Whenever I'm in Podium to get a cone from Sebastian's (always to get a cone from Sebastian's),…read morethere's only really one store that I visit often, and that's Sewn & Co. in Markati Palazzo. There are a lot of other boutiques and showrooms in the Markati Palazzo, and all of them have more clothes, but the great thing about Sewn is that their clothes are much younger and more accessible, both in style and price, than the others. It's all very sweet and soft, which I do look for sometimes--they had a long, knit vest thing that I liked which was on sale, but I was undecided about it until it vanished from their racks and I regretted skipping out on it. They also carry a lot of other lines, with a focus on women's swimwear and sandals and shoes. They also have a few preppy men's shoes though, so that's something for the guys to see. I always look at their accessories rack, for sure, but there are many other things they have like cosmetics and glasses and stationery other girly things. And if you're into that they're always worth a look.

Noting but H20 has been around for a decade or so and as hard as it is to believe, it's actually a…read morehomegrown brand--yes, 100% Filipino. I'm a regular beach comber and I get to test drive different brands and types of swimwear almost every week and it's safe to say that my Nothing but H20 pairs have and will still be with me for many more memorable adventures because it's of quality make. Not unlike cheaper local swimwear brands, the focus that goes between the style and function of your piece is tantamount and I know this because I've had a piece with me four for years that I've gone snorkelling, cliff diving, and so much more with. Every season, the design team behind Nothing Nut H2O presents a whole new collection with a wide range of prints to choose from. Their plainer bikinis on the other hand come with fanciful add-ons like leathe clasps or beads at the ends of the ties. Whatever it is, they know how to make cute swimwear. But point is, and I'd like to repeat this: They've been around for more than a decade and that should tell you enough about their amazing staying power.

I had to get a gift for a niece a few weeks back and while I was wandering around Century City Mall…read moreI found this cute little store called Chibimomo! I entered because I saw a cute giraffe stuffed toy at the door and I couldn't resist! It turns out it was a kids store, exactly what I was looking for! They had a lot of clothes from brands I didn't know, so it's great for those who want their little ones to stand out. They also had a good selection of children's toys and decor. I ended up buying really adorable swimwear for my niece and couldn't help but grab one for her sister as well. Nothing cuter than matching siblings! Their prices are a little high but still not too bad. If you've got a toddler you're dying to spoil Chibimomo might have just what you're looking for!

Chibi Momo has everything I want my future child to be wearing: Girly baby doll dresses for the…read moreprincesses and adorable separates for the princes. I bet if we were still young'ns, my mom would've loved to go shopping here. While there are items in the store sourced in the US and Europe, what I love most about this place are there capsule collections featuring local designers. As someone who works in fashion, I was so over the moon just thinking about my (future) little one dressed up in Maureen Disini and Rosanna Ocampo! I mean, how fabulous is that right? Some moms may find it too frivolous and rather expensive especially for children's clothing, but I just think you're paying for premium goods. Far from the mass produced and brightly colored things you can easily buy in every other mall, everything at Chibi Momo feels well thought out and well curated. It could be that I work in a fashion magazine but I'd be happy to recommend a bit of fashion into any little girl or even a little boy's life in that matter! After all, you're never too young to learn about good taste.

Local swimwear brand Soak Swimwear gets this island girl's vote of approval simply because they…read morenever stop delivering on great designs. More than just your regular fare of bikinis and one pieces that come in traditional shapes and cuts, Soak likes to be a bit more experimenting when it comes to their designs especially with cutouts and color combinations. But more than just their ever growing number of designs, Soak has recently upped their resort wear game. What that means for us beach bums is that we've got a whole bunch of kaftans, cover ups, and maxi dresses to choose from, along with wide brimmed hats! How's that for a chic summer on the beach? Expanding their line into more fashionable territory, the brand has teamed up with celebrity stylist Sidney Yap for a bikini that's both sporty and sexy aptly named, you guessed it, the Sidney. I got my pair in black and white just because it reminded me of old school bikinis minus the granny pants. Not your typical bikini, it comes in a sporty halter with an uber sexy cutout down the middle. It doesn't do much for water activities but it definitely turns heads.

There's one stall in the SM women's clothing department that I always look at when I'm in the area…read moreand it's Coco Cabana. Even when the men's resort wear line got its own label under Coco Republic, I'm always sure to be crossing over to the women's line to browse their clothes. Their style is very summery and bright, of course, which isn't exactly on the nose of the current minimalist active wear fashion, but I like that. Sure, give me a crisp, clean, black and white outfit any day, but sometimes you'll feel like having a beachy island look and Coco Cabana helps with that. Most of their stuff is women's swimwear and kaftans and short shorts and summer dresses, which I'm not so invested in as much as their mesh and sheer overlays and tops, which I am in love with. The colors might be a little garish sometimes, but there are a good number that can be part of your closet. I'm always at SM Cubao, but I do prefer this branch over the others as they seem to have much more of the stuff I like than the SMs in Makati or Megamall, even if their stall here is smaller. I also appreciate that there are often fewer people in the department store, which is great for me to be looking through women's resort wear in peace.

