I'd just like to announce something that I'm extremely proud about. Been working on it these past weeks, and now it's out!

Yes, Ferretti now has an online store! The 16-year old Marikina shoe brand has now gone the e-commerce route. We decided to do it because, well, so many of our followers have been asking us to open stores in other provinces as well as parts of Metro Manila other than the branches we have now. We're definitely going to expand futher soon, but for now the quickest way to address these requests is to open an online store.

Did I say the shipping is absolutely free? It doesn't matter how many you buy or where you're based in the Philippines - we will ship it for free using Xend. If that's not convenience in a nutshell I don't know what is.

Anyway, enough rambling from me for now. Here are some of the designs we have in the store! They're my favorites. :D

Yes, we also have Accessories. You'll remember my favorite turquoise necklace from Ferretti. It's out of stock now, but there are other cool designs in the store.

Many of us regard Giordano as a staid and boring brand due to its track record of mainly selling basic tees (or "Essentials" as the brand would like to call it), but perhaps it's time to do a double-take. Giordano Ball Tees show the fun, carefree side of the brand with its 60s inspired retro prints featuring a more updated twist.

It doesn't hurt that each tee is only P899, plus they can be worn so many ways. A tee could go over a slinky dress, shorts, a body con skirt, or leggings. It can also go over maxi skirts or dresses, belted or knotted. 

I first laid eyes on these Parfois platforms last May, when I became their stylist for the day. I found the shoes a bit pricey though at P2,280, and besides, I was in an accessories craze at that time. 

Good thing I waited! Last Wednesday, I was in Megamall running errands. I decided to drop by Parfois because of the screaming 70% off sale signs, and while walking inside, I was muttering in my head "please be on sale pleasebeonsale pleasebeonsale". It was! I got the shoes for a little over P1,500! 

Thrifted secretary blouse/ Forever 21 embroidered skirt/ Parfois bracelet/ Naccara majorica pearl cocktail ring

I LOVE that a lot of women these days have taken to wearing high heels. Five years ago, did you see females here in the Philippines wearing three to five-inch monsters in the street - outside of fashion magazines? An even better question is, did you see major department stores proudly featuring their highest heels in their displays instead of comfy flats and sandals? No and no. Stylish high heels are a phenomenon that Filipinas have just recently embraced. I love the implications.

For one, this means that we women are more comfortable about standing out instead of being part of the herd. It means we're a little more liberated about our sexuality, discounting the medieval notion that high heels are only for prostitutes. In short, I think that women in high heels feel more empowered and are literally (also figuratively) standing tall. 

This is not to say that women who prefer flats are not empowered, that's too simplistic. It may come down to a matter of comfort, lack of occasion, or some other excuse. But if the only reason you don't have good high heels is fear, then I think it will do you good to finally break out and try it for a change. You'll feel better about yourself and, I suspect, feel a little more beautiful than you already are. ;)

Well, that went on longer than expected! I actually want to talk about Burlington's Biofresh Flexfigel and Sofigel pads! These godsends make women's life easier by padding our pretty shoes with gel inserts so that our feet won't hurt. Simple idea, but an incredibly useful. It's not a new concept but I do like that the pads are affordable and, from what I've tried, quite durable. 

So what's the diference between Biofresh Flexigel and Sofigel?

Yesterday I came from a meeting in U.N. Avenue. That place is horrible! I spent two hours getting there, stuck in Osmena Highway traffic then in a minor flood in Paco. After the meeting, the avenue looked like a parking lot, so I had to walk to the LRT station (in the rain, at that) so I can get to Buendia in one piece. I haven't ridden that train in more than two years! Taft is a nightmare when it rains, and I know this because I spent four years of university there.

Okay, after writing that paragraph, I realized that I sound like a total prick. I'm usually not. But I hate commuting to somewhere unless I can get to it by cab in under 40 minutes. Yeah, me and everyone else.

ANYWAY! At least I managed to get to the Promod End of Season sale in Greenbelt 5 after that grueling experience! It officially starts today but the kind folks at Promod invited some bloggers and their top costumers to get first dibs on the merchandise last night. Needless to say, there was a palpable shopping frenzy in the air as everyone grabbed their favorite Promod pieces at 40-50% off.

There were a lot of great items going for P1,600 below. Staples like jeans and shorts were on sale (their jeans are awesome), as well as accent pieces and tops that are bound to liven up your wardrobe. Notables are the leather jackets that will certainly be useful in the upcoming rainy days, as well as the cute skirts and airy printed dresses that will be nice additions to your current outfit selections.

I SERIOUSLY NEED TO GO BACK FOR THIS SKIRT. PLEASE STILL BE AVAILABLE IN MY SIZE WHEN I RETURN. KTHNX. I'm hitting myself in the head for not getting this pronto, but I was hesitating because there wasn't a sale tag (even though it's in the sale rack)

Creamy white skirt with tan belt. Classic and will give you an instantly fresh look.

You know, my salary just goes back to my boss because I end up buying her shoes anyway! :P I do have an employee discount (20%) but at the end of the day it's still my own money I spend. So if you love shoes, take my advice: don't work for a shoe brand that sells great stuff! (Loljk)

Anyway, I got a couple of new pairs from Ferretti last Wednesday. Both were love at first sight for me so I had to get them asap. I knew (doi) that all designs come in very limited quantities so I didn't want to leave anything to chance. 

Exhibit A: gunmetal woven flats with a ribbon (P999). Self explanatory. Major win. I like how sophisticated the design is! I almost got the silver version, but I opted for a toned-down gunmetal instead.

