The ABCs of luxury shopping at the Shang
There is no better gift than one that is well thought out and bought with the receiver’s personality and style in mind. This holiday season, the Shang guides shoppers through the A to Z of gift giving, through its gleaming hallways and stores filled with luxury goodies that everyone will love to receive. Buy one for yourself, too!
Shangri-La Plaza is recognized for its unparalleled retail power, having won last year the Shopping Center of the Year (Large Category) in the Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year Awards, a joint effort of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Shang EVP and general manager Lala Fojas says, “Our shoppers experience not just the usual malling but a holistic and pleasurable lifestyle experience at the Shang.”
Indeed, the Shang has installed strategically laid out themed merchandise zones that cater to different tastes, interests, passions, and preferences. The Shang’s impressive repertoire of brands has been further boosted by the opening of its East Wing last year.
As in past years, the Shang is decked out in creative décor for the holidays, making shopping even more enjoyable — and rewarding too. Because now, you can win your own retreat at Shang Salcedo Place with its ongoing holiday raffle promo. Every P2,500 cash or charge single official receipt purchase from any shop in Shangri-La Plaza from Nov. 14 to March 1, 2015 entitles the customer to one raffle coupon. Double your chances of winning by using a MasterCard debit or credit card for your purchases. The grand raffle draw is on March 2, 2015 at 6 p. m. The raffle’s grand prize winner will own a 34.80-sqm. unfurnished studio unit at the Shang Salcedo Place in Makati.
From Dec. 6 to Jan. 4, the Shang hosts musical events at both the Grand Atrium and East Atrium with performances by Noel Cabangon, Madrigal Singers, Sounds of Santiago, St. Theresa’s College High School Glee Club, Montessori Greenhills, MBC Sing and JOY Manila, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Mandaluyong Cantabile Choir, UP Concert Chorus, UP Singing Ambassadors, Kammerchor Choir, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, UP Jazz Ensemble, Hail Mary Queen Children’s Choir, Jonathan Badon, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Vox Angeli Chidlren’s Choir, The Eexecutives Band, Acapella Manila, Kilyawan Boys Choir, Ateneo Chamber Singers, Jay Cayuca and his Band, and The Nightingales with Ervin Lumaguag, among others.
From Alberta Ferretti to Zanotti, going through the alphabet of shopping has never been this fun!
A is for Alberta Ferretti, which tells a story of images, words, sensations and emotions that develop within a feminine, luxurious world and become coats, jackets, skirts and gowns. A metamorphosis that fuses nature and feminine beauty. A femininity that is sweetened and enriched, enhanced by movement, poise and gestures. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
B is for Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers and Baume & Mercier. For Bottega Veneta’s women’s collection, think materials that play with a range of textures, finishes, and weights but are uniformly dense and opaque without any transparency. On the upper part of the body the fabric is cut close, creating a strong line. Though the entire silhouette appears to be cut similarly close to the body, this turns out to be something of an illusion. Upon movement, a variety of unexpected pleats and slits suddenly reveal themselves, allowing a woman to walk unfettered. It’s about subtle strength and confidence, a silhouette that is streamlined and linear, yet unrestrictive, allowing for freedom of movement. Though at times the clothes have a suggestion of nudity, there is in fact little skin bared — the effect is achieved through careful choice of material and close tailoring and pale tones.
“The women’s collection is about movement, energy and confidence. We are always thinking about what clothes should do for a woman and her personal experience of them,” says creative director Tomas Maier. “The men’s collection is about versatility and ease, continuing the exploration of how a look can take you both here and there.”
The men’s collection is marked by ease and informality. Subdued neutrals dominate the season’s palette with a predominant focus on darker color. There are various tones of grays and greens, as well as paler neutrals such as sand and mist. For touches of color, there is dark aubergine, a burned red and chartreuse. Materials are warm, luxurious and sensual to the touch, such as calf suede, lambskin and shearling, cashmere, camelhair, flannels and English double-faced wools.