Manila has seen a steady stream of cool and stylish international fashion brands coming into the…read morelocal market and I am very happy about that! (Although my wallet may not be as ecstatic.) One of those brands in Stradivarius, which hails all the way from Barcelona, Spain. Whenever I enter Stradivarius in Glorietta, I always get a little bit confused - confused because I don't know which top, blouse, skirt or pant to grab first. I always find a whole lot to love amongst the different laid-black styles that the brand is well known for. Easy-breezy, unfussy clothing that's great for everyday is what Stradivarius is all about. Nowadays, since I'm much older and less susceptible to following every trend in the fashion book, I'm more inclined to choose the understated but still quite fashionable option. And I love how Stradivarius has got a ton of those kinds of options. Sure, they still have the more trendy stuff but it's balanced well with the unfussy, minimalist stuff that I love.

Holy hell, I can't believe I only discovered this store a few weeks ago. Like, where has this gem…read morebeen all my life? Stradivarius has a TON of great clothes that feel very bohemian and classy. Basically, if you want to emulate Vanessa Hudgens' Coachella style, go here. Something really important I noticed is that all the fabrics are very comfortable and soft. Other trendy stores *cough* F21 *cough* tend to have beautiful designs in itchy material, which is terrible for my super sensitive skin. No problems for my skin demands here! My major and only problem with this store is that some of the items are super overpriced. Would you spend over a thousand pesos on a tiny pair of floral shorts or a super thin, plain maxi dress? My sis and I decided no way. It's important to shop with a critical eye here and look for pieces that really give bang for your buck and would be hard to find. The bags and hats scattered around this big store are super cute. If I had the money, I'd snatch up more than a few of them. Also, there's this gorgeous leather jacket I was eyeing and will hopefully get on sale soon for a trip abroad. Need to get it on sale otherwise my wallet would cry.

I can't remember how many times I've been to the Landmark since I moved to Manila. I guess it was…read morethe first store my husband showed me. I remember that entering there was like a baptism, a début. I could almost hear the voice over: "Welcome, Danyella! This is the one and only Landmark! Here you'll find EVERYTHING you may need from now on. And for a cheaper price!". Did I say EVERYTHING? Yes, because that's exactly the feeling you have when you enter the Landmark. I just cannot decide where to look at. All products catch my attention. It's crazy. I'll give you a short list of what I already bought there, so you can feel the vibe: a Hello Kitty towel as a monito monita gift; a beautiful tea pot; maternity clothes; comfortable shoes; baby onesies; underwear; step ladders to reach high shelves; cute notebooks; toiletries; Instax instant film; scarfs; bags; a wallet; table linens and much more items. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the grocery. It's cheaper than Rustan's and even SM and you can find great variety. TIP: They sell Santis's meats and cold cuts at Landmark! I highly recommend it because of the quality. It's great to have this facility, so I don't have to split my grocery list anymore and go to Santis Deli at Rockwell.

So many cutesy butingting, so little room in the house…read more There is a section at the Landmark Department Store that can be considered a haven for hipsters - in that it features products that are shabby chic, and full of typography and graphic designed travel stuff. As you enter from the walkway that connects it to Greenbelt, you'll see the area on travel-inspired designs of notebooks and planners. And then there's the tin-can containers reminiscent of the things we used in the 80s as kids but the design is more English rose country and shabby chic. Still some of the home decor items are of prints and typography that would fit any room occupied by a hipster. Not that I'm a hipster, lol. But they are soooo cute!

All women deserve to feel sexy. No matter your size, civil status or body type, you are sexy. Lucky…read moreDoll Bikini and Lingerie can make this a reality. No, they don't offer a weight loss program. It's not even anything related to boosting your confidence. What they have are really nice womanly things to make you feel your best. Whether you're into sexy costumes, corsets or babydolls and teddies, this is the place to shop for it. They have a showroom but it's so easy to just get it online. If sexy role playing isn't your thing, you can still look through their store for quality bikinis and swimsuits so you can be even hotter than this summer weather we are having.

Speedo has this image of being very focused on racing bathing suits. And since they have been…read moresupplying most of the swimming professionals, it's an image that is difficult to shake of. Their logo is a boomerang, making reference to their australian roots as well as to the speed that you can achieve in the water when wearing your streamlined speedo. Ofcourse this the go to brand if you are into competitive swimming, because they also sell goggles, underwater wrist watches and mp3 players, but if you look further than that they also have pretty fashionable swimwear. I think they understand this is a lucrative market and they have changed their storefront and assortiment to include lots of colorful and nice bikini's and shorts that you can wear on your next weekend trip to Boracay as well.

Just the place to get some bargain knock offs! Yep, I'm cheap. Everyone's respectful and no one…read morepushes their stuff on to you. Just check them out and get only what you want.

Over the years, Tumblr users have skyrocketed. It's so popular that a lot of kids, teens and hip…read moreyuppies get inspiration from Tumblr blogs. May it be photography, quotes, memes, gifs, art, pop culture, style and most especially fashion. My friend actually introduced my sister and I to Fashion Market. After learning about it, we go there every time were at this mall. Fashion Market is split into 2 sides on the mall - the left and the right. I suggest going through all stores. It can take hours though, haha, but you won't regret it. They have every style and trend you'd typically see on Tumblr, fashion blogs, Youtube beauty channels and fashion week! Inside, you'll also find spas, salons, money changers and ATM's. The prices range from super inexpensive to normal clothing price rates. A lot of stores sell super hip shoes, clothes, hats, shades and even prom dresses and traditional Filipino costumes. Definitely check out these stores I frequent when you're there - (right side) Push Thru, Mastermind Chase and Muradito, (left side) Nava, Berca and Ballow. Happy shopping! :)