I consider Aranaz to be the Kate Spade of Manila. You've got a high class bag shop that sells very…read morefashionable yet timeless pieces. The first time I actually noticed this store was when I came across the article on a social event where almost all the attendees had a Aranaz clutch bag with them. And so I quickly went to the store to see what more they offer. The main focus of the bags is the use of local raw materials. They turn a simple native bag more modern through handmade embellishments. I believe every woman has to have at least one Aranaz bag in her wardrobe. It's definitely worth the investment. My favorite pieces are the unique clutches Aranaz displays - these will definitely be a conversation piece on your next party! Tip: Aranaz has its annual sale every August so make sure you check their Facebook page and instagram account from time to time!

I'll be the first one to say that I'm not overly fond of bags, and still, Aranaz caught my eye with…read moreits inventive use of traditional Filipino materials such as abaka and tinalak in weaving tote bags, clutch bags, and hand bags every bit as intricate and as tough as the designer labels we've come to admire. Having just come back from Honolulu, my favorite clutch bag at Aranaz has got to be the one with the pineapple shape. I mean, how cute is that! I love that Aranaz bags can sometimes be plain and understated with their design, letting the material speak for the quality of the bag itself. But I also love how they can just as easily be garishly fashionable, like the bags I saw with flamingos and pineapples on them. While I don't have the need for a new bag at the moment, I will definitely keep Aranaz in mind.

Everywhere I travel in Asia I seek out a Muji. For travel items,stationary,tee shirts,kitchen ware…read more( I still use a pair of heat resistant silicone tipped extra long chopsticks when wok frying I bought in HK 10 years ago). Japanese minimalism at its finest..... hop inside if you see one.

I love this store, period. It's clean and simple and everything I want my home to be, but…read moreunfortunately isn't. I think people are drawn to this store because it makes even the most mundane things in your home look cool. With barely any color, this store manages to capture the eyes of most who walk by. I'm fascinated with all the store offers from clothing to shelving needs, notebooks & pens, travel gear, home wares, personal hygiene products and even food in some of the outlets. How a company can manufacture so many different products and still be successful and profitable is a feat. I don't care how they do it because I get to enjoy the benefits of their clever little store. The prices are definitely on the high side, which is a good thing. Otherwise, I would be walking away with the entire store and trying to figure out where to put it all. The only thing that bothers me is all the plastic. I wish they would move away from all the plastic and switch to glass. This is for all their personal care items. There is too much synthetic crap in the world and Japan is great at taking the environment seriously. Muji, please take note and do your part to switch to glass!

Before I went to Thailand for the first time, anyone who knows me knows about my obsession with…read moretribal embroidered textiles, specifically that of the Hmong Tribe, who live in Northern Thailand, China and Vietnam. So when L'Indochine opened its flagship store in SM Aura, needless to say, they earned a lot of money from me. A couple of years later, they opened a branch in SM Megamall. This is good for me, because it's closer to where I live and work. My one concern about L'Indochine is that they jack up the prices of their merchandise by a large margin - but I guess it's because not everyone can afford to troop to Chiang Mai or other parts of Asia to hoard home decor and textiles on the fly. I know this because I have been to Thailand and know how much the merchandise costs locally. On the other hand, I'm really glad that L'Indochine specializes in the kind of hippie/tribal esthetic I love. Their store in Megamall is much larger than its flagship store, and the store always has great triphop music playing on their sound system, and perennially smells like green tea. It can't be said that the L'Indochine owners aren't sticklers for detail, because they are. If you don't have the budget to go around Southeast Asia but do have the budget to go shopping, L'Indochine is a great place.

When I want to feel infinitely poor, I head on over to Univers, a bright, airy space that houses…read morehigh-end designer apparel that costs an arm, a leg, your monthly rent plus salary. Places like these are so few and far between in Manila but the local consumer's buying power is on the rise and they want their Céline! Aside from luxury brands such as Jil Sander, A.P.C., Raf Simons, Givenchy and more, they've also got a market section that sells quirky homeware from John Derian and Astier de Villatte and some well-chosen international magazines and book titles. Without a doubt, Univers is the chicest, most well-curated and sophisticated retail concept in the city.

If you're a shopper, like I am, or a fan of fashion and everything runway, Univers should be on…read moreyour list of places to check out in Manila. Run by the same people behind the genius that is Homme et Femme, you can be sure to get nothing less in Univers. Every time I enter, I feel like I'm walking through a museum! So many beautiful products, my eyes stay wide the whole time! Of course, they all come with a price (and it usually isn't what's in my wallet or my savings account!!). But hey, if you can afford it, no one's stopping you! They've got great, exclusive items that you'll probably only find in their store (like Celine!). So if you're looking to treat yourself or someone special in your life, maybe your mom, then it's worth every peso!

I like Fanbi because its really convenient. The service is great and they refer tailors. I just…read morehave to choose my fabric and they can offer made to order service. The price is reasonable. The collection comes big range, including imported. I wish there are mire shops like this in makati!

