Lily of the Mall

How do three shopaholics create a chic new hobby out of their burning vice for Visa? As every fashion fairy tale goes, every great store is born out of the bad habit of wallet anorexia. After much manicure-cracking shopping expeditions, three savvy femmes got their act together and put something to enchant in the most unexpected place.

And so the tale begins in Glorietta 4 under the escalator – that is where the pod of Lily lies. A Shang-Tropez paradise of feel-good confection, it’s a candy store bursting with goodies, from brocade-coated fashion to charming home and office accessories.

Run by sisters Jessica Puyat, Wendy Puyat-Hotung and their friend Mary Ann Santos, Lily puts the tick in boutique. It was born out of simply having not enough shops that offer unique things for the seasoned pickers. Wendy, who is in charge of design, shares, "We love to design things and have them made for ourselves. After people started asking where we bought a certain top or bag, we decided that maybe we could do something with that. There’s nothing more freeing than to express one’s creativity, be it through design, writing, etc. Jessica loves the manufacturing world, she’s in her element there, like I am in design and Maan in finance."

Lily reminds me a little bit about how the line of Lilly Pulitzer came about. After reading an article in Vanity Fair on the little dress shop in Palm Beach, I saw a resemblance in the spirit of the two brands.

Lily prides itself on being adventurous, sophisticated, clever, wearable, versatile, unique and of course, fight. It has a selection of elegant, chic resort-inspired wear that, of course, finds itself comfortably suitable in the city as well. Just like good old Lilly P, which finds its roots in the cozy and relaxed sunny streets of Palm Beach (before the Palm Bitches, of course). It’s a happy brand that leaves the pretensions to the others!

For this season, expect bright and happy pieces in Chinese brocade to add light to this dreary monsoon season. The olla podrida of items includes colorful semi-precious cocktail rings, scented dumplings to perk up drawers packaged in charming dimsum baskets, year-round chic sandals and tops, saucy silk-cloaked notebooks, delicious candles in ornate ceramic pots and home accessories to add wit to any home. The criteria for a Lily product is simple – as Wendy puts it, "Gifts you’d buy for someone else but would also love to receive."

And surely, Lily would sooner or later find its way into your heart.