Cole Vintage 2014

My friend Chico is back at Cole Vintage, after a hiatus from fashion, and I'm thrilled to see her back, coming up with chic new styles with her partner Lor, that girls, whatever age, would want to wear!

I've already gone shopping for their printed tunics...

and wrap dresses in jersey...

While I know my sisters will love their take on the Celine Trio...

...and their new sandals, that would look great for Holiday 2014 dressing!

Cole Vintage has truly come a long way from when they first started in 2004 selling locally manufactured bags in bazaars. They're now one of my trusted go to's for easy, effortless dressing that won't put a dent in my pocket.

Today, Cole Vintage has over 10 retail outlets in Metro Manila - at SM Aura Premier/SM Makati/SM City Mall of Asia/SM City BF Paranaque/SM City North Edsa, The Ramp Crossings TriNoma/Shangri-la/Glorietta, Podium Markati Palazzo, Wellworth Department Store and Rockwell Power Plant Mall, consistently churning out new designs that practically demand repeated and consistent visits so you won't miss out on their best sellers!

For more on Cole Vintage, Like them on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ColeVintage and follow @colevintageph on Instagram.

UCB SALE + New Collection in Stores Now!

If you are on the hunt for great deals on basics, corporate wear, weekend bags and cute flats, you must check out the United Colors of Benetton SALE!

Most everything is at 50% OFF, with pique polo shirts like the one above at just Php897+.

These flats are less than Php1000, down from Php1995!

These summery canvas totes are Php1275.

These sturdy backpacks are Php1775.

A navy knit top that would look great with white pants or shorts is down to Php1275 from Php2550. Doubles as a maternity top too, for preggos like me.

For those who need work in a corporate setting, and need polished but easy to wear dresses, you're in for a steal! 

These shift dresses are about Php2125.

Just pair this knit dress with a pearl necklace, and you're all set for an important meeting at Php1475.

This asymmetrical jersey dress with sequins on the shoulders is down to Php1325.

The New Collection is worth checking out of course! Expect breezy and colorful jersey dresses...

Fun ribboned flats...

Wedge espadrilles, Php2250 only!

These colorful printed pouches would make great gifts this Christmas! Hoard na!

But my favorite of the lot are these linen t-shirts in neon colors.

Isabel Marant linen shirts are like $100. These pure linen shirts are just Php1450.

I have the orange, because I needed the orange t-shirt for Berry's school activity, and we needed to wear her class color, but I am feeling the itch to get the hot pink one too!

Score a great deal on the SALE or find a new fave from the current collection at United Colors of Benetton:

UCB Trinoma
L2,2035 Trinoma, EDSA Corner N Ave
Quezon City
Tel: +632 901 3545

UCB Robinsons Galleria
G/F, Ortigas Centre
Pasig City, 1605

UCB Megamall
2nd Level 205, SM Megamall
EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Ave.
Mandaluyong, 1550 Tel: +632 6347952

UCB Robinson's Ermita
1st Level Midtown
Robinson's Place
Ermita, Manila
Tel: +632 2320051

UCB High Street 
Bonifacio High Street
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel: +632 8562551

UCB Cebu
Level 1
Ayala Center Cebu
Cebu City
Tel: +632 22320051

Stella by TALA

It was like the stars aligned for cousins Mavis Manotoc Fuentebella and Vanessa Mayuga Santos when they came out with their adorable clothing line for little girls called Stella by TALA.

Mavis is the banker turned entrepreneur behind TALA Manila and Grubbies, two women's clothing lines, both known for their easy breezy clothes - dresses perfect for busy weekends, or for a mom's daily duties - from picking the kids up from school to a quick lunch with the girl friends to grocery runs.  

Vanessa is a former VJ, turned luxury marketing executive and now mom to 3 year old Stella and 10 month old Cisco.  It was Stella's request for “dresses like mama” that prompted Mavis and Vanessa to collaborate and launch a full-blown collection of little girls dresses together.

