Local pieces to wear with your everyday basics
There is a reason basic outfits—a tank and jeans, a white shirt with trousers, a clean black dress—stay in heavy rotation. They are easy, reliable, and leave plenty of room to play around with everything else. That’s where accessories come in. One great piece can shift the whole look: a bright suede bag, a pair of embellished pants, an unusual piece of jewelry, or shoes that pull your eye down to the floor.
The best part is that plenty of local brands are making exactly those kinds of pieces right now.
By Martina Lebron sarong
Who says a sarong is only meant for the beach? The sarongs from By Martina Lebron might technically belong in your vacation wardrobe, but it is too versatile to leave there. Tie it around the waist over trousers or a skirt, turn it into a top, or play around with proportions until it becomes a dress. One piece gives you quite a bit to work with.
The sheer fabric may seem intimidating at first, but once it is folded, wrapped, and layered, it becomes much easier to wear. It is also a clever way to bring print into an otherwise pared-back look. Throw it over something already in heavy rotation and the outfit suddenly takes on a completely different shape.
If you want to see how the different scarves and sarongs look and feel in person, By Martina Lebron pieces are also available at Qurio, located on the ground floor of One Rockwell, East Tower, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
Sofia Yulo fine jewelry
I recently got to see Sofia Yulo’s pieces in person, and they are even more beautiful up close. They feel like the sort of jewelry you collect over time, keep forever, and eventually pass down. Ideally, your grandchildren will one day open your jewelry box and realize you were very chic.
What I love is that the collection does not stay in one lane. There are delicate, classic pieces but also designs that feel much cooler and a little unexpected.
The Dottie Bangle in Titanium is especially cool. Titanium is such an unexpected material for fine jewelry, giving the bangle a more modern, almost industrial edge. Then there are the pear-shaped diamonds cascading down some of the designs, which are an absolute dream. They bring a little drama without looking too traditional or overly formal.
On the more eclectic side is the chunky braided cord necklace with its pear-shaped pendant. The contrast between the substantial cord and the stone makes it feel fresh and slightly unexpected—exactly the sort of piece that can make a plain tank or white shirt look much more interesting.
Atelier Carlene denim pants
The sparkly Atelier Carlene pants have been everywhere lately, worn by the likes of Anne Curtis and Alex Eala, and it is easy to see why.
They are the kind of piece that instantly becomes the focal point of an outfit. With their wide-leg shape, intricate pattern, and metallic beading, there is already so much texture and visual interest that the rest of the look can stay restrained. If you are feeling more adventurous, lean into maximalism.
What makes them especially good for dressing up a basic fit is how little else they require. A plain tank, fitted tee, or tube top suddenly looks far more intentional once these are in the mix. Rather than layering on several accessories, you can let the pants carry the look.
Pilosopo x Maligaya
The Pilosopo Bobbin Bag has this strange industrial beauty to it—part futuristic, part dystopian. In its collaboration with Maligaya, that harder, more mechanical quality is softened by crochet, silk, and intricate stitching, bringing something more organic and fluid into the mix.
The contrast also works beautifully. Pilosopo’s recognizable bobbin structure still gives the bag its sculptural edge, while Maligaya introduces movement and texture that make it feel almost like a wearable art piece created between two designers.
It is still unmistakably a Bobbin Bag, just reinterpreted through a softer, more tactile lens. And against something as simple as a tank and trousers or a plain dress, it becomes the detail that gives the whole outfit a point of view.
GVN Woven Frame Bag in Poppy
The color is really the star here. GVN’s Woven Frame Bag in Poppy comes in a rich red-orange that gives an otherwise neutral outfit an immediate jolt. The shade is strong enough to carry the look on its own, which makes it particularly good with clothes that are kept relatively understated.
The suede is also such a good choice for the season. Its matte surface gives the color more depth, while the woven construction keeps the bag visually interesting from every angle. The combination of suede and that saturated poppy shade makes it feel especially right as wardrobes start moving into richer tones.
This version is a revision of GVN’s earlier Frame Bag, now updated with a zipper closure for more practicality. The small size hits a particularly useful middle ground: compact enough for dinner or drinks, but not so tiny that it feels strictly like an evening bag.
Elcru Gumamela Heels
Elcru’s Gumamela Heels turn the familiar hibiscus into the defining detail of the shoe. The flower gives the design softness and personality, but there is enough structure to keep it from reading too sweet.
Elcru offers a range of heel heights across its styles, so there are options depending on how much elevation you want—but I still love a tall shoe. The Gumamela’s three-inch heel gives the whole shape a more elegant line and lets the flower sit a little more proudly on the foot.
With jeans, tailored trousers, or a clean dress, they are the kind of shoe that can make a straightforward outfit look much more dressed up.
