Say Hello to Seychelles!

"Seychelles? Isn't that a country? A tax haven? Dada asked when he saw me looking through the launch photos that Pia Miranda sent me.

Well, he's right. But there's more to Seychelles than being a tax-evader's paradise. It's the kind us girls can relate to, because OMG, Seychelles is about cute shoes!!!

It was Anj Dinglasan aka Donya Zenutrients who clued me in, when she told me that this hip, vintage-inspired shoe line from LA was coming to Manila. She introduced me to the ladies responsible for bringing Seychelles to Manila, Pia Miranda & Casey Marty a few months ago and it was such a thrill to get first dibs on the shoes, along with their family & friends.

Casey & Pia invited us to the Seychelles pop-up at Itsie-Bitsie, and that was a lot of fun too!

Casey had told me that she had been a long time fan of Seychelles, back when she was living in NYC, where walking around a lot requires comfortable, but still stylish, shoes. 

When she moved back to Manila, she wanted to do something else apart from her consulting job and so with the help of her friend and partner Pia, who is still based in New York, they contacted Seychelles and the rest, as they say, is history!

Pia Barrios Miranda & Casey Kierulf Marty of Seychelles Philippines

Just look at the adorableness! I am not a colorful shoe kind of girl, but I just can't help but oooh at the prettiness of their flats, T-strap wedges, chunky funky platform heels, classic Mary Janes and ankle-strap heels.

Candy Reyes-Alipio did a fantastic job with the merchandising, making it so much more fun to shop for shoes.

The launch of the Seychelles pop-up was supported by Pia & Casey's friends and family, and attracted just about every girl who appreciates comfort, quality and style! Many of us went to Itsie-Bitsie wearing the Seychelles we pre-shopped! Heehee.

Finina Tugade wearing Thyme and Angela Dinglasan wearing her Seychelles

Moi, wearing my Sage in black, with Karrots & Jackie 

Michelle Santos Lim, Cricket Querubin, Pia Anya Santos, Mariel San Agustin, Isabel Garcia, & Krie Lopez

Tata Mapa, Agoo Bengzon, Pia & Casey, and Pierra Labrador wearing her Trip the Light Fantastic

I first heard of Seychelles from my friends Rissa Chan & Cris Lagdameo who also lived in NYC, and who swear by it, and my sister Trina who has been buying her pairs from Anthropologie from years ago and I don't know what took me so long to get into it. 

My Sage sandals truly are so comfortable, and I wear my pair with anything and everything. Thankfully, Seychelles is here in the Philippines and whenever I need another pair, it's just a skip and a click away.

In the Philippines, Seychelles is available at:

www.seychellesph.com (coming soon!)
www.seektheuniq.com

Itsie Bitsie Boutique
119 Joya Lofts and Towers
Joya Drive, Rockwell Center
Makati City

For wholesale, press and retail inquiries, please contact sey@martymiranda.com or text/call +63917 814 6681.

For updates, Like Seychelles Philippines on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeychellesPH and follow @seychellesPH on Twitter & Instagram.

Los Angeles Day 3: Melrose Avenue

From artistic and conceptual, let's go commercial! Heehee! Here we are at the Western End, where Fred Segal,  and my fave online hotspots Madison Los Angeles and Creatures of Comfort hold fort:

I visited the original outpost of CoC, and it was love! It's just the kind of store I want to put up, filled with  pieces that are just so focused and tell a story. CoC stocks my favorite labels like Repetto, A.P.C. and Isabel Marant so I really made the effort to drop by. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size for the Repetto BBs in Tomato, and I didn't really see anything else I had to have. I didn't really get to shop, but I did find a button down shirt from Equipment for just a little over $40 at Madison Los Angeles. Score! There were other amazing finds at Madison LA - from  Elizabeth and James button downs and White & Warren cashmere cardigans at deep discounts to Marni dresses for $300 (down from $1000+), but since we were still going to Vancouver from LA, I erred on the side of packing light.

Well, window shopping was still a good way to bond with family and new friends:

My brother-in-law Jun, and my sister Trina

With Steph (Liza's sister), Berry and birthday girl Belle
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLE!

Steph told me we should have stayed longer in LA, because I ought to check out  with them the sample sales and vintage shops that brim with promising treasures. Suddenly,  at that moment, visions of  Nation Ltd. tees at sample sale prices and Hollywood cast-offs flashed before my eyes. Wow, that would be interesting! Till our next trip then, sigh.

Anyhoo, change topic! Here's what we wore to our Melrose Avenue jaunt:

Berry: Gap jeans and coat, Tiny Toms for Neiman Marcus

Me: Gap military parka, Saint James striped shirt, J Brand Lovestory jeans, 
Chloe wedges, H&M scarf, Celine luggage tote

Dada says my style reminds him of The Soloist, remember that movie that Jamie Foxx starred in? Well, this is LA. That's where he is from right? This is what I call, HOBO CHIC!

We capped off our last night in LA with dinner at Casa Sanchez, where we were treated to, or if I may say - tortured by, a Mariachi band. LOL. Overflowing nachos and salsa and yummy food though! Coupled with quality time with family and friends, it was a great way to cap off our LA stay before heading off to Vancouver to see Berry's Angkong & Amah!

Los Angeles 2011 Day 3: Rodarte: States of Matter at MOCA

While we were in LA, @jstwtg aka Martin told me to check out the Rodarte exhibit at MOCA Pacific Design Center.  Of course, I had to make time for that. I love going to museums, and add to that a fashion angle, I am so there. I love my Twitter friends!!! So many great tips!