Stella by TALA (Stella is Latin for star while Tala is Tagalog for star, how cute is that?) launched at the TALA store/showroom called UPSTAIRS last April 13 to much success.

When we got there at 10AM, the place was jampacked with mommies in a shopping frenzy. Yes, that early in the morning and most of us with our little girls in tow. I saw women with piles of clothes hanging on their arms. By the time I was combing through the racks, sizes had run out for some of the dresses I wanted. In fact, before I could write about Stella by TALA, most of the styles & sizes were gone if not totally sold out!

Van with the star of the showroom, Stella

Moms done shopping, me with Karrots & Jackie

Maybe because all their guests know a great buy when they see one. What I liked about Stella by Tala is that Mavis and Vanessa used really nice, quality fabrics. The kind that can be passed on to younger siblings, long after our girls have grown into them.

The best example of that would be the “CARMEN” embroidered dress, named after Mavis' and Vanessa's Lola Carmen, and the central showpiece in the collection.

It can convert to a top when the girls grow a little taller.      

Here's a peek at the rest of the collection, what we missed, and what we'll be missing out on if we don't draw out the dough fast enough the second time around, haha.

 

There are actually still some styles available at Seek the Uniq and new drops are coming soon to UPSTAIRS this month.  Watch out for it!

UPSTAIRS Showroom
Unit 103, Three Salcedo Place
121 Tordesillas St.,
Salcedo Village, Makati (Access through Bautista St.)
 Tel +632 385 3681
Mobile: +63 906 493 2930

Showroom Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am to 7pm

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 :)

Beginnings Baby

A few weeks ago, I started buying clothes for Xavi, who is due to come out next month!

While I have gone through Berry's clothes and managed to pick out the unisex ones - i.e. whites, yellows and greens, most of her clothes are pink and girly, so it was imperative that I start getting clothes for Xavi. I bought a 10 piece starter set at Mothercare, which wasn't bad at all for Php1,499 a set. Then got a few wrap-around tops at Rustan's, at about Php150 a piece. The white mittens, I got from Enfant, and were about Php120 a set.

Knowing how fast babies grow, I just bought a few pieces that he can rotate, along with Atchi's old ones. I got white ones, figuring, when Baby#3 comes along, then at least we will have enough baby clothes, whether #3 turns out to be a girl or a boy. Another criteria was that it had to be made out of 100% cotton - its more "presko" and well, lasts longer. 

Well ok, to be honest, I wasn't really sure if I really had enough, because when I was pregnant with Berry, she received so many clothes that she had enough to wear and more until she was a year old. This is just my theory ha, but it seems family and friends find it more exciting to shop for girls' clothes no? So many choices and mostly all so pretty. Personally, I find it hard to find chic boys clothes. That's why this time with Xavi, I figured, if he needs more, then we'll just buy as we go along. Thankfully, Beginnings Baby seemed to have read my mind and sent us more baby clothes. All in my color of the moment - white. So Beginnings Baby, a HUGE thank you!

I haven't shopped around enough to come across Beginnings Baby, but from the items they sent me, I was thrilled to know that they're around! For one, the cotton is so touchably soft and the items are all well-made. Not the type to fall apart after a few washings. Apparently, while it's a local brand, the items are made to US Standards for baby clothing:

If you'd like to know more about Beginnings Baby here's the 411:

* It has a strict adherence to all things white, and is in fact, the first infant apparel brand to herald the importance and necessity of white apparel for infants in their first year. 

* White garments are preferred by pediatricians for newborns.
 - White is cleaner
- White is safer - it is easier to spot stains, dirt, insects and other unwanted objects on a white background.
- Scientifically, white attracts less heat, ensuring that your little one is always cool and comfortable.

