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.

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.

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.

Coral Swimwear is a venture that was started by a group of friends in an effort to produce…read morehigh-quality swimwear that women can wear proudly and confidently. With their company thrust being "feet in the sand, head in the sky, and heart in the ocean", I feel that they've truly accomplished this with their recently showcased line of swimsuits. The designs are varied and women with differing tastes will no doubt be able to pick something out that appeals to them. I highly recommend getting in touch with them on their Instagram: coralswimwearph. You may also have a look at their current offerings through the same.

This was one of my favorite stores in high school and it still remains that way today. I remember…read moreback in 2003, they were the first ever store to carry Havaianas and from first sight, I knew that I had to have a pair. They were absolutely gorgeous and they lasted me almost ten years. Nothing But Water carries the prettiest bikinis and other swimwear and beachwear items to choose from. As of late, they've also started carrying TOMS shoes which makes me like them even more. Summer may have officially ended but in the PI, it will always be beach season so come on over!

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.

Need to update your wardrobe this year? Want a new swimwear? Or do you just want to shop till you…read moredrop without burying your wallet alive? Then this discreet yet stunning local clothing line could do the trick for you. Apartment 8, with branches in Trinoma, Greenhills and Glorietta, have been around for some time and has been creating quite a stir because of their trendy collections. Endorsed by famous fashion bloggers, Apartment 8 offers clothes for women, mostly for teenagers and young adults. But hey, their clothing line is for everybody, as long as you wear the dress, and not let the dress wear you. From casual to formal, from summer to winter, from vintage to modern - Apartment 8 surely has them all.

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.

At Nothing but H2O the summer certainly keeps on going through the entire year. With friendly…read morestaff, beautiful swimwear and pretty shoes, you can be sure to find what you need. The staff has usually been very helpful in finding what I needed which is something that I appreciate very much. They have everything that you need for a gorgeous day at the beach. The stuff they have count among the more stylish and pleasing, to the eye and to wear, swimwear you can sport. And while it's fashionable, it's affordable too. The Anemone brand is their own line of stylish swimwear that features colorful and delightfully patterned items. My favorite top is actually the orange striped halter, but that's of course just my personal preference. They also have shoes which are of the well-known TOMS brand, stylish, comfortable and as we know they're ethically conscious so you can feel safe when you're getting ready for the beach this summer.

If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.