French Sole Now in Manila

This is my first pair of French Soles - soft, suede pirouettes in black.

This style has since been phased out, but was revived as the India. I've had them for almost a decade now, but I

• first shared them in the blog in 2006 
• influenced my friend Conci to buy a pair in red by 2007
• wrote about it's history + a review on it, swearing by how comfortable they are, in 2008 
• talked about sizing and styles for a reader who was asking for advice,  
• waxed sentimental on how I could not bear to throw this pair away when it became too battered in 2009, 

you could probably say I am the longest reigning, biggest French Sole fan this side of town.  I really do love my pairs.

I bought them not because Princess Diana wore them:

And I sure as hell wore French Soles way before these young girls did!

Kate Middleton

Princess Beatrice

Poppy Delevingne

Many years ago, I made my sister go to Sloane Square for my French Sole Fix because I was not compromising on shape, style, quality and comfort when it comes to my ballerina flats. Really, I don't need to convince you on why you should buy a pair. Or ten. I have written about it extensively here in the blog for years. But here's an extra push on why you can and should.

Because French Sole opened its first store on Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig!

Now if that doesn't make you want to stand up and head for the door right this minute, I don't know what will! I am kind of itching for those embroidered Heffners actually!

French Sole
Bonifacio High Street (across Krispy Kreme)
Global City, Taguig

Petit Bateau Sails to Manila

French bébés have it good. 

Many of them grow up wearing Petit Bateau, the well-loved clothing brand from Troyes, France that is not only chic, but fun to wear and well made too.

It is easy to look effortlessly stylish when you open up to a closet filled with pieces like these

How well made? Well, they're built to last, long enough to be passed on from sibling to sibling, parent to child in fact. As the brand likes to say, "Petit Bateau, It's forever."

I totally agree. When I was pregnant with Berry, I wore these Petit Bateau striped shirts:

4 months pregnant with Beriray

almost 7 months pregnant with Beriray

And you know what, these shirts look the same as when I first bought them, even after years of washing. Good enough to be passed on to Beriray herself. That is how hard-wearing the quality is.

The thick cotton tank tops I bought for Berry when she was 2, she can pass on to Xavi, except for the pink ones printed with cupcakes, of course. 

 Donya Beriray wearing a white cotton tank top by Petit Bateau and kimono from Seek The Uniq

Should we blessed with another baby, Xavi's thin cotton Petit Bateau crawlers still have a lot of wear to them.

So of course, I am loving it that a smart, young couple, Hans and Mellie Yao, brought Petit Bateau to our shores. Because if you are the type to go for classic clothes that stand for quality over quantity, then Petit Bateau is the way to go. It also helps that the clothes are full of nautical charm. Just the way I love it!

Petit Bateau in Shangri-la

Petit Bateau for adults

Petit Bateau for kids

Petit Bateau for infants

From underwear to swim trunks, crew neck shirts to the classic striped Marinière, shorts, skirts and dresses, cardigans, pea coats and rain coats, Petit Bateau has it all.

 

Last Saturday,  the second Petit Bateau store opened in SM Aura. Chic mommies Donna Cuna-Pita, Ria Prieto, Ria Trillo, Vanessa Ledesma, Marilen Montenegro, Cheska Kramer and my best friend Nina Corpuz-Rodriguez, with their cute kids in tow, walked the runway to show the latest Spring/Summer collection. It was too adorbs! And the clothes? I can't say chic enough. They were, tres chic!

The Yaos with Petit Bateau Asia Pacific Manager Jing Jin, Patricia Hizon, Kylie Tinga, Donna Cuna-Pita, Ria Prieto, Ria Trillo, Vanessa Ledesma, Marilen Montenegro, Nina Corpuz-Rodriguez & Cheska Kramer

For more on Petit Bateau, like Petit Bateau Philippines on Facebook, and follow @petitbateauph on Twitter and Instagram.

Petit Bateau Shangri-la
4th Level East Wing
Shangri-La Plaza Mall
Mandaluyong City

Petit Bateau SM Aura
L3 SM Aura Premier
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Mom Pop Up!

My friend Rone of Mothering Earthlings gathered all her favorite mompreneurs for the first ever Mom Pop Up!, happening this Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm, at the Function Room of Kensington Place in Bonifacio Global City.

Mommy essentials such as Grandma's Secret products, Boogie Wipes, clothes from Ines Moda Infantil and Two Chic, nursing goods from Mama Baby Love, cute paper products from Paper Chic Studio and more will be there! Plus, lots of fun activities for moms, pops, and kids!

