Local Swimwear Brands to Check Out for Your Next Summer Getaway

Look out, Gentle Monster fans! The popular eyewear brand is launching a new collection with its longtime collaborator, Blackpink’s Jennie, along with special pop-ups in 13 cities across the globe.

Called “JentleSalon,” the new collab collection will be launched on May 1 and feature captivating pieces as imagined by the brand and Jennie. These pieces come in different colors and designs, catering to various styles.

Those purchasing Jentle Salon pieces can customize them with 11 different charms inspired by Jennie’s favorite symbols, such as cute capybaras, hearts, stars, and ribbons, among others.

In line with this, the eyewear label is also holding Jentle Salon pop-ups at Shangri-La the Fort in Manila, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, and more, starting May 1. Pop-ups will also be set up in Costa Mesa and Kuala Lumpur in June and July.

For more information about these pop-ups, follow Gentle Monster’s Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) pages. You can also take a look at or purchase Jentle Salon pieces via Gentle Monster’s website.

Jentle Salon wouldn’t be Jennie’s first team-up with the eyewear brand, as the K-Pop sensation also collaborated with the brand back in 2020 with the “Jentle Home” collection.

Keep stylish amid the sizzling heat! With temperatures rising, now is the perfect time to invest in protective eyewear. These new styles, showcased via Vision Express’s summer solstice party, are the epitome of modern and unique elegance.

Here are our favorite styles from labels and maisons that include Cartier, Dior, Bottega Veneta, and more:

Cartier

These silver Cartier sunglasses (CT0271S00558) are a taste of refinement. Made rimless to further enhance your features, it comes with light blue photochromatic lenses held together by silver three-pronged joints.

Retails for P96,990 at Vision Express

Maui Jim

An homage to the laidback spirit of Hawaii, Maui Jim brings casual eyewear to the Philippines. These classic aviators (MJH4232665) are an easy choice and go with any outfit; their unique sloping lenses and rounded square frames add a unique twist to a timeless silhouette.

Retails for P10,990 at Vision Express

Bottega Veneta

These gorgeous cat-eyes (BV1215O00350) come in the perfect shade of Bottega green. The brand, which is best known for pushing the envelope when it comes to street style, never fails. This season, they introduce a hallmark silhouette with oversized frames accentuated by thick rims – truly a statement piece.

Retails for P31,990 at Vision Express

Ray-Ban

Those looking for a something classic can head straight to Ray-Ban. The iconic introduces green rectangle frames (RB4395F66828H54) that’s sure to be the talk of the town. It's also made transparent to highlight the metalwork by its temples.

Retails for P11,990 at Vision Express

Balenciaga

These studded Balenciaga sunnies (BB0096S01351) are a surefire head-turner. Made with a unique facade, it’s best worn on roundor square faces to add dimension to softer features.

Retails for P100,990 at Vision Express

Dior

Wrap-around frames are coming back in style, and what better way to usher this in than with these Dior sunglasses (CD40042U72Y00)? Featuring the iconic designer’s logo on the frames, these glasses are unmistakably chic and perfect for your next beach trip.

Retails for P42,990 at Vision Express

Check out the Vision Express website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

Watch connoisseurs, fashion lovers, and G-Shock fans gathered at a launch event held by Casio Philippines last Thursday, April 18, at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.

Centered on the brand’s newest timepiece, made in collaboration with renowned automotive brand Toyota, the event officially unveiled the G-Shock x Team Land Cruiser (TLC) Toyota Auto Body GW-9500TLC-1DR, inspired by G-Shock's Mudman series, Toyota’s sport utility vehicle (SUV) Land Cruiser, and racing team TLC.

Designed to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, the new watch is equipped with a Carbon Core Guard, ensuring your timepiece is resistant to dust and mud. It also has a duplex LCD, offering a larger digital compass display.

Elevating the design is its stylish black and red colorway, which resembles the Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport, the car raced by the TLC at the Dakar Rally. Its strap is also adorned with mud splash prints, which amps up the timepiece’s rugged look. To commemorate the collaboration, the watch is also designed with the TLC logo on the band and case back, along with a TLC graphic that appears on the LCD screen.

Also displayed in the brand’s SM Megamall booth are the previous models of the Mudman and Mudmaster series, including the MudmasterGWG-2000.

“Casio is honored to collaborate once again with the Toyota Land Cruiser Autobody. This latest offering perfectly represents the characteristics of a G-Shock wearer: resilient, strong, and ready to face any challenges,” said Isabella Concepcion, Business Development Head of CSC Time.

Hosted by sportscaster Martin Javier, the launch event was attended by some prominent celebrities, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and influencers, including celebrity couple Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte, model-actor Wil Devaughn, and actor Jome Silayan, among others. Executives from watch retailers Lucerne Group, CSC Time, and SM Supermalls also graced the event.

The new G-Shock x TLC timepiece retails at P29,940 and is now available via Casio G-Shock's website and authorized stores nationwide. You can also get a chance to win the limited-edition watch by visiting G-Shock's booth at SM Megamall untilApril 25 and posting your photo with the booth’s photo wall on social media with the hashtag #GSHOCKxTEAMTLCPH.

Run, don’t walk! Grab your own G-Shock x TLC watch while stocks last.

Among the many sports played all over the world, Filipinos just have this certain fondness for basketball. