Re-discovering United Colors of Benetton + Win an Outfit from UCB!

Back in the early 90s, Benetton jeans were the hottest things to have, along with their colorful sweatshirts. It's fair to say that Benetton started my denim obsession actually.

It was probably the J Brand/Mother Denim/Current Elliott of my high school years, before Girbaud and Armani Jeans made us pay Php4,000 for denims, and way before a plethora of cult denim labels like Seven for All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity changed our jeanetic makeup and made us think nothing about dropping hundreds of dollars on a pair of denims.

The last time I bought something from Benetton, I was in college. 

I remember it was a pair of light blue skinny printed trousers and a cotton t-shirt from the Benetton store on Kensington High Street in London.

After that however, I had moved on from the classics and explored more trendy high street brands like Topshop, Miss Selfridge and H&M (which was called Hennes & Mauritz then). I started buying denims from Replay and Diesel then.

So it was with a bit of nostalgia when I stepped into the United Colors of Benetton store on Bonifacio High Street again. It had been years since I last went inside, after over a decade of associating it with my teenage years.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that the brand had grown up with me. Especially since I find that as I get older, all the more that I am drawn back to classic pieces.

Clothes that transcend seasons and are meant to be worn season after season. There was no semblance to the logo tees and denims of my youth.

It was like Benetton had graduated, gone to college and started a career along with us.

Take this jacket for instance. It's feminine and yet it says, "I'm responsible" heehee.

Love this figure flattering shift dress.

Light, airy tops that can be worn underneath a blazer or paired with a cardigan and pencil skirt.

Structured bags for work.

The only things trendy and playful were the shoes, such as these neon cut-out flats...

These polka dot and camo flats...

And these fun, summer-y fold-over clutches that are a steal at less than Php2,000 each.

It was the men's section that were a complete throwback to the Benetton I knew 20 plus years ago. They still had the classic polo shirts, jackets, caps and denims that I remember teenage boys were wearing during my time.

These camo sneakers for guys are very "now" though! We had none of these growing up, heehee.

My favorite finds from my recent visit to UCB? 

Thermal underwear! If you've been looking for thermals to take on a trip to some place cold, UCB has it in all the colors you'll need - nude, grey and white!

And these sandals that are still made in Italy, but retail for only Php2,250 O.M.G.

I really do have a soft spot for shoes still made in Italy. Heehee.

I just had to try it on, and they were love. Love. LOVE.

As for you my dears, 2 of you get a chance to win an ENTIRE OUTFIT (top & bottom + accessories) from United Colors of Benetton! All you have to do is:

1. Go to your nearest United Colors of Benetton store and take a photo of your favorite piece/s from the store. Better yet, take a photo of yourself wearing the entire outfit you want to win!

2. To send an entry, you have the option of 

- emailing it to me, manilafashionobserver(at)gmail(dot)com and or

- posting it on your Instagram account sharing which items you like, with the hashtag #MFOxUCB and tagging me @christinedychiao

3. Leave a comment here so I can look for your entry!

Two winners will be announced by April 30, 2013 - so join join join!

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 :)

Because Breaking In is Hard to Do

I really invest in shoes, because I know that I need to take care of my feet. For me, a great pair of shoes will last me a long time, and it's often a bonus that they are so well made, that there's no need to break in a pair, at all. So sulit na din, because I can wear them always, forever and ever.

But of course, there are days when even my most trusted brands don't come up to par. And as much as I have tried and tested a brand, there are times when a break-in for a new pair is still required.

A few months ago, I bought a pair of nude flats and found that after just an hour in them while doing groceries at S&R, I got blisters! Which seriously, I haven't gotten in a long time. It was a good thing I had a stash of Neat Feat products sent for me to road test:

I used the Gel Slingback Shields, which was just the right size to cover the area around the back part of the shoe that was rubbing against the back of my heel. And just like that! The shoe was comfortable as could be! A wonder product really!

So, if you are looking for a way to address your foot and shoe issues, Neat Feat could be the answer!

Neat Feat is a relatively affordable, complete line of foot care products from New Zealand, and unlike other brands in the market that only aim to provide foot comfort, Neat Feat takes it a step further (literally!) by providing cushioning and comfort for foot problems (i.e. athlete’s foot, flat foot, bunions). 

Neat Feat's Orthotics and Gel range is especially targeted towards athletes and runners, not only women who are particular about ensuring that their feet are comfy, cushioned and well-supported. 

Incidentally, Neat isn't only just for the feet. Neat also created 3B Facesaver, which is perfect for athletes who don’t want sweat disturbing their line of sight.

For more on Neat Feat, like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeatFeatPhilippines and Follow @neatfeat_PH on Twitter!

In the Philippines, Neat Feet is available at Watson's and ROX on Bonifacio High Street.