The Cut is where boys go to become men (No, not the filthy way). If you're a guy with discerning…read moretastes, and the mall shops doesn't represent the real you, this is where you go. Located in a spot on Salcedo Village that is increasingly becoming hipper by the day, The Cut carries a lot of exclusive and limited release stuff, stuff you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. They carry shoes, shirts, bags, wallets, cufflinks, hair care products, socks, tobacco, handkerchiefs, and everything in between.The items have been "curated" to bring out your inner swag and differentiate you from the heathens wearing those China knock-offs they bought from 168. Yes, the prices here are a bit on the high side, but that is a paltry price to pay for being the most well-dressed man in Manila. Man up, man. While you're here, you might as well go up the mezzanine and check out Felipe and Sons, the parent company of The Cut, where you can get a proper shave and cut, and probably get a suit tailored for you as well. Because that's how real men roll.

Just the place to get some bargain knock offs! Yep, I'm cheap. Everyone's respectful and no one…read morepushes their stuff on to you. Just check them out and get only what you want.

Over the years, Tumblr users have skyrocketed. It's so popular that a lot of kids, teens and hip…read moreyuppies get inspiration from Tumblr blogs. May it be photography, quotes, memes, gifs, art, pop culture, style and most especially fashion. My friend actually introduced my sister and I to Fashion Market. After learning about it, we go there every time were at this mall. Fashion Market is split into 2 sides on the mall - the left and the right. I suggest going through all stores. It can take hours though, haha, but you won't regret it. They have every style and trend you'd typically see on Tumblr, fashion blogs, Youtube beauty channels and fashion week! Inside, you'll also find spas, salons, money changers and ATM's. The prices range from super inexpensive to normal clothing price rates. A lot of stores sell super hip shoes, clothes, hats, shades and even prom dresses and traditional Filipino costumes. Definitely check out these stores I frequent when you're there - (right side) Push Thru, Mastermind Chase and Muradito, (left side) Nava, Berca and Ballow. Happy shopping! :)

I think in terms of men's fashion, there is a shift from the casual and the indifferent, to the…read morestructured and refined. The idea that men can also be fussy and sartorial about their fashion choices says a lot about how our attitude towards dressing up has changed, with many of the boys having a renewed interest in classic and timeless pieces that just set one apart from the crowd. It doesn't have to be anything striking - the fact that you are dressed in quality clothes that fit well already make you a standout in a city where people go for functionality over aesthetics. Boys can be "maarte" too, and in a good way. That just goes to show that we value self-branding and presentation now as much as the girls do. Shops like Signet in Legazpi Village will pave the way to a more fashion forward Manila. This multi-brand store carries a number of different brands and styles for the modern gentleman. If you like to splurge a little on a few basics, such as a pair of body-hugging Selvedge jeans, or really cool socks to match your power suit, or even fun every day footwear that highlight both comfort and looks, Signet has imported brands that must be in every man's closet. Looking for that Picasso-esque Breton tee for an effortlessly fashionable look? Signet has different brands that have a great fit for every body type. The overall aesthetic is gunning for a strong homage to vintage and classic styles that give the modern gentleman such a polished, refined and nonchalantly classy look. Savoir faire at quite a price, but it's all worth it. I chanced upon this store because I was intrigued by the really classy facade. I love the window display - simple yet elegant. I was waiting for a meeting so I went inside and had a chat with Kevin, one of the shopkeepers. He is very well-versed about his brands and he also gave me a few recommendations as to what brands will suit my lifestyle better. Their store is all about investment pieces that will age well, and though I'm not in a hurry to part with my hard-earned cash even for really nice clothes, it's nice to know that I now know where to shop.

