Young Star's Definitive Guide to Online Shopping: It's all in the retail

MANILA, Philippines - And I encourage you all to shop more,” was what former president George Bush said in 2006, in light of the looming recession in the United States. Apparently, recession or not, depression or not, if we ain’t got no money, we still ain’t taking our broke asses home. It seems, what Bush said was more of a resounding reminder than a plea to keep Uncle Sam’s economy afloat. Michelle Obama went ahead and started the change by making stops at Pottery Barn and J. Crew, the LVMH empire has been slowly populating China with their luxury goods, and Lily Van Der Woodsen-Bass-Humphrey has found a friend and a coping mechanism in the Gilt Groupe after her house arrest.

We all know as good as anyone, though, that the Gilt Groupe may be the highbrow way, but not the only way to flex those acquisition muscles. As the games are changing, so do the way we all play it — and locally, we have two cyber channels to hold responsible for it: Multiply and Facebook. When the post-Friendster platform went from being a personal outlet to an economic one, all the enterprising folks with a little imagination and capital went ahead and tried their luck. A couple of interface overhauls later, Facebook proved to be invaluable to E-commerce, through the birth of fan pages. To the style savants and the business-savvy haunted with shadows of doubt, this was the combo that was both the silver lining and the green light.

Young Star presents some of the web’s most promising online stores — stores that have helped champion Manila’s palpable fashion consciousness. With celebrities as patrons, bloggers as brand ambassadors, and Lookbook.nu standing as a digital print ad, their mainstream success can be chalked up to a bit of ingenuity, a little bit of courage, and the grasp of two selling points critical to retail: fashion that encourages (and identifies with) the World Wide Web ethos of access and choice.

Printed jacket with piped tent sleeves from Boheme by Danika Navarro. Sheer maxi skirt from Boheme by Danika Navarro

Boheme

http://www.hello-rio.com/shop/

Facebook: Hello Rio (737 likes)

Danika Navarro’s maiden collection is proving to be anything but amateur. Earthy colors, ambiguous proportions, asymmetrical hemlines, and sheer excess made sophisticated by intricate braids and piping — bohemian may not be everyone’s style, but you’ll be fighting the urge to traipse around the fields barefoot wearing her pieces, nonetheless.

Virtual Mae

Handmade macrame top from Boheme by Danika Navarro Shorts from Coexist Georgia sheer cardigan (used as scarf) from Coexist Virtual Mae Style 987B flatforms

http://virtualmae.multiply.com/

Facebook: Virtual Mae (1,100+ likes)

Already a darling of the country’s top fashion magazines, Virtual Mae offers the kind of variety that may be forcing commercial shoe stores to step up their game. With each new collection more covetable than the last, it’s becoming more likely that when the question “if the shoe fits” is brought up, “come what Mae” would be a desirable response.

Cynthia pleated asymmetrical dress from Coexist Virtual Mae Style 971B Nautica heels

Coexist

http://coexistonline.multiply.com/

Facebook: Coexist (3,700+ likes)

Coexist is where ready-to-wear is synonymous to tailor-fit. Simple and subtle silhouettes, cocktail and bodycon dresses that hug all the right places, and the inconspicuous marriage of trendy and classy. This is one store that’s truly living up to their name.

Ruckus

Kelly sequined dress from Coexist Necklace from +Ruckus

http://ruckusaccessories.multiply.com/

Facebook: Ruckus Accessories (1,200+ likes)

Nikki Sunga puts her Fine Arts degree into fine use by creating one-of-a-kind necklaces, and accessories. Bold, vibrant and experimental, chains, studs, tulle and fringe are all combined carefully enough not to cross kitschy boundaries. One Ruckus accessory is enough to stir a sartorial riot.

Undernourished Manila

Christina cut-out blazer from Undernourished Manila Ciara shorts from Coexist Virtual Mae Style 930 Color Splash 2 heels

http://undernourishedmanila.multiply.com/

Facebook: Undernourished Manila

Years into the business and dozens of online stores later, it would be easy to conclude that veteran Undernourished Manila wouldn’t be able to keep up with the times. But here they (still!) are, sustaining their relevance and following through with fresh and youthful collections — their latest one being a great showcase of tailoring and edge.

DAS Shoes

Leony printed top with gathered sleeves from Coexist Sheer wrap skirt with piping from Boheme by Danika Navarro Heels from DAS (Style 07)

http://dasmyshoes.multiply.com/

Facebook: DAS (1,100+ likes)

Fairly new to the scene is DAS shoes, armed with an introductory collection boasting of architectural wedges, platforms, and some leopard print for good measure. It’s dead-on with the trends as well as the heel height — trust us, this brand’s a killer.