When I was in college, the in-thing to have were sandals worn by mountaineers. My mom wouldn't buy…read moreme that kind of footwear because she felt that they won't last long. Instead, she'd always buy me boring dark brown Our Tribe leather sandals. Out of frustration, I'd try my best to get rid of my Our Tribe sandals by trying to break their straps through all manner of abuse I could think of, short of using knife or scissors. But I always failed. The sandals lasted even beyond my college days. Back then, I felt that my sandals were unfashionable and old school. But now that I'm a grown up, I know the value of genuine leather and good workmanship. Thus, when it comes to leather wear, I usually go for Our Tribe. Now they have a kiosk in Glorietta 2. They do not offer sandals in this outlet, but they have other leather goods like purses, wallets, passport holders, bracelets, and keychains. All stocks come in different colors that are perfect for gifts to family members and even colleagues at work. Since Our Tribe is a Filipino original, their products are also good souvenir items.

If you're in the market for fine, leather goods, you don't necessarily have to spend an arm and a…read moreleg. A local brand that costs a fraction of the price of those from international brands, which I personally think can give them a run for their money is Fino Leatherware. Fino has been around for quite sometime and just like a fine wine, their line of leather goods just keeps getting better and better. Pieces such as wallets, passport holders, organizers, handbags and briefcases are beautifully arranged in their flagship store at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell. Aside from leather goods and depending on the season, bags made of weatherproof material are also sold. A lot of people are usually surprised to find out that Fino is a local brand. With the craftsmanship involved in each of its pieces, it is proof that it can truly compete in the global stage.

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.

Finding the perfect gift for your boss can be difficult, especially if you think that he or she…read morealready has everything. One place that I have discovered, thanks to my aunt's family, is Fino Leatherware. This Filipino-owned company makes beautiful belts, bags, key chains, purses, passport holders, and wallets that are made from genuine leather. The craftsmanship of their products can give international brands a run for their money. What I like about Fino is that they have modern and colorful designs. Sure, there are other shops that sell authentic and Filipino-made leather goods, but many of them fail to update their products to current fashion standards. Well, not with Fino. Even the product packaging used by this leatherware brand is elegant. You will feel proud of giving away their products as gifts. It doesn't matter if you're just buying a keyholder or a small coin purse, your item will surely look luxurious because of the way it has been wrapped and packaged. Also, since the products are made in the Philippines, they are a lot cheaper than their foreign counterparts. In fact, the price of Fino's bestseller bag is about a third of that made by an Italian signature brand. But the quality of Fino's is the same, if not better.

Finding leather belts in department stores can be a challenge for me. It's not because there are…read morefew choices or brands to choose from, rather it's because the belt sizes tend to be limited. And I'm not that keen about shopping for leather goods in signature brand shops. Their items have always been unreasonably expensive. So, it was a happy day for me when I discovered McJim Leather Gallery in Robinson's Place Manila. I like the shop primarily because its layout is very simple. Since its main products are belts, their display rack is placed near the entrance. The belts are easily accessible for anyone who wants to check them out. The attendant was attentive. She politely answered my questions while she gave me enough space and time to choose the right belt for myself -- this can be a rare experience at big signature outlets. The best thing about this stand-alone shop is the available designs and sizes of belts for men, women, and children. They offer a more extensive choice range compared to McJim booths in malls or department stores. In less than five minutes I was able to pick, pay, and get the belt that was a perfect fit for my body type. Aside from belts, other leather goods sold here are purses, bags, wallets, and even jackets.

In the Philippines, most women are accustomed to the "pagawa" culture, which essentially means…read morehaving just about everything you wear custom made--from Christmas dinners to weddings. Which is why it was such a big thing when Myth opened in Greenbelt 5. Unlike your usual retail shops, Myth offers designer RTW finds. That means, gorgeous embellished gowns and perfectly tailored cocktail dresses readily available for purposes. For someone with a busy schedule and not too much time to shop for dresses for special occasions, Myth is a godsend. I can enter the store and come out with the perfect dress. A well curated shop, the boutique offers finds from established (Randy Ortiz, Noel Crisostomo, and Francis Libiran) designers as well as up and coming ones like Nixon Marquez whose embellished tees are my current personal favorites. Its like a quick introduction to Filipino fashion and if you have some balikbayan relatives or foreign friends visiting the country, it's a great place to take them to if they'd like to bring something special home.

Everywhere I travel in Asia I seek out a Muji. For travel items,stationary,tee shirts,kitchen ware…read more( I still use a pair of heat resistant silicone tipped extra long chopsticks when wok frying I bought in HK 10 years ago). Japanese minimalism at its finest..... hop inside if you see one.

I love this store, period. It's clean and simple and everything I want my home to be, but…read moreunfortunately isn't. I think people are drawn to this store because it makes even the most mundane things in your home look cool. With barely any color, this store manages to capture the eyes of most who walk by. I'm fascinated with all the store offers from clothing to shelving needs, notebooks & pens, travel gear, home wares, personal hygiene products and even food in some of the outlets. How a company can manufacture so many different products and still be successful and profitable is a feat. I don't care how they do it because I get to enjoy the benefits of their clever little store. The prices are definitely on the high side, which is a good thing. Otherwise, I would be walking away with the entire store and trying to figure out where to put it all. The only thing that bothers me is all the plastic. I wish they would move away from all the plastic and switch to glass. This is for all their personal care items. There is too much synthetic crap in the world and Japan is great at taking the environment seriously. Muji, please take note and do your part to switch to glass!

I took me quite a while to place the correct categories for this place, as there seems to be no…read morecategory called "CUTE THINGS YOU DON'T NEED BUT WILL BUY ANYWAY". Yelp, get on it! I'm a sucker for anything that has animals on it (NOT their skin! Ditch fur and leather, please!). Or polkadots. Or vegetables. Or fruits...Or all! This place is for every girl who likes "kawaii" things --BUT of course, that wouldn't be appropriate to say because this store hails from Korea, so instead, say "gwi-yeo-wo-yo"! Are you celebrating someone's birthday soon? If so, this place has the cutest little party hats (of course, with animals!) to top your dear celebrant's head with, greeting cards, party "gear", and other colorful festive things! If you're a sock collector, then this is the place to get cute silly socks! Pretty notebooks that are too cute to write on? Check! Mushroom lamp? Check! And if you have not outgrown your sticker addiction, they have soft, "pillow-y" ones that are just ~squeeee~! Koreans really know how to make things murderously cute! Take my money!

Finally, Korea's uber cute fashion is finally within reach! Artbox is full of adorable clothing,…read morestationery, mugs, and what-have-yous! I wanted to get so many things that I don't even need anyway. Like a blanket with a hood. Or an unnecessary number of socks. Or storage boxes. (Well, I may need those storage boxes.) If you're a complete sucker for things with cute animal faces, this place is a must-see for you!