THE first of the “-ber” months is peeking around the corner. Be a smart shopper or an even smarter gift-giver by doing your early holiday shopping and wrapping. Ideas for gifts can induce head-spins, so avoid the panic-buying by considering these stylish—and thoughtful—selections.
Ayala Malls’ Stylist’s Closet
THE upscale chain of malls’ series of styling-related activities, Stylist’s Closet 2019 will culminate at the Bonifacio High Street from August 16 to 18, with a roundtable on August 17. It started on July 4 at Greenbelt and Glorietta with a fashion parade, style talks and pop-ups.
The running theme is “Fashion is universal, trends are geographical and style is personal,” with celebrity (and controversial) stylist Pam Quiñones imparting tips on how to shop smart and how to cultivate your own personal style.
Quiñones’s Qurator Studio curated about a hundred brands present at Ayala Malls, including Mango, Topshop, GAP, Springfield, Joe Fresh, Tory Burch, Lacoste, Banana Republic, Marks & Spencer, Steve Madden, Rustan’s private labels, such as Oleg Cassini, and homegrown labels like Penshoppe, Kamiseta, Plains & Prints, Apple & Eve and Maldita.
“This year, Stylist’s Closet packs a stronger punch by bringing more displays, runway preview show and talks closer to the stylish folks across several cities,” says Eunice Velasco, Ayala Malls marketing group manager. “Pam and our lineup of speakers are not only pushing people to shop, but urging them to shop smart. Curated pieces from curated brands, they are not teaching fashion, they are teaching style.”
McJim Classic Leather
FOR the corporate male, something sturdy yet stylish is appropriate. McJim, the 40-year-old leather goods label, carries quality accessories, such as belts, bags and wallets.
The belts, with distinct metal buckles, come in basic dark brown, basic modernist black and reversible minimalist. There are messenger bags, body bags and gadget bags. The wallets, meanwhile, are in leather and canvass.
Look professional, stylish and smart at the same time with the leather selections that you desire, as you climb up that corporate ladder.
Longchamp La Voyageuse
THE chic French brand recently unveiled its fall/winter 2019 collection of bags, mounted on stalls and draped over mannequins wearing its in-season dresses. The accessories and the bags are inspired by a Parisian en route to New York, and what she would wear and bring from the City of Lights to the City That Never Sleeps.
The new handbag collection, called La Voyageuse, are emblazoned with LGP, Longchamp’s new signature print in bold graphics, inspired by Bauhaus artists and New York’s maze-like grid city streets. It’s for the wandering woman, so the design is modeled after portable vanity cases. There are compact, foldable sizes, as well as large ones for long journeys.
Coming in a myriad colors, the bags are also made of leopard-printed calf hair, crocodile-printed leather and smooth leather all embossed with the now-familiar LPG logo. The bags are exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu and Greenbelt 5.
Lacoste Tennis Remix
TENNIS as the most stylish sport was reinforced as this brand served a collection inspired by Roland-Garros. Incorporating the dress codes of tennis and fashion, the pieces can go from the court to the streets. Mannequins and models wore the brand’s key looks, such as its timeless stripes, the structured lines of a tennis court and prints of tennis balls, all in splashy colors and with the ubiquitous crocodile icon.
Score style points with this French brand’s men’s polo shirts, jackets, pants and caps, as well as its women’s line of pleated skirts, striped collared shirts and color-blocked jackets.