Malate’s New Gem

There is nothing itsy-bitsy about Itsie-Bitsie. Barely a month old, Itsie-Bitsie has already generated a buzz among Manila’s fashionable set. The store, which carries an impressive collection of garments from hip up-and-coming designers hailing mainly from Australia, is the brainchild of Ines Delgado.

Located at the heart of Malate’s hottest section, the shop’s facade is visually arresting and any effort to resist succumbing to its charm would prove to be futile. It is a vision swathed in ivory and accented with well-chosen furnishings from Milo Naval and cushions from Tadeco. The shop's small size gives it an intimate and convivial atmosphere. The store at once stirs emotions of exhilaration and leisure to the fashion punter. The lavender scent that wafts throughout the store is a prelude to the sublime shopping experience one is about to embark on.

So what makes this store different from the other specialty boutiques in the metropolis? Well, they say that the best things come in small packages and Itsie- Bitsie definitely bolsters that maxim. It’s small but terrible in assuaging any fashion lover's predatory tendencies. The racks carry an inspiring assortment of clothing from small designers and design houses. There are jeans from Bettina Liano and Sass and Bide (which incidentally is the choice of the cast of "Sex and the City" for its fifth season), swimwear from Zimmerman and Tigerlily and items from Rebecca Davies and Wayne Cooper. There is also a selection of hard- to-find fragrances from Italy, France and Spain available exclusively at Itsie-Bitsie.

Who is the woman who heads this fashion paradise? Ines Delgado has always been known among her set of friends as the fashion maven. The charming 25-year-old is also the Programs Assistant to the Asia Society. However, aside from promoting Asian art, Ines’ infatuation with fashion governs her other side.

When it comes to design, this accomplished aesthete has an educational background to vouch for her expertise. Upon graduating from Colorado College where she majored in Art History and minored in Italian, Ines packed her bags and jetted out to swinging, multi-cultural, uber-fashionable London. In London, Ines found herself immersed in the art world as she became a student of Christie’s Education for Fine and Decorative Arts. She later moved to New York where she worked under Christie’s PR department and assisted in its Asian Arts department.

Her exposure to the art world has translated to her taste in clothes. "Since I appreciate the arts, I love having anything to do with everything beautiful and I hold a high regard for innovative designs. Fashion is a fun outlet wherein you can express yourself whether on a casual day, a nighttime event or a day at the beach," Ines declares.

After her jaunts is some of the world’s most fashionable cities, Ines came back home to Manila last year and instantly felt she needed to share some nuggets from her international fashion fling. "When I arrived I felt a need to stir things up. I wanted to bring in unique, easy-to-wear pieces but with a twist." She says Itsie-Bitsie is a potpourri of her fashion finds. "It has a little bit of everything of my favorite boutiques, it’s a combination of what I found cool in New York and London," Ines states.

When it comes to her choice of clothes for the store, Ines wants garments that are simple, elegant, yet possess an edge. A true reflection of her personal style."I want clothes for different occasions. I want each to have a distinct personality to it."

When it comes to the customer, Ines is not hinged to a certain type of person."The store caters to people with different styles. Its styles range from basic to funky to elegant,"she affirms

Ines plans to further infect people with her impeccable taste by intoducing more fresh designers.She plans to quench the thirst of Manila’s fashion addicts by bringing in more accessories and some new brands of chic lingerie.

So as everything seems to be bleak these days, it's a comfort to know that with people like Ines navigating, the fashion boat will surely be sailing on in grand style.