Things we’re obsessed with

Stockholm syndrome

MANILA, Philippines - I’m obsessed with the way the Swedish dress. Swedish boys in particular, because they have their A-game on in a way that Manila boys probably won’t come close to within the next five years. Their clothes are crisp, understated (but with interesting elements incorporated that are completely organic to the look), and thrown together in a manner that seems effortlessly stylish and 100 percent gwapo. I was standing at a corner stoplight next to an impeccably dressed and amazingly eyelashed young man in a perfectly tailored cobalt blue suit (cobalt blue!) and I swear, my body was not ready for that much handsomeness at nine in the morning.

The Swedish sense of style, I chalk up to the fact that they have no shortage of homegrown brands to choose from, with a wide price range and an even wider selection. From H&M to COS to Acne Studios, and then some, it’s impossible to walk into a shop in Stockholm and to walk out empty-handed.

H&M has always been one of the highlights of any trip to a country that had an H&M — I know this is not only true for me, but for many of us who fly out frequently. Their racks run the gamut of  fashion — from necessary basics to the most current trends. There have been rumors for at least five years now that they’d finally be setting up shop on our shores, and it was only this year that the rumors became reality.

I hope your credit cards are ready, because H&M is opening its flagship store in Manila — all three floors and 3,000-something square meters of it — on Oct. 17, from 9 a. m. to midnight, at the Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall, and when I say they’ve got it all for you, I mean it: the full range of men’s, women’s, teens’ and children’s fashion, including athletic wear and lingerie and their gorgeous Studio line, plus gift cards for the first 200 in line (we’re telling you this early so you can cancel all your existing plans for the 17th), and some sales up to 50 percent off here and there.

I can hear my banker weeping already. — Regina Belmonte       

The feminist manifesto

This week has been all about feminism. With the now- infamous rape T-shirt being pulled from stores, the backlash brought on by a leashed woman at a recent show, not to mention Emma Watson’s amazing UN speech, which generated very tasteless threats of her own nude photos being leaked, it seems that everyone is speaking up and speaking out for the fairer sex. Here at YStyle we’re, well, obsessed with women’s rights. And while we take a step back from further fueling whatever negativity is bound to come from these (and more) issues, we applaud everyone, both men and women, for responding to the call of the feminist cause. Keep at it! —Carla Villanueva

Roll with it

My grandmother is a fabulous woman with amazing hair. Her secret? Sleeping in rollers. While it might be a little outdated to some (not going to lie, I’m very guilty of wash-and-wear hair), there’s something incomparably chic about a time-consuming movie-star level hairdo to get you through the day. If you don’t have a set of hot rollers to borrow from your grandma, finger waves or a curling iron do the trick, too. I’ve recently been doing my hair in rollers every night and while I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be keeping this up, I’m definitely obsessed with it for now. Paired with a red lipstick and I’m ready for anything.—CV

Titas of Manila

A fairly new and hilarious Twitter account has recently been retweeted all over my feed. The new @titasofmanila is a clever twist on @conyoproblems that came long before, except starring (you guessed it) every tita you’ve ever had the pleasure of making beso. From grocery shopping at S&R to having Cibo merienda with her fellow tita friends and reminding you that your Tita Menchie’s son is your age, @titasofmanila knows what’s up, in tita world, that is.—CV