Shirts are great. Service is friendly and professional. The value of the shirts are grea.read more

T. M. Lewin is a gentleman's shirt retailer. They started out in London in 1898 when Thomas Mayes…read moreLewin opened his first shop in Jermyn Street, St James's, London. Since then they have a long and successful history. And today they can be found in SM Aura on level 2 as well. I love T.M. Lewin because it's always so difficult to find work shirts that fit well and are not super boring at the same time. When you go to department stores it's always such a hassle to find the right size. At T.M. Lewin, size comes first. So e.g. when you are 17/34 you just go to that section and then all the shirts that fit you are there. Easy and effective! They do quite a bit of funky shirts which make you stand out a bit more compared to the white/blue/grey shirts in the office. All their other items (except for suits) are very affordable too: knitwear, ties, cufflinks, tie bars, bowties and wallets. Wait to buy untill they have their quartely promotions.

We were only visiting Manila for a week and one of our goals is to get some bespoke suits and a…read morebarong for my husband. We were recommended to this tailor by a friend. The staff told us that it usually takes a month to a complete a suit as it is necessary to have 2 -3 fittings. But since we had only a week, they were hesitant to serve us. After a couple of calls on their end, they accepted to create 1 barong and 3 suits for us. The condition would be that they could make the barong and 1 suit for us and the other two would be ready in a month. They offered to send the last 2 suits to the USA (with an extra fee of course), but we opted for pickup by my relatives. Anyway, after choosing the colors and fabric for the suits, my husband got his measurements taken and we came back for the first fitting in 2 days. We came back for a second fitting in 4 days and were off with the two garments promised. There was a point where my husband was unsure of having the suits made here but he did like that the suits would be made with a lining as other tailors didn't put a lining in the suits! So this sealed the deal for him. The final product of the Barong was impressive for me. My husband likes more of a fitted look and they definitely delivered a good product that made my husband look really good. They have the traditional pineapple fabrics for you to choose from but they also have various color choices such as greens, blacks, pinks, etc. I did see an option for embroidery of your initials as well. The price point for each made suite was roughy 15,000 pesos. I don't know if this is a variable depending on the size of your body or if its a set price. In any case, we thought this was a good price for bespoke suits compared to what we would pay in the USA. The shop is located across the street from the backside of Greenbelt 3.

During my cousin's wedding, he requested that all of his guests wear purple bowtie to the party. My…read morefashion is usually simple and casual so owning a bowtie -- a purple one no less -- is next to impossible. But not wanting to offend my cousin, I went to the big department stores to look for such a bowtie. Sadly, there was none. Most of the neckties and formal wear accessories sold in department stores go by ordinary colors like black, gray, and blue. I was really tempted to ignore my cousin's request but I remembered that during my wedding, I also requested for ridiculous things from my guests. I was getting really desperate as the day of the wedding drew near and I still haven't found a purple bowtie. Then, I got a tip from a coworker. He said that Tieline in Greenbelt 1 does not only sell neckties and formal shirts, but they sell colorful bowties as well. After work, I headed to the shop and in just a matter of seconds I saw a purple bowtie. In fact, I even saw two shades of purple! The bowties were a bit expensive so I couldn't buy both. Hence, I asked the staff to allow me to take photos of the bowties and to reserve both items. I promised to come back the next day armed with a sample of the right shade of purple. She agreed without asking questions. I showed the pictures to my cousin that night and he picked the right shade of purple. I went to Tieline the following day and bought the right bowtie. I was very happy that the staff reserved the item and was very accommodating.

Are you a used car salesman, a jittery job applicant, or a hitman? If you need the right look for…read morethe aforementioned occupations, then Tieline is the place for you! Tieline is a little shop over at Greenbelt1, and it sells, well, ties, and the shirts and accessories to go with them. They also have their own tie bars, bow ties, collar restraints(I'm not sure what you call them, but they're supposed to keep your shirt collar closed without using the topmost button), cufflinks, and retractable umbrellas. You have to be careful with the umbrellas, though, because in terms of durability, they don't always make the cut. I've had at least two fail on me here, but they've improved on their design so the ones you can buy from Tieline are now are a major improvement from the ones they used to sell. As for the ties... they come in standard lengths, and in a variety of colors so diverse it's like staring at a Pantone catalog. The ties are mostly part polyester, which explains why most are shimmery. There are matte-colored ties, but they seem to be in the minority here. If you need to dress for a 90's rave party or want to apply at a local mafia or triad chapter, then, dear boy, knock yourself silly here. Seriously though, you may want to apply some uh "restraint" when it comes to their ties, I'm personally not as daring when it comes to the shimmery kind, but the long-sleeved shirts here are a-ok. What I enjoy most about Tieline is how they display their wares; like I said earlier, the ties and shirts all look like they came straight out of a Pantone catalog.