Brooks Brothers continues its tradition of timeless elegance. For men, vests are an important staple and are shown under suits, knits and outerwear. At once luxurious and durable Saxxon wool, a Brooks Brothers exclusive, is offered in everything from tailored clothing to sweaters. Colors ranging from loden green, mustard, twilight blue, and navy are contrasted with subtle accents of pink and deep purple. Quilting, another key detail this season, is found in every category including knits, outerwear and accessories. Red Fleece, the new label, is a youthful take on Brooks Brothers classics for both men and women. This season, menswear sees the introduction of sports coats and an expanded selection of tailored clothing featuring the slimmest fit and narrow lapels.
Baume & Mercier’s exceptional watch designs are from a variety of inspirations, from the Art Deco period (Hampton collection) to the 1950s (Clifton collection).
Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, and Baume & Mercier are located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
C is for Carven. Parisian moxie had its beginnings in Carven. The Carven girl is capable of making her own fun, no matter her circumstances. She borrows from memories of ‘90s attitude. She has the detached appearance of the young Juliette Lewis, Drew Barrymore, or Liv Tyler. Its cotton twill is adorned with precious ornaments taken from the archives of the house. The prints merge and collide, mixing electric camouflage and sensitive bouquets, while gingham is associated with flowered corsets and occurs in patches of pleated roses. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
D is for the quintessentially New York DKNY. Its collection is inspired by people on the street and how they personalize their style. DKNY goes for old school/new school, chic with street, classic gone cool. Tradition takes on urban twists and turns. It’s a style that’s slick with sexy moments. It’s all about who you are, how you feel – and how far you dare to go. DKNY says, why commit to one expression, when you can wear them all — and that includes sheers and lace, wool felts, sequins, faux fur trims and PVC. It gets graphic with macro-houndstooth, shearling striped with black PVC and animal camouflage with strokes of gray or bullion. Capes, skirts, jackets — on their own or teamed together — create dramatic dressing. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
E is for Escada, which takes its inspiration from the strong colors of artist James Turrell and enriching the palette with a strong romantic vibe. A bouquet of floral prints — lilacs, winter roses and dahlias — have a hand-painted effect reminiscent of old masters. Detailing includes lasered leather and wools and gold accessories to enhance the overall opulence of the season. The silhouette is voluminous circle skirts in mid lengths and nipped waistlines in blazers and pants that accentuate the soft curves of a woman’s hip. For Escada Sport, it’s a palette of bergamot red, rosewater, myrtle and patchouli blue — names taken from the ingredients of all the brand’s great scents. Floral prints combine with signature heritage fragrance bottle prints in graphic black and white, while the graphic edge also appears in shadow plaid patterns. The silhouette is soft as dropped shoulders and new circle skirts while fabrics are velvets, mohairs, and Italian jacquards for a rich and cozy appeal. Located at Level 3, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
F is for Ferragamo. Salvatore Ferragamo’s collection revolves around the altered states of luxurious materials under the creative direction of Massimiliano Giornetti. The collection is warm, inviting, sensual. Strong coats, architecturally designed capes and small blousons with sculptural necklines mask the delicacy of light dresses; thick mohair sweaters shelter skirts constructed with exquisitely treated pleats. The surprises are endless such as ribbons composing a skirt. Colors are black, coffee brown, chocolate, sand and camel are mixed with brick red, amber gray with accents of bronze.
For the men’s collection, the lines are clean and sharp, expressed through pieces that condense the basic language of men’s garments, reinterpreting it in a compact and essential way: small blousons, shortened jackets, duffle coats, Ulster coats, peacoats, and slimly tailored trousers. This conciseness brings focus to the surfaces: never flat, varied colors and sensual.