* The extensive Beginnings Baby line created especially for newborns to infants 12 months old carries t-shirts, sleeveless shirts, tie-sides, sleepsuits, cardigans, bodysuits, shorts, pajamas, undies, shoes, booties, caps, mittens, binders, bibs, wash cloths, blankets, towels and diapers- most everything you need for your beloved little ones, all in immaculate white. 

Here's what pediatricians say about why they prefer white clothing for babies:

“My first and foremost consideration when asked what to use for babies' clothing is safety and comfort. A baby’s skin is very sensitive, so the material should be soft, breathable, comfortable and chemical-free. The clothing should also be free from any choking hazards such as buttons and hooks. White clothing is ideal because it is clean looking. Babies also require several clothing changes daily. I always tell parents to get clothing with materials that are of top quality so they will last longer despite multiple washings.” 
- Dr. Anna Lisa Lopez-Gabriel, MD Diplomate, Philippine Pediatric Society, General Pediatrics

“Babies are cute just as they are, but parents and relatives nowadays like them to be fashionistas at such an early age. When choosing baby clothes, think practicality and safety first, style second. Babies have delicate skin so we have to be careful when buying their first clothes. Plastic appliques are not recommended because they may contain phthalates, which are hormone- disrupting chemicals that can damage the developing reproductive organs of children. Clothes that are treated with flame-retardants are also to be avoided. A common flame retardant used in cotton is Tetrakis (Hydroxymethyl) Phosphonium Chloride, or THPC which can also cause hypersensitivity reactions.”
-  Dr. Girlmar De Taza-Leones, MD, Diplomate, Philippine Pediatric Society, specializing in Natural Medicine

"All-white apparel makes it easier to detect if any insect is biting your baby and if he/she is wet. It also makes it easier to observe your baby's breathing. The color white is less attractive to mosquitoes and is cooler to the skin too. White also makes your babies look like the angels that they are!"
- Dr. Corazon Avancena, MD, Diplomate, Philippine Pediatric Society, Fellow in Pediatric Pulmonology 

Now the question, where to buy? Beginnings Baby is available all over the country, and I am pretty sure, at affordable price points too:

1. Robinsons Branches: Galleria, Dagupan, Gapan, Pioneer
2. Landmark Trinoma
3. Metro Department Store: Market! Market!
4. Gaisano Branches: South Citimall Davao, General Santos, Digos, Ozamis, Kalibo, Roxas, Tabunok. Bacolod Main, Bacolod Mall, Mactan, Danao, Pagadian, Central Tacloban, Discovery Mall Mactan, Gaisano Grand Tagum, Tisa, Kabankalanm Carcar, Panabo, Grand Toledo, Passi, Riverside Ormoc
5. NCCC D.S. Branches: Davao, Palawan, Tagum, Mall
6. Mart One Branches: Santiago , Laoag, Dumaguete, Vigan, Cauayan, North Edsa, Tuguegarao, San Pablo, Alaminos, Guadalupe, La Union, Olongapo, Tanauan, Island Citimall
7. Felcris Branches: Panabo, Digos, Mati, Kidapawan, San Franz, Nabunturan, Trento, Calinan
8. Lee Super Plaza Branches: Dumaguete, Dipolog, Isetann Recto Department Store, Landmark Trinoma, Plaza Fair Cagayan
9. Gaisano Metro Branches: Metro Legaspi, Metro Lucena, Market Market, Metro Angeles, Metro Ayala, Super Metro
10. Shopper's Group Zamboanga Branches: Shopper's Plaza, Shopper's Square
11. KCC Department Store Branches: Marbel, General Santos
12. Citishoppe Branches: Tuguegarao, Solano, San Pablo, Sta, Cruz
13. Citimart Branches: Baystar (Batangas), Lemery (Batangas), Calapan
14. Tiongsan Branches: Harrison (Baguio), Benguet
15. Poulex Department Store
16. Bohol Quality
17. Southseas Cotabato 
18. Sta. Lucia Department Store, Cainta

For more on Beginnings Baby, visit www.facebook.com/beginningsbaby