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! :)

The size of this mall always means that this can be a great spot to hang out with friends and…read morefamily. I mean, there are so much things you can do to plan out some activities. There are arcades, boba spots, cafes, archery, bakery class, digital art museum, nail salon, hair salon etc and even a sports arena that holds concerts too. We came across a couple of artists promoting music and there was a stage and sound set-up in one of the big spaces. I got to say though, the most recent time I came here I was very grossed out by the strong smell of the ice skating rink!!! It feels as if there isn't enough cleaning done on those ice skate rentals and it totally put off me and the rest of our group from entering in to see the prices. I don't remember the spot stinking so much pre-COVID so that's very unfortunate. It's across from one of the food courts in the mall too. You can eat food of various types!!! Food court options or literal restaurants. I definitely think coming here for two days is best but you can still explore a majority of the mall in one day. I like the security for checking bags upon entry when going into the different buildings. Expect a ton of banks, restaurants and stores. A BIG PLUS. If you are struggling to find a store, ask one of the security personnel inside. They immediately know the directions on where to go and were super impressive in their knowledge!!! The staff here in the Philippines are very courteous and professional. Always a good visit to come here especially to enjoy the AC also.

Lives up to being one of THE malls to visit in the Philippines. Over three levels of dozens of…read morestores, from affordable to high end luxury. The space is so large I stumbled on a basketball tournament happening in the mall to public spectacle! Walking it in one day was doable but most tourists tend to take two days at minimum to see the entire property. There is little to no service within the mall itself and Wifi is spotty so bear that in mind when strolling around. Well maintained and with a gorgeous view of the bay!

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.

I've had a recent interest in kooky jewelry using found objects and odds and ends, stringing them…read moreonto chains or rope and wearing them as necklaces. There's really nothing skillful or crafty about it, but it's fun to do with stuff that are pretty but you have no idea what to do with them. And I don't know anywhere else to get small chains but in Quiapo, at Joyo Fashion Accessories. It's very easy to miss this store walking along Evangelista St. from the Recto LRT Station, since it's covered by the area's wealth of stands hawking religious items, flowers, and candles, but it's not hard to find, really, since it's near the church and one of few stalls there that aren't selling construction supplies or phones and gadgets. If you've ever been around the stores in Quiapo, it's very much like most other places there, just stacks and racks and walls of stuff everywhere. You see necklaces, earrings, rings, and other accessories first before you get to the actual good stuff--beads, charms, trinkets, lace, cording, and other things you'll need to make your own jewelry. There are other places in the area selling similar things, but Joyo has an advantage being closer to Recto Station, and being in the somehow calmer, less dense area of Quiapo.

A self-confessed ukay ukay addict dared me to check out this place, saying that I would be shocked…read moreat what they have. I wasn't expecting much. to be honest. I know that some of these thrift shops are better than others, but how much better can one be over the rest? Since I had some time to kill, I decided to give it a shot. Guess what? My ukay ukay junkie was absolutely right. I won't comment on the branded ladies clothes, shoes and bags that she raves about. I admit knowing next to nothing about women's wear and accessories. But I do know enough about men's wear to recognize a bargain when I see one. There were Levi's jeans as well as other brands of denim pants and trousers. The price? An unbelievable three for P100. I had to take a second look at that price tag, but there it was. That comes to P33 per pair of pants, doesn't it? The best thing about denims is that the more worn they look, the more comfortable they feel. Jamzel's Ukay Ukay is a small shop, but man do they have a lot of terrif bargains. They have rubber and leather shoes that all look newish and sell for a low P200 a pair. If you have no qualms about buying and wearing pre-owned clothes, head for this store pronto!

If there was a store that would be the epitome of me, it would be A'postrophe. My style and…read moreinterests are very eclectic - bohemian, old world, vintage, Gothic, antique-y, Renaissance-esque...the same style of the accessories and clothes A'postrophe sells. I'm a huge fan of their hip and cool items like hats with cat ears (I bought 2 of different colors and because I love cats), rings with skulls and tea cups on top, flats with an embroidered skull design, mugs with Renaissance paintings printed on them as well as wallets, containers that look like vintage books and a lot of bohemian themed stuff! I pretty much mentioned most of the stuff I've bought from them, hehe. One time, I was looking for birthday presents for my sister and I loved the stuff I got her from the store so much that I got myself the same things! Crazy, I know but I can't help myself when I'm in this store. Pull me away if you see me passing by! Haha! Sadly, some of their stuff is a bit pricey but they do have sales on sale season so you can watch out for that. :)

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.

So it's been 17 years since last went to the Philippines, and I didn't know what to expect…read more What a pleasant surprise it was when my parents and I checked in to the Airbnb and we find out that the Venice Grand Canal Mall was just across the street. I spent a lot of time here. As soon as you walk into the mall, it doesn't feel like you're in the Philippines anymore. The canal was nice to see during the day and at night. You can even take a gondola through the canal. They also have an area where you can feed pigeons seeds. They have a lot of the stores and the restaurants that we have in the US. I was joking around saying that I traveled 7200 miles to eat at a Denny's in the Philippines. Lol. And you know I had to hit up the Uniqlo here! Will I be back? Of course. Especially if I stay at the same Airbnb. I'll see you when I see you Venice Grand Canal Mall!

The Venice Grand Canal Mall is a large lifestyle center located in Taguig, Philippines…read more The Venice Grand Canal Mall should be viewed within the context of a master planned development. Encircling this mall are apartments, condos and office towers. The mall offers a lot: a supermarket; bookstores; fast food and casual dining restaurants; a multi-screen movie theater; spaces for dance and play--and a lot of retail shopping. You can also buy tickets for a gondola ride or rent a swan boat. This location provided an opportunity for me to people watch; examine products and brands unfamiliar to me; and to price compare goods in the PHL, versus back home. It was interesting.

Before I became a wife and a mother, I used to be kinda cool. YRYS was the store of choice during…read moremy high school days and even throughout college. I hated wearing plain shirts over jeans. I wanted something unique. I was more into the punk-rocker chick look that you'd see in US stores like Hot Topic. The different stores from the Gozum sisters really made my heart flutter when they first launched in the Philippines. Of the three brands they have, YRYS was my favorite. Everything there is so stylish and fashion-forward. Before them, finding a short plaid skirt here was next to impossible. They broke boundaries in an ultra-conservative country and revolutionized the way women dressed. And it's not just the clothes that I really love, it's all the little accessories, too! Suspenders, hats, finger gloves, belts and cool jewelry were available for really affordable prices. Even now that I do dress more conservatively for the sake of my daughter, I often find myself still looking through their display window, reminiscing the old days when I was able to fit in those super short skirts that I loved so much. Here's a tip: watch out for sales, especially when it's midnight madness at the mall. They often slash their prices by more than half. They have racks of clothes marked down to P200 and P300.

I love this store! Their clothes and accessories are a mix of styles - kitchy, rocker, punk, trendy…read moreand tumblr-esque. When I was still a youngin at school, I'd always buy from this store for their great price point and fashion. I love their accessories the best. They sell some really cool jewelry, finger gloves, hats, flash tattoos, suspenders and even corsets (I have 2 from them). I always feel like I'm in the streets of Hong Kong when I entire the store and look around...like I'm checking out those affordable and fashionable fashion stalls or stores at the night market. This store is perfect for high school students and hip college students and the prices won't break the bank. Look out for sales too because who doesn't love a sale? As you can see from my photo, you can even buy items for P99! Now that's a steal!