The Cut is where boys go to become men (No, not the filthy way). If you're a guy with discerning…read moretastes, and the mall shops doesn't represent the real you, this is where you go. Located in a spot on Salcedo Village that is increasingly becoming hipper by the day, The Cut carries a lot of exclusive and limited release stuff, stuff you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. They carry shoes, shirts, bags, wallets, cufflinks, hair care products, socks, tobacco, handkerchiefs, and everything in between.The items have been "curated" to bring out your inner swag and differentiate you from the heathens wearing those China knock-offs they bought from 168. Yes, the prices here are a bit on the high side, but that is a paltry price to pay for being the most well-dressed man in Manila. Man up, man. While you're here, you might as well go up the mezzanine and check out Felipe and Sons, the parent company of The Cut, where you can get a proper shave and cut, and probably get a suit tailored for you as well. Because that's how real men roll.

I think in terms of men's fashion, there is a shift from the casual and the indifferent, to the…read morestructured and refined. The idea that men can also be fussy and sartorial about their fashion choices says a lot about how our attitude towards dressing up has changed, with many of the boys having a renewed interest in classic and timeless pieces that just set one apart from the crowd. It doesn't have to be anything striking - the fact that you are dressed in quality clothes that fit well already make you a standout in a city where people go for functionality over aesthetics. Boys can be "maarte" too, and in a good way. That just goes to show that we value self-branding and presentation now as much as the girls do. Shops like Signet in Legazpi Village will pave the way to a more fashion forward Manila. This multi-brand store carries a number of different brands and styles for the modern gentleman. If you like to splurge a little on a few basics, such as a pair of body-hugging Selvedge jeans, or really cool socks to match your power suit, or even fun every day footwear that highlight both comfort and looks, Signet has imported brands that must be in every man's closet. Looking for that Picasso-esque Breton tee for an effortlessly fashionable look? Signet has different brands that have a great fit for every body type. The overall aesthetic is gunning for a strong homage to vintage and classic styles that give the modern gentleman such a polished, refined and nonchalantly classy look. Savoir faire at quite a price, but it's all worth it. I chanced upon this store because I was intrigued by the really classy facade. I love the window display - simple yet elegant. I was waiting for a meeting so I went inside and had a chat with Kevin, one of the shopkeepers. He is very well-versed about his brands and he also gave me a few recommendations as to what brands will suit my lifestyle better. Their store is all about investment pieces that will age well, and though I'm not in a hurry to part with my hard-earned cash even for really nice clothes, it's nice to know that I now know where to shop.

We were only visiting Manila for a week and one of our goals is to get some bespoke suits and a…read morebarong for my husband. We were recommended to this tailor by a friend. The staff told us that it usually takes a month to a complete a suit as it is necessary to have 2 -3 fittings. But since we had only a week, they were hesitant to serve us. After a couple of calls on their end, they accepted to create 1 barong and 3 suits for us. The condition would be that they could make the barong and 1 suit for us and the other two would be ready in a month. They offered to send the last 2 suits to the USA (with an extra fee of course), but we opted for pickup by my relatives. Anyway, after choosing the colors and fabric for the suits, my husband got his measurements taken and we came back for the first fitting in 2 days. We came back for a second fitting in 4 days and were off with the two garments promised. There was a point where my husband was unsure of having the suits made here but he did like that the suits would be made with a lining as other tailors didn't put a lining in the suits! So this sealed the deal for him. The final product of the Barong was impressive for me. My husband likes more of a fitted look and they definitely delivered a good product that made my husband look really good. They have the traditional pineapple fabrics for you to choose from but they also have various color choices such as greens, blacks, pinks, etc. I did see an option for embroidery of your initials as well. The price point for each made suite was roughy 15,000 pesos. I don't know if this is a variable depending on the size of your body or if its a set price. In any case, we thought this was a good price for bespoke suits compared to what we would pay in the USA. The shop is located across the street from the backside of Greenbelt 3.

We put these tailors in a tough spot. Carlo and I set an appointment just 4 weeks before our…read morewedding (not enough time by Philippine Wedding standards). Also, Carlo will not wear the traditional Barong; he wants to wear a European style suit. The tailors (they were a team of 3 measuring him) had such a can do approach and said they will have his suit ready in time! Also, they said there was enough fabric to make Carlo 2 tailored pants. They were even able to accommodate his request for a vest to be made. Plus, they offered a great price too (even with the short period of time)! I can't post the photos of the suit yet but, I will once the wedding is done! :)

In the Philippines, most women are accustomed to the "pagawa" culture, which essentially means…read morehaving just about everything you wear custom made--from Christmas dinners to weddings. Which is why it was such a big thing when Myth opened in Greenbelt 5. Unlike your usual retail shops, Myth offers designer RTW finds. That means, gorgeous embellished gowns and perfectly tailored cocktail dresses readily available for purposes. For someone with a busy schedule and not too much time to shop for dresses for special occasions, Myth is a godsend. I can enter the store and come out with the perfect dress. A well curated shop, the boutique offers finds from established (Randy Ortiz, Noel Crisostomo, and Francis Libiran) designers as well as up and coming ones like Nixon Marquez whose embellished tees are my current personal favorites. Its like a quick introduction to Filipino fashion and if you have some balikbayan relatives or foreign friends visiting the country, it's a great place to take them to if they'd like to bring something special home.