I was at the Ferretti store in Glorietta 5 last Saturday to turn over receipts (I work for the the brand) when I spotted the new bags. It was love at first sight! I immediately bought one of the structured satchels since I am into that particular look right now.

Well, I was once seriously considering those Cambridge bags but a friend aptly observed that they're the new Longchamps - meaning everyone had them. I prefer having more unique pieces, and this Ferretti bag fit the bill (quite literally, too, since this style is only available in very very limited quantities).

Did I mention that the bag is just P899? :D It also comes in light taupe.

Yes, our local Forever 21 now carries Love & Beauty cosmetics! I visited SM Megamall last Friday and found them in the accessories section with their own stand. There were blushes, eyeshadows, lip glosses, nail polish, sets, and tools for makeup newbies who are just starting to experiment. The products were reasonably priced at less than P500, too.

I really wanted to try the Smokey and Natural Palettes that come in these huge-ass cardboard boxes, but I don't want to blow P400+ on something I haven't even swatched. :/ I mean yeah it's not expensive but it would be so annoying to find out at home that the palette is a dud (if ever). Hopefully F21 provides testers soon! It wouldn't make sense to allow everyone to try on shoes, clothes, and accessories, but not makeup.

Parfois (par-fwa) is a Portuguese brand that just opened shop in Manila last year. I remember checking it out in Glorietta 4 then, but I had the impression that it was too expensive for my budget. The store definitely looked swanky and intimidating! But what do you know, the accessories are actually quite affordable. All of them, even the elaborate ones, are less than P1,000, with an average price of P380 to P600+. That's about the same price range as Forever 21 or SM accessories.

I'm really glad that Parfois invited me to be their blogger stylist of the day last Friday. It was my first time to assist customers in a store and I must admit, it's exhausting! Nonetheless, meeting everyone was a real treat; I was impressed by the diversity of Parfois customers. There were students, yuppies, working moms, and even grand old ladies with white hair. I guess this diversity speaks for the kind of items you can find in the store - timeless, versatile pieces that can be worn by anyone regardless of age.

I only buy bags once a year. That kinda sounds ridiculous now that I said it out loud, but the truth is I've never been that interested in bags. I did consider those uber chic Cambridge satchels above but I'm not one to blow P5,000- P10,000 on a bag - at least, not yet!

So when I saw this bag in Market! Market! yesterday I practically jumped with joy. 

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the price tag - P650 - but I still managed to haggle it down to P580 since it's the last piece in stock.

Here we go again! I visit Charles & Keith in BHS once in a while, you know, just to see what's up. There have been a lot of pretty shoes throughout the last few months, but I've been able to resist so far. Not this time, obviously. I can't let this pair go!

I've actually been vacillating between three pairs: white snakeskin platform pumps, camel pumps with gold chain, and this one. In the end I picked this pair because it's extremely comfortable. The footbed is sort of cushioned plus the heels are not that high. I think they're three inches, minus the half inch platform. Very walkable.

I haven't had the occasion to wear them yet, but I'm thinking these go best with the sexy secretary look.

I promised you guys that I'll show you what I got from Bambu, and here it is! 

I like Ipanema's strappy flip flops, but I'm usually too lazy to adjust and fix the straps before I leave. I want fuss-free flip flops that still look stylish and I think this pair, the GB Hot Sands Thong Fem with a ribbon, fits the bill.

Girls who love drugstore beauty products (like me!) are sure to enjoy the deals at Robinsons' beauty fair called Tint. There's currently a month-long sale in participating brands. Makeup, skincare, and even fragrances can go up to 50% off! Maybelline and L'Oreal are on 20% and 15% off respectively. 

The frequent 20% Maybelline sale is well underway! This is the best time to score top Maybelline products

Read on for more notable beauty deals and see what I actually bought! Warning: tons of photos and great deals ahead!

I was at SM Mall of Asia last night. A visit isn't complete without checking out the clothes in the department store, of course! My favorite brand there, Soiree, has restocked so yay for that. The teens wear department also has new interesting things. I wasn't able to take any photos, but I happened to come by an SM catalogue in Facebook while finalizing my Avon contest (plz join ok?).

Here are some of my favorite clothes and looks:

I am smitten with the cool shades of tangerine and other citrusy fruits like lime and lemon for this season. It's so refreshing to the eyes no? They're so easy to pair with any ol' pair of denim, tan, brown, or white pieces. I just want to say though, the bright fuchsia lip on the models rather clash with the orange. The MUA could have used a complementing shade like a glossy pink or peach.

Here's another trend I like - solid colors! And LOTS of them.

The new year is in full swing as major brands come out with their latest products and promotions. Interested in what they may be? Read on!

High-street fashion brand Promod just released its Trendy Jet-setter Collection. It's designed with the chic traveler in mind, thus including coats, scarves, and turtlenecks for the cold weather abroad.

Complement the classy floral top with a gray cardigan, gray beret and a maroon knit scarf to turn heads anywhere in the world.

A friend of mine recently launched her own online shop called Streets of Seoul. Chrissy is a professional fashion merchandiser venturing in the world of e-commerce, and I have to say, she does a wonderful job! The clothes are edgy, looking like something you can find off Topshop or Mango. Nonetheless, they're very affordable, selling for only an average of P500-700.

Check out my top picks:

Everyone needs a faux leather biker jacket in their life. Now that the biker look is hot stuff at 2011, there's no reason not to get one that looks like it will fit gorgeously - for only P900, too!