Being full-bodied like wine (see what I did there?), I am quite limited with the clothing brands I…read moreget to buy clothes from. Most Asian brands' sizes are too darn small, and more often than not, the foreign brands that do carry my size are either too darn expensive, or have limited styles. Jeans especially are a pain to find, being limited to stretch and slim or skinny cuts. This is why it was such a joy to find Jail Jeans. They have ready-to-wear stocks and can customize jeans as well. They proudly use raw demin, which as I have learned, is way better than buying washed denim. The difference? Washed denim is already pre-stretched, which means that the denim is not it it's natural flow or "bagsak". Also, the process of washing or bleaching is also very harmful to the environment. Whereas raw denim, the more you wear it, will take your body as mold. It sounds odd, but those who have had the luxury of owning a pair swear by it. The quality is just impeccable! The owner, designer Chris Jasler, is usually at the store to recommend what would fit your body shape well, so it also makes it a lot easier for those who can get a bit confused with fitting raw denim for the first time. Plus, it's not just jeans they make. They also have their own line of shirts, jackets, accessories, even shoes! Not yet convinced? Well, stars like Leo Valdes and Martin Nievera swear by it. Heck, even foreign DJ Nic Fanciulli bought a suit from Jail Jeans. Is that enough?

Jail jeans is awesome. After being in the US for years I found it hard to find a brand here in the…read morePhilippines that uses fabulous materials and has perfect fit. Before they sold me my first pieces they asked me to send in pictures of me for sizing I felt surprised because no one ever did this before. Chris even delivered it to me in person and after that he said now that I have seen you , I know your size. I went home and tried my new Jail Jeans shirts and they were perfect. Great material, outstanding design and inter mixable with my existing wardrobe . How fantastic now I can be edgy but still maintain my identity. He promised to send me pictures of new items as soon as they are available what else can I ask for.I really think that this will be a great relationship and a great addition to my clothes collection. I also loved a bracelet I got which is part of their accessory collection .Thanks Chris

Having a custom made dress doesn't necessarily mean that it will turn out looking amazing…read more Sometimes, even the best couturiers have their bad days. Enter Miss Selfridge. Miss Selfridge is a good place to buy ready to wear formalwear. It's relatively cheaper than a custom made dress. They have short cocktail dresses and full on formal wear with sparkly beading, embroidery and the works. They usually have good deals on their sale racks but be careful when buying last pieces. There are usually runs on the dresses. If not, the beading tends to be incomplete. A lot of people are afraid of buying ready to wear gowns because they run the risk of having another person show up wearing exactly the same thing. I always buy ready to wear formal wear and I've never had a twin at an event. Even then, it's always a game of Who Wore it Best. Rock that gown and everybody will only remember you.

I always make sure to check the latest collection of Miss Selfridge because they have really nice…read morepieces. I like how their clothing items range from casual to evening wear. I have had times, especially during the sales, where I would buy a lot of great looking tops - may it be for the beach, everyday or corporate wear. There were also times where I am in dire need of semi-formal or evening wear and I would also find it here. The price range for Miss Selfridge is okay especially if you need a dress for a special occasion but I recommend that you wait for their sale if you want to purchase some casual/corporate wear for everyday use. They also have really nice and sturdy accessories - scarves, bags, and very beautiful hats! Some of my scarves from Miss Selfridge have been with me for years and they haven't faded at all. Good price for the quality.