of your favorite Keds. With these, you know that one dress can rule almost any outfit, you just have to style it right! Regarding quality, I like the fact that some of their dresses can be easily altered without major cuts and re-linings. They're manageable, especially if you know how to sew. Thankfully, I do! So I.Candy is one of my dress shop bffs. Btw, they also have cropped tops and other blouses, if you're not big in dresses.