See you there!!! Don't forget to bring your eco shopping totes because I guarantee a lot of great, fun finds!

VENDORS:

• BOOGIE WIPES 
• GRANDMA’S SECRET 
• IN THE CRIB 
• INES MODA INFANTIL 
• MAMA BABY LOVE 
• MOTHERING EARTHLINGS 
• NURSINGMOM 
• PAPER CHIC STUDIO
• SIMPLY SHE 

ACTIVITIES: 

10:30 am ARTS & CRAFTS BY WICKED CRAFTS 

Pre register: http://mompopupcraftsam.eventbrite.com/ 

12.30 pm PASTRY DECORATING BY TAZZY CAKES 

Pre register: http://mompopuppastrydecor.eventbrite.com/ 

1:30 pm ARTS & CRAFTS BY WICKED CRAFTS 

Pre register: http://mompopupcraftspm.eventbrite.com/ 

2:30 pm BABY WEARING MEET UP WITH FAB 

Pre register: 1st Hour http://mompopupbabywearing.eventbrite.com/ 

2nd Hour http://mompopupbabywearing2.eventbrite.com/ 

4:30 pm WASHI DESIGN BY PAPER CHIC STUDIO 

Pre register: http://mompopupwashi.eventbrite.com/

Captivated by the Cunning F&X

Tell me! Where do you shop for baby and kids clothes?

My usual suspects are:

- Carter for onesies and sleepwear

- Petit Bateau for sandos

- Gap, Zara, H&M and Cotton On Kids for regular clothes

- Then there's googoo&gaga, Beginnings Baby, Mothercare and Gingersnaps here in Manila

- Joe Fresh when we are in Canada. 

J. Crew crewcuts are cute but pricier than what I would usually shell out for. Thankfully, Berry gets J. Crew crewcuts from her Ninang Me-an and Tita Xsa who dote on her, heehee.

When Lawrence of Bench invited me to check out F&X, I was amazed at what they had in store. Actually, I had seen F&X in Singapore previously, but I just never had the chance to check it out. Why? Because I was shopping so much at the Cotton On Kids outlet store in Anchorpoint on Alexandra Road ($5 leggings and $5 tank tops, imagine!) and I did all my clothes shopping for Berry there - house clothes as well as for going out. Guilt usually sets in and I don't bother entering other stores anymore heehee. (So I guess Bench really scored here, especially now that Cotton On Kids is in Manila and also owned by Bench!)

Anyhoo, I didn't realize they had the cutest kids clothes. I think we spent the most time here, because Berry couldn't decide on which Hello Kitty shirt to choose.

Then she saw this "ballerina" t-shirt with sequined pointe shoes hanging on the rack...

...and she loved it so much she wanted to try it on, right there and then. Fitting room? What's that?

It was on sale, so right there and then, I said "Game!" But the shopping budget had to be shared with Xavi. At the time, Xavi wasn't out yet, so I was also on the lookout for boys clothes and found plenty as well.

I got Xavi this cute Kermit the Frog onesie with matching footsie pajamas as well as two Disney themed short sleeve onesies:

Plus there were plenty of shoe options! Both for little girls and boys:

The shoe wall was just one wall in the Baby section. There were more dresses, socks, Care Bear printed tops and an assortment of bottom basics to mix and match:

 

Bigger kids get to choose from an array of Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty cartoon print tops, as well as floral cardigans, polka dot tops, skirts and denims in store:

Us adults also have plenty to pick from. From graphic tees to plaids and polka dot tops, these are definitely more than the usual basics. But I liked the tissue thin tees and bright colored denims the most:

The little boys at heart meanwhile will love the Spiderman and Mickey Mouse tees. Although there are plenty of "grown-up" plaid shirts and windbreakers, denims and shorts to pick up as well:

I managed to fill a shopping bag with clothes for Berry and Xavi. The softest, prettiest, tissue thin cotton t-shirts for Berry and cartoon print onesies in nice, thick but breathable cotton for Xavi. At least I know there's another option for me when shopping for clothes for the kiddos!

Not to say I am no longer dropping by Cotton On Kids, especially now that they just opened in Mall of Asia. Hopefully there's a little section as well at Cotton On Lucky Chinatown Mall and Bonifacio High Street Central. Heehee!

Visit F&X is located at Greenbelt 5, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Cebu, SM Clark, SM Mall Of Asia, SM Masinag, SM North Edsa-Annex, SM Southmall, SM Megamall, Trinoma. I visted the F&X at Active Fun Building located in Bonifacio High Street :)