You would think that a textile store is so out of place in a mall like Greenbelt. But Fanbi has…read morebeen there for over a decade and has its share of loyal patrons, myself included. Standing among expensive watch stores, jewelry shops and posh nail salons and derma centers is this store that just sells yard upon yard of different types of cloth. While they are a bit more expensive than the other fabric stores in Manila, I often buy here because of accessibility. They do have a complete line for different sewing needs, you'll find jersey knits, spandex, cotton, silk, georgette, tulle, chiffon, rayon, flannel, denim and more. Their cotton line comes in plain colors and in printed ones and also have different types - like muslin and Japanese. What they have a lot of are shirting and suiting fabrics. Prices range is between P250 to P500 per yard. The have great quality fabrics and a wide assortment of colors and designs. Given the price range, this a good place to shop for small sewing and art projects

Compared to its neighboring businesses in the area, Wellmanson presents itself like a glittering,…read moregolden boutique staffed by well-dressed ladies in blazers and pencil skirts assisting you in buying stuff you likely don't really need. Sure you might have just come in to get a pair of nice pliers or leatherette cord to make accessories with, but you will be bewildered with the wealth of other DIY craft items and supplies and gift items in general. Where else would you be able say "Look at these beads!" and "Check out this dog hair trimmer!" in the same breath? They have mini water fountains, and toy brick sets, and thighmasters and who knows what else. They're like a mini-mall oasis in the middle of Quiapo. The place is somewhat labyrinthine in structure, and while it is fun to look around and see what the next room holds, it does get confusing if you're really looking for something specific. Their payment system is also a bit of a pain--though professional looking, it's a little cumbersome to line up to get your items priced, *and then* have to pay for them in a separate line. Also, there are these curious pulley baskets that have ropes leading to dark holes in the ceiling... You know if you're going to browse through stores in Quiapo and DV and its nearby areas that you're just getting into a trap, because if you think you're window shopping without buying anything, you're kidding yourself. Wellmanson knows this for a fact and has set out to have you do exactly that.

Hear ye, hear ye, passionate beaders. Feeling a bit crafty?…read more The whole stretch of the street where Wellmanson is located is full of shops selling beads and whatnot! Villalobos Street is the place to be if you are looking for new craft projects, specially accessories. It's the disneyland of crafter's everywhere. I've lost one whole day just going through each one of he shops in there, checking out the craft supplies and beads. Wellmanson's my favourite store so far and the biggest I've been into among the ones on the street. I've never seen so many craft supplies in one store. Beads of all kind and sizes are found there, prices ranging from very cheap to expensive ones like the swarovski. I went here one Saturday afternoon and it was packed with manangs like me :p They have ready made accessories like necklaces, watches and bracelets... but the best part of the store for me is where they sell the raw materials. Twines, nylons, charms, beads.. the whole nine yards of it. They even have those hooks for earrings and locks for bracelets, of different sizes, color and shapes. They also have those organizer where you can keep your beads inside, pattern boards, tools like pliers. I enjoyed myself too much shopping in there :)

AC+632 always has, hands-down, the best store window displays in any local mall here in the city…read more Always dressed to the nines and conceptualized with so much imagination and creativity, I always can't help but take a minute to stop and marvel at their story-filled tableaus. An interesting store filled to the brim with all sorts of interesting pieces like fine jewelry, clothes, tableware, garden tools, and all sorts of bric-a-brac, stepping inside AC+632 is like entering the charming boudoir of a 18th century French monarch. The touches found inside are very much distinct that it almost feels as if you were transported into a European city. Make sure to comb through the whole store and keep your eyes peeled for something curious and interesting. Since it's very packed with so much stuff, there might be lots of gems that you might miss out on.

I have such trouble remembering this store's name. Whenever I try to describe this store to my…read morefriends, I usually end up just saying "that expensive store that has a lot of pretty and weird stuff and has some letters and numbers in its name". AC+632 is one of those stores that you really have a hard time trying to fit into a category, as it sells a lot of things--home decor, accessories, clothing, antiques/strange artifacts, body products, and the list goes on. The only common thing about these items is that they are pricey. But, this store really attracts a lot of window shoppers such as myself. The experience is like going inside a museum--you just look at things because it's entertaining and can somewhat be educational. And, their window displays are amazing--all whimsical and tastefully curated. Well...except for the taxidermied animals (I DESPERATELY hope these are fake) and framed, preserved insects such as butterflies that make me SO ANGRY because it's so cruel :(

Each time I pass by home décor and fine jewelry store, Firma in Greenbelt 2, I always do a double…read moretake. Consistently well-designed and always remarkable, Firma's store tableaus are always a source of inspiration. They are always a good introduction of what's in store for its visitors. Filled with lovely (and very expensive) pieces for the home, Firma's selection leans more towards an Asian or Eastern sensibility. (It's also noteworthy to point out that Firma is the brainchild by the same duo that own AC+632 in Greenbelt 3, a home décor store with a more European sensibility). It's always a pleasure for my to pore over Firma's selection of fine trays and china, sculptural home décor items and incredible fine jewelry made by local artisans. Aside from the décor and jewelry, there is also a selection of quirky hats and handbags for the lady or gent with offbeat taste.

My mum's an interior designer so she'd always take me with her when I was a little kid (until now…read moreactually, haha) whenever she'd go canvas for items in furniture or home accessories stores. It has actually turned into a special mother-daughter time. Firma to me is a unique furniture store...unlike any I've seen because of the amazingggg, must-see store displays that change every month or every other month (Seriously, I need to know who does those. I want to hire them to design some of the rooms in my future home!). They are art masterpieces on it's own. I also love the very homey vibe you feel when you enter the store. It's like you're transported to a beautiful, exotic, old-world Eurasian country. The only thing missing is a wise, old Chinese man greeting you by the door as a bell chimes. Their home accessories are quirky but glamorous and you can also find some vintage items there. If you love statement jewelry, you will LOVE their display of gorgeous wildlife, nature and sea inspired pieces. They're like gems you'd find in a treasure chest. I only find the store a bit small. I wish it were bigger as I'd love to see more stuff from them. I've bought bohemian-y jewelry from them before and they have turned into everyday jewelry for me and I do get a lot of compliments from wearing them. I love stopping by the store every time I'm in Greenbelt.