In each new posting, you’ll always find yourself learning everything – even day to day life – from scratch. Finding your way around is one thing and knowing where to go and who to call for certain things is definitely another. After all, it’s a new country – a whole new place, culture, and maybe even their language is completely new to you. I remember that before I had local friends, the internet was the one that held my hand as I searched for the right grocery store to visit in Berlin or the best place to get fish head curry in KL within 30 minutes as I had a high ranking official coming over for dinner and he was craving for that particular dish. If you know me well enough, then you already know cooking something that complicated is a road I refuse to take – but I digress.
My point is, one of the more practical ways to know if – as an expat – you’ve already settled in a place is knowing where to go for one’s needs. Ranging from the basics to the things that exist purely for inducing joy. I recently had the pleasure of seeing what SM Aura has to offer along with our group of embassy ladies who are currently posted here in Manila.
Mall culture
Malls are a big part of modern Filipino culture. There’s no point denying it. Sure, we love our beaches and we know how to enjoy nature. However, for our day to day lives in the city, we also appreciate convenience in a place that provides air conditioning and respite from the heat and humidity. Window shopping is a thing here along with finding everything under one shopping complex and snagging a good deal or two. Some groceries? A coffee shop? Clothes for an event? Furniture and home decor? A random faucet?
I’ve met quite a number of diplomats who became mall rats after living in Manila. There’s nothing wrong with that. You have to adjust to what’s available So if you’re new here or if you’ve been living in Manila for quite a while but still find yourself Googling everything, let’s go on a bit of a tour. Featuring a one-stop shop for beauty and some Filipino brands, of course.
Look
Before leaving Berlin last year, I bought a couple of tubes of my favorite Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks: Bond Girl (I refuse to call it by its new name), Pillow Talk, Amazing Amal, and Duchess. Charlotte Tilbury has no store in Manila – yet. Getting anything delivered from Europe would cost me an arm and a leg. So it felt like the right thing to do at that time. Lo and behold, some of the popular pieces from this makeup brand are actually in Manila.
Look is a beauty enthusiast’s version of heaven in the middle of the city. They carry popular items from brands like The Ordinary, Color Pop Cosmetics, Tatcha, Cerave, and more. They also have a wide array of Korean and Japanese skincare which makes my over-30 heart extremely happy. I replenished my mask collection that day.
Look also has a coffee corner featuring Nespresso machines. Here, you can park your husband/boyfriend so that you can enjoy looking through the products without someone getting bored beside you.
The sheer volume of products can be quite overwhelming but Look has beauty experts all over the store to help you with that. You can also become a member of the Look List to get news on what’s available as well as great deals on products. Sign up here.
8 Soho Boutique
Next, we stepped into 8 Soho – a boutique with shelves containing expertly curated pieces. It reminds me so much of similar boutiques in Paris that I always loved visiting. Each piece on the shelves is carefully chosen by a creative director, focusing on their ideal clientele.
In the case of 8 Soho, it’s Ria Prieto who does the selection. A woman with impeccable taste, she and her business partner would source items both here and abroad to showcase in the store. Ranging from Vietnamese tableware, marble exercise equipment that you don’t need to hide, and paintings by local artists.
They also carry jewelry, candles, French silverware, and their own clothing line called The Eight. The clothing line features pieces that put quite an edge to the basics. Great for the modern, confident woman. 8 Soho also offers help in styling yourself and your home using the pieces you sourced from them.
Frankie & Friends
This store was not around when we first left for our KL posting back in 2014. A month or so after coming back to Manila, I was having lunch with my friend Liz who said we needed to check it out. I’m so glad we did! Frankie & Friends is now my go-to for sustainable and slow fashion finds.
Their branch at SM Aura is huge, with many of our homegrown brands taking center stage. One of my favorite social enterprises here in the Philippines, Not A Daydream, is actually being carried by this store.
Pro-tip: Check out their selection of footwear, as well. Sandals are a must in Manila.
SM Aura’s Book Kiosk and Work from the Mall Area
Remember what I said about Manila’s mall culture? About how we enjoy the convenience of having everything we need in one area? SM Aura has spots where you can read and even free co-working spaces. You have wifi, tables with sockets to charge laptops, and even areas where you can hold a meeting. Across this area is a Toby’s Estate café and an XO 46 Heritage Bistro. You can order food and drinks and have it delivered to your ‘office’.
The Book Kiosk nearby is a library where you can take a book and replace it with something you’ve already read. You can also just sit nearby, read, and put it back when you’re done. I’m sure we all miss libraries and this is the next best thing. A great place to keep kids entertained – maybe husbands too – while you shop.
Trini Active
I’ve been a “workout clothes are strictly for working out” kind of gal before the pandemic. Now, it’s not uncommon to see me in cycling shorts or my favorite Peloton x Lululemon pairs while taking our dog Juancho for a walk. This, so I can jump on the Peloton real quick or do a session of Barre when I get a bit of a break from typing. Here in Manila, Adidas and Nike used to dominate activewear and while they’re great brands, I’m so happy to be seeing more Filipinos getting into the game as well.
One of them is Trini Active, founded by 3 Filipina girlfriends. When asked about their name, they said that it came from the sanskrit term for ‘three’. They started as an online brand and opened their store in SM Aura during the pandemic.
I got myself a pair of their best-selling leggings and I can honestly say that my lower extremities look as good as they do in my Lululemon pairs. Quality is great and the prices are also reasonable!
Fino
We also quickly passed Fino to check out their leatherware. Most Filipinos bag-hags own a Fino or at least know of it. They’ve been around for years and their pieces are synonymous with quality. Glad to have seen designs from Fino that are both timeless and modern. They have this clutch with some Baybayin letters on them. That’s a great piece for #ModernFilipiniana looks.
Patton
Our last stop was Patton – a brand that carries high-quality, everyday essentials. Products are sustainable, elegant, and easy to style. Designer Patty Ang, who creates beautiful, high fashion pieces, is one of the partners behind the brand.
Personally, I loved the design of their dresses, tops, and pants that you can easily take from #WFH to the great outdoors. The brand’s bodysuits are also something you should check out if you’re a fan of versatile pieces.
Outdoor dining options
We capped the visit at SM Aura’s outdoor dining area at the top of the mall. We enjoyed an evening with just enough wind, clear skies, and a relaxing view of BGC. Here, you can order from multiple restaurants like Barcino and Prego while dining safely and with appropriate distance outdoors.
Many thanks to SM Aura for having us over and for the lovely afternoon. It was a great way for all of us to get to know (and in my case, re-familiarize myself with) what’s available for us here in Manila.
Thanks for this great read – and a tantalizing view of all the amazing things we’ll get to explore in Manila! Can’t wait to see you 💙
Can’t wait to have you in Manila! So excited!