Pinas Shopping Report

Because I toggled between Makati and Bulacan during my two-week stay in Pinas, it meant that I was away from the shops at least half of the time. Also, the rains didn't help and the fact that all stores carry their spring/summer collection which I can't wear until the next summer in Oz, and by then I'm pretty sure they've already lost their fabulousness so sayang lang. I won't be able to post all of my haul - it doesn't mean there's a whole heap of them, konti lang talaga I swear - but here are my favourite ones.

Shoes - I've said in the past that for me, Pinas isn't the best place to buy shoes from. I can count in one hand the best local brands in terms of design and quality, but at least there's an abundance of international brands na, lalo pa ngayon. I didn't have very high hopes for finding nice shoes although I kept an open mind and still scoured the shops. I was looking for gladiators and something I can wear for the Aussie winter. Ito ang mga na-score ko.

Nine West Sulliban

(This is still being sold at full price in Nine West stores in Pinas, kahit sa US naka-sale na sya. :( I bought na din kasi next year pa yata ito ilalabas sa Australia. Double :( )



Schu

Schu was having a buy-one-take-one promo when I went to their store. IMO, this was the most decent looking pair in the store, the rest are fugly. I think this is nice with black tights for autumn/winter to match with girly outfits. I also like that it's a very light shade of yellow.

Bags - There were two only bags I had in mind: a yellow one from Fossil (which I discovered shortly before I left for Pinas) and the Longchamp bag with the fashion victim illustration in pink - these ones in particular.

I know that Rustan's carries Longchamp so I checked if they had this bag. They only had it in white. :( The Fossil store in Glorietta 4 didn't have this bag, or any yellow bag for that matter. I saw some patent yellow ones from People Are People in Power Plant but I thought those looked a bit tacky, but I was *this* close to buying one. Buti na lang I went to Bayo and I saw this.

It's patent and it's yellow and it's less than Php 1,500.00. Winner!

Then much later on, at the old NAIA on the day I was flying back to Sydney, I saw that some Longchamp bags were on sale. They didn't have the one I was looking for but they had the bag with the colour, the size and the band length I've been wanting to get because of its practicality.



Longchamp Le Pliage in Large

This was originally USD 140 but was on sale for USD 126. In HKIA though, this was being sold for USD 118. So buy in HK!

Accessories - When I think of accessories in Pinas, I only think of a few things: pearls, native wood, and indigenous materials.

I was so tempted to buy a Chanel-inspired pearl necklace from Sportsgirl before I left but I thought for about the same price (40 AUD), I can get really nice pearls from Pinas na kahit pano, may value. So I went to Greenhills and bought two long strands of pearls. (Later that day, I wore the string of pearls to my SATC movie date night with friends. So very Carrie! (If you saw the movie, I'm you'll know what I'm talking about.)

Speaking of pearls, this set of strands are added to my small collection of pearls. (Earrings not in the photo.)

Another favourite purchase is a set of bangles made of kamagong wood with semi-precious stones as charms, from Tweetie de Leon's accessory line called Ice Crystals. I got this from Rustan's Essences, where there is a stall inside that carries these accessories. Daming nice! I should have gotten the rose brooch carved out of kamagong wood.

Lastly, this rather simple bracelet from TANGO, which I think would make for a good all-year-round accessory.

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I didn't buy much clothes because as I said, there's hardly any that's practical for winter. I bought a couple of dresses which I wore in Pinas, and I doubt if I can wear those here before the next summer in Oz. However, I still had to buy from Tyler and Zara - two of the stores I missed the most. I got a few things from Souk also, and was so happy to discover The Ramp already in Glorietta. I'll try to post my clothes finds later.