Faded jacquards and graphic stripes on coats and field jackets, jerseys with voluptuous sleeves, weaves that seduce and invite closer examining, brushing that gives the tailoring a vibrant quality. Inserts and overlap effects upset the apparent level of precision: a hood that protrudes, leather details, bomber jacket with knitwear sleeves. Shirts with embellished edges are envisaged as utilitarian jackets. Accessories such as shoes, bags, ties and scarves offer rich and varied selections that feature the brand’s classic touch with a modern twist. Located at Level 1, Rustan’s Department Store, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
G is for Givenchy and Gucci. Givenchy fans will rejoice that its classic Pandora bag has been updated for the new season as the Pandora Box bag. Where the Pandora was slouchier in silhouette, the Pandora Box is rigid with cleaner lines and a more defined structure. It features a front flap concealing a clasp closure, rounded base, and a front-facing external zip pocket. It’s the new “it” bag of Hollywood’s A-List celebrities, used by Amanda Seyfried, Isabelle Huppert, Jessica Chastain, Lily Collins, Madonna, Naomi Watts, Nicole Richie and Rooney Mara.
Gucci’s new collection has elements of boyish romanticism, geometric, form-fitting lines and soft furs. In both its ready to wear and accessories lines, the palette is awash in baby blue, cornflower, green, blush pink, yellow, together with camel, cognac, and supreme black. Across ready-to-wear and accessories. The Jackie bag is deconstructed and comes in calfskin, python and crocodile. For evening, high-heel boots are in black shiny calfskin and bracelets are beset with colorful, hand-painted crystals.
Givenchy and Gucci are located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
H is for Hugo Boss, Herve Leger, and Homme et Femme. For Hugo Boss’ new collection, Jason Wu’s first collection pays homage to the brand’s DNA while looking towards the future. Tailored, elegant looks for outerwear and military-inspired coat dresses are in neutrals. The Boss colors are inspired by the Polar Circle landscapes — from light chalkstone gray to dark arctic ocean-blue and deep purple. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
Herve Leger by Max Azria’s collection is styled with bondages, rhinestones, laser cuts, and fringes. And launching its fall-winter campaign is Maria Flavia Ferrari who’s seen wearing the label’s bandage dresses, and posing in front of lights and mirrors photographed by Steven Pan. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
Homme et Femme is a great store that carries multiple brands. It’s a joy browsing through racks for pieces such as Comme des Garçons, Dries van Noten, Dior Homme, Dior Resort, Jil Sander Navy, Martin Margiela and Alexandre Mattiusi. Located at Level 3, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
I is for IWC. With its passion for innovation and technical inventiveness, IWC Schaffhausen has established an international reputation. Since 1868, the Swiss watch manufacturers have been creating masterpieces of haute horlogerie that combine precision engineering with exclusive design.
During the pioneering days of aviation, most pilots had to navigate with the help of pocket watches. Wristwatches made especially for aviators were a rare occurrence. By contrast, the first Special Pilot’s Watch, built by IWC in 1936, came with a rugged glass, a rotating bezel with an arrowhead index for keeping track of short periods of time and an antimagnetic escapement together with high-contrast, luminescent hands and numerals. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
J is for Jimmy Choo’s modern architectural heels and silhouettes juxtaposed with pieces that reference the extremism of the Ancient Régime and the seduction and revenge idolized in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Creative director Sandra Choi continues to experiment with new proportions while remaining focused on a refined cut, shape and form. The concept of an affair is pivotal to the collection, the sense of illusion and deception, things are not what they seem at first, design details that trick the eye inviting closer inspection and entrapping the beholder. “The idea of an affair driven by unbridled passion and lust was front of mind when designing the collection. I revisited films that convey a sense of forbidden passion; Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood for Love and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, where deception and illusion are key themes.” The collection features new heel signatures, a triangular heel with lacquer finish. Velvet panels and flocking lends a sensuous tactility to pointy toe flats, tough heeled day boots and skate shoes giving a sense of depth. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