After meeting my godparents at South Coast Plaza (I wish I took photos for y'all, but it was quality time with my godparents, whom I haven't seen in years), we went to MOCA to check the exhibit with  Belle, and Liza's sister Stephanie. That day too, Tia's older sister Eulla was off from school, so Berry finally got to meet her as well! Yay for new girl friends! =) Check out Berry's new Toms, and why do Uggs look so cute on little girls?

We met outside Pacific Design Center to see the Rodarte pieces up close - including the tutus worn by Natalie Portman in Black Swan. I was expecting a really huge exhibition hall akin to the ones at The Met, or the Valentino exhibit in Sentosa, but there were probably no more than 30 dresses and tutus on display.  Nevertheless, the Mulleavy siblings' work do create a sense of awe,  and wonder. Makes you think about their thought process and how they can put together a dress made from both mundane  (cheese cloth, gauze, twine) and magical materials (feathers! crystals!). They didn't allow photos, but thankfully, MOCA's PR sent me these photos for my article, taken by Autumn de Wilde:

If you would like to get a feel of the exhibit, I wrote about it last Sunday, it's On The Radar!

Watch this video to get into the minds of Laura and Kate. If you are not in LA, this is as close as you can get to being there:



Rodarte: States of Matter from MOCA on Vimeo.

Los Angeles 2011 Day 2: The Grove at Farmer's Market

Actually, before heading to The Grove, Berry did a bit of shopping. Tita Trina and Uncle Jun got her a pair of Tiny Toms! So cute, brown with pink hearts all over! A Neiman Marcus exclusive too! =)

Here's Berry posing with her shopping bag...

Berry and Tia, the babies in Beverly Hills!

By the time we were done drooling over shoes at Lanvin and Prada, we hied off to Farmers Market for a snack. Here's what Belle got, OMG. The biggest sweetest strawberries inside that crepe! Yummy!

Farmers Market  at the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue is a tourist and a food lover's destination, filled with food stalls and epicurean delights!

Across Farmers Market is The Grove, which you can access by simply walking across the street, or by trolley, such as this one:

And Liza, the celebrity spotter,  had a feeling it was worth squeezing into this crowd...

Turns out, she spotted Jason Biggs of American Pie! LOL! She got my camera, because she said, you have to have a picture of him! Hahaha! Ok! Game!

After our celebrity sighting, we went to Crate & Barrel, and then Anthropologie! Oh, how I've missed Anthropologie. I can browse for hours inside their stores. So well-edited. Whenever I need to find gifts for friends, I just head off to Anthropologie because I know I will find something nice there.

Had to go to American Girl Place too, so that we could finally get the doll Grandma promised Berry!

Oh, and I didn't realize toddlers can communicate so well with each other! Check out Berry and Tia in action (thanks Tita Trina for capturing this on camera, so precious!): 

Berry: I am trying to get my doll to sit on her stroller...

Tia: Yes, I can see that.

 Berry: On second thought, I would rather sit on my stroller. Can you hold her please?

 Tia: Sure!

Berry: Noo ni noo, let me strap my self...

Tia: Don't worry, Mommy Berry will get you soon. Hmm, you have such nice hair little dolly...

 Berry: Okie dokie! I am all set!

Tia: Here's your dolly!

 Berry: Thank you, Tia!

Tia: It was my pleasure, Berry!

 Thanks again Trina, Jun, Liza, Belle and Tia for such a fun afternoon at The Grove!

Tomorrow, we go to Melrose Avenue and the Rodarte Exhibit at MOCA, babies!

Los Angeles 2011 Day 2: Rodeo Drive

The following day after we arrived in LA, we went out to do a bit of shopping. Take note, shopping of the errands sort and not splurge shopping, hehehe. Dada took photos of his girls while we were getting ready to go out:

I think my outfit today will look good with Mommy's ballet flats...

Hmmm, I am liking these patent loafers a lot more...

Berry's top: a dress from Ralph Lauren, Gap skirt from Amah & Angkong, 

Trumpette tights, Repetto Jacksons

tunic top from AllSaints, leggings from American Apparel, H&M scarf, 

leather jacket from Hoss Intropia, Repetto ballet flats

Lighting is nice there, I want an outfit shot there too! - Berry

With my new Duckie - a gift from the hotel front desk, how sweet is that!

Same outfit, this time worn with Trumpette boat shoes from Tita Sarj & Uncle Toni

Soon after, Trina and Jun came by to pick us up so we can go tick off the items in my shopping list - but first, we had to pay a visit to my holy grail of sorts in Rodeo Drive!

Driven around in my stroller in Rodeo Drive, that's how I roll. - Berry

Barneys New York, in case you don't recognize that distinctive awning

We also passed a couple of boutiques I wouldn't dare enter into, because I do not want to fall into temptation. Not that Dada will allow me to, one look, and I know it is time to head out the door. So, why bother. Bitter ba?

Berry also finally got to meet the adorable Tia, and I finally met Belle (my sister's SIL and my online buddy,  now real life buddy) as well. Belle's friend Liza, the Rodeo Drive veteran (and in this case, our photographer) was there to navigate for us. These girls are all super fun to shop with. They just know which stores to take me to.

Rodeo Drive was fun! I loved browsing the shoes at Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Saks. And the bags, O.M.G. Too bad I was not there to shop for big ticket items. Well, window shopping is enough for me these days anyway. Talaga!