I'm in no way, shape, or form a men's wear expert; in fact, far from it. Given this reality, I am…read moregrateful for Tino Suits and its people. I needed a nice bespoke suit for a good friend's wedding. I read a few reviews off Google and a few men's wear forums and all sings pointed to this spot along Benavidez Street in Legazpi Village. Upon walking in, I was welcomed by Ms. Eilene. I simply explained to her the situation; that while I wanted something immediate for my friend's wedding, I also wanted something that would do for future events. I explicitly reminded her that I wasn't really a bespoke expert, but that really didn't seem to matter to her. She gladly assisted me every step of the way. And then, I finally was introduced to the master tailor, Mr. Napoleon Arienza. He apparently studied in Italy to learn the fine craft of tailoring, and man, it showed. I also saw the passion in every step. So I got fitted up, returned a few times for the usual fittings. It meant a lot to me how the people at Tino made darn sure that my suit was done before the wedding date, despite a relatively short timetable. My suit was eventually ready for pickup in time for the wedding. That moment when I first put in on was absolute euphoria. I really felt the quality from the get-go. Despite being one of the pricier suit shops in Metro Manila (suits start at around 25,000 pesos), I felt that it was all worth it. I still have my reliable Tino suit that I run around in for events that call for the attire. When the time comes that it's my turn to get married, I'll definitely have a special tux made. For such occasion, I'd want the best for sure; that means heading back to Tino for them to get the job done once again.

During my cousin's wedding, he requested that all of his guests wear purple bowtie to the party. My…read morefashion is usually simple and casual so owning a bowtie -- a purple one no less -- is next to impossible. But not wanting to offend my cousin, I went to the big department stores to look for such a bowtie. Sadly, there was none. Most of the neckties and formal wear accessories sold in department stores go by ordinary colors like black, gray, and blue. I was really tempted to ignore my cousin's request but I remembered that during my wedding, I also requested for ridiculous things from my guests. I was getting really desperate as the day of the wedding drew near and I still haven't found a purple bowtie. Then, I got a tip from a coworker. He said that Tieline in Greenbelt 1 does not only sell neckties and formal shirts, but they sell colorful bowties as well. After work, I headed to the shop and in just a matter of seconds I saw a purple bowtie. In fact, I even saw two shades of purple! The bowties were a bit expensive so I couldn't buy both. Hence, I asked the staff to allow me to take photos of the bowties and to reserve both items. I promised to come back the next day armed with a sample of the right shade of purple. She agreed without asking questions. I showed the pictures to my cousin that night and he picked the right shade of purple. I went to Tieline the following day and bought the right bowtie. I was very happy that the staff reserved the item and was very accommodating.

Are you a used car salesman, a jittery job applicant, or a hitman? If you need the right look for…read morethe aforementioned occupations, then Tieline is the place for you! Tieline is a little shop over at Greenbelt1, and it sells, well, ties, and the shirts and accessories to go with them. They also have their own tie bars, bow ties, collar restraints(I'm not sure what you call them, but they're supposed to keep your shirt collar closed without using the topmost button), cufflinks, and retractable umbrellas. You have to be careful with the umbrellas, though, because in terms of durability, they don't always make the cut. I've had at least two fail on me here, but they've improved on their design so the ones you can buy from Tieline are now are a major improvement from the ones they used to sell. As for the ties... they come in standard lengths, and in a variety of colors so diverse it's like staring at a Pantone catalog. The ties are mostly part polyester, which explains why most are shimmery. There are matte-colored ties, but they seem to be in the minority here. If you need to dress for a 90's rave party or want to apply at a local mafia or triad chapter, then, dear boy, knock yourself silly here. Seriously though, you may want to apply some uh "restraint" when it comes to their ties, I'm personally not as daring when it comes to the shimmery kind, but the long-sleeved shirts here are a-ok. What I enjoy most about Tieline is how they display their wares; like I said earlier, the ties and shirts all look like they came straight out of a Pantone catalog.

This is the Hermès boutique of Metro Manila…read more Well, there is very little for me to comment about Hermès, other than they have the best silk ties, best silk scarves, upmarket shirts and high-end perfumery. The bottom line: Hermès is top dog when it comes to quality and style.