Fashion Q/A

By Celine Gabriel

Dear Readers,

The letters just keep pouring in! Thank you so much for reading my column, Fashion Globetrotter. I have a lot of new ideas for the column this 2009. A lot more tips, a lot more interviews with designers, celebrities and personalities, more features on trends, new brands to look forward to, more shopping destinations to discover and maybe some things to be given away to the lucky readers. There is definitely a lot to watch out for and I am so excited. I hope you are, too! Keep reading!!!

Cheers!

Celine Gabriel, Fashion Globetrotter.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Do not hesitate to e-mail me at celine_gabriel_column@yahoo.com

Question 1:

Dear Fashion Globetrotter,

I will be going to Davao City in a month or two and was wondering if you have been there. Can you recommend places where I can shop there? What are the interesting stores I can find? Hope you can help me.

Thank you,

Krissy C.

Answer:

Dear Krissy C.,

I love Davao City. It?s one of my most favorite places on earth and in fact I will be doing a story about the place soon. Since you need the answers now though I can give you a short list of places you can check out while you are there.

First on my list is Sun Lab over at Gaisano Mall. Sun Lab houses a lot of popular brands like Team Manila, Kathang Kamay (accessories), Analog Soul, Solare (shoes), Twix and Soak (bikinis/resort wear), etc. What is cool though is that aside from the brands that you can find in Manila, they also have brands that are homegrown and designed by highly creative Davaoenos like Voodoo bags. Sun Lab is a very popular store in Davao so make sure you get to check it out.

You can also go to Aldevinco?s. This place has a multitude of stores that sell interesting beaded necklaces and bracelets, beautiful sarongs, fruits, and other little knick-knacks. I have scored a lot of accessories here that have garnered me compliments in the Philippines and abroad. Best of all, everything is affordable, especially once you haggle the price down.

Try to make your way also to Chimes. Chimes is a department store-esque building that has everything from Rajo Laurel, Aranaz bags, Havaianas, etc. At their second floor they also have a lot of mini dresses and tops (both dressy and casual) that are really cheap (usually from Thailand and Vietnam).

Hope this is enough for now and look forward to my article on Davao. I?m sure it will come out in my column before you actually take your trip.

Enjoy!

Celine Gabriel

Question 2:

Dear Celine,

Do you know of any places where I can have pants made? I have a hard time looking for jeans and trousers. The fit is never right. I can?t keep using the same ones and I need it for the office. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Daniel

Answer:

Dear Daniel,

Boy do I understand your dilemma. I happen to be the exact same way? so hard for me to get the perfect fit. While my friends can easily get a pair in a department store, I usually have such a hard time!

I recommend that you get your jeans made by Viktor Jeans (store located at the Podium mall in Ortigas) but that depends on your budget. His jeans can cost around P8,000 which is a bit steep for some people. With Viktor Jeans you will never have to worry about fit again and sometimes, if you can afford it, I always think that buying a pair or two of jeans that you will wear all the time are a better investment than purchasing a bunch of cheaper ill-fitting ones that you will never really want to use anyway.

A more affordable and yet still made-to-order option would be to call Jen Advincula. This designer specializes in jeans (and all kinds of trousers). Like Viktor, you can choose the material and then you get measured for a perfect fit. It takes about a week before you get your item and sometimes it takes more than one fitting before you are satisfied but her price is definitely more affordable. Prices range anywhere from 1,500-2,500 and you can even get a better deal if you order a lot. She made me a pair of really awesome dark blue denims accented with hot pink stitching that I love so much. Of course as a man, you don?t want that (haha) but the point is you can express your individuality with made-to-order pants down to the minutest detail. Jen Advincula?s number is: 0918-9496907.

All the best,

Celine Gabriel