K is for Kate Spade. The brand channels Las Vegas for November — lavish in the razzle-dazzle of nightly lounge acts, champagne cocktails at the Sands and the showgirls in a flurry of marabou feathers. After all, we always play the wild card. December is inspired by space — the painterly mix of moody clouds, the hazy glow of Saturn’s stripes, and constellations that twinkle in and out of focus. January is losing oneself in the clouds — endless sunny blue sky and color-blocked patterns. Located at Level 2, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
L is for Loewe. The traditional art of paper folding is interpreted by Loewe to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the brand’s arrival in Japan. Using Loewe’s signature material, the napa leather, the Origami bag is the result of the Spanish brand’s homage to Japanese craftmanship and expertise. The Origami was the starting point of inspiration for two of this season’s bags from the Skin collection: the Pillow bag and the Cubo bag. When collapsed, all these bags take up less space, making them easy to store or travel with. The Origami bag comes in light blue, raspberry, black, stone, light pink, brandy and red. Loewe also launched the Indigo collection, inspired by jeans, and its key product is the Amazona Indigo bag made from premium suede. Located at Level 1, Rustan’s Department Store, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
M is for Marc by Marc Jacobs. Choose from several pieces like the Queen’s Night Out: Ellen, featuring embossed lizard skin with a single leather strap; Domo Arigato featuring form and function and a sporty and fashionable look. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
O is for Omega’s watches that stand the test of time. The Swiss luxury watchmaker is based in Switzerland and now owned by the Swatch Group. It was chosen by the British Flying Corps and the American Army for its combat units and has been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932. Omega has been worn on the wrists of European royalty like Prince William and world leaders like John F. Kennedy. And yes, James Bond wears it too. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
P is for Panerai. It is pure Italian design loyal to its own tradition. The sea represents Panerai’s identity and its place of origin. The sea is pure passion, a passion that lives again in Eilean, the Bermudian ketch from 1936 built at the Scottish Fife shipyard and returned to the sea in 2009 thanks to a restoration that took more than 40,000 hours. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
R is for Rolex, which enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations. Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
S is for Saint Laurent. Its women’s collection features John Baldessari’s artwork. He has been featured in more than 200 solo exhibitions and in over 1000 group exhibitions in the US and Europe. It’s timeless, passionate and evocative. The men’s collection campaign features Raymond Pettibon whose work has been the subject of recent solo exhibitions. Located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
T is for Tod’s. Tod’s products are created with a unique process in which Tod’s artisans, specialists that perpetuate a unique tradition, use the best quality leathers, which they cut, work, and sew by hand. No wonder its bags and shoes — especially its driving shoes! — have earned fans from around the world. Located at Level 1, Rustan’s Department Store, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
V is for Versace Jeans’ new collection, the result of the juxtaposition between two of the strongest cultural and artistic movements of the second half of the 20th century: psychedilia and pop. Primary colors and sharp contours define shapes and volumes in the pop side of the collection, which represents major cultural currents of the postwar period, defined by the symbols, myths and expressions of a consumerist society. Urban art forms find expression in all-over graphic prints and placed foulard designs that fill shirts and dresses, making appearances also inside the garments with simple elements treated as small works of art. Located at Level 3, Shangri-La Plaza Main Wing.
Z is for Zanotti. Giuseppe Zanotti brings back the 1980s. Saturday night fever livens up the wardrobe by matching materials that are rarely paired and by playing with proportions. Zippers part seas of crystal, and fashion dives into the past. Soft suede loafers and precious crystal embroidery are reminiscent of old American cartoon movie posters. Drops of colored light breathe life into faces and hands, animating stories. Innovation and sophistication flash before our eyes. The Zanotti man has a keen eye for detail and never forgets to pick the right accessories. Beauty-bags, hip-hop belts, maxi back-packs have a new take, so that every look is unique. Guiseppe Zanotti open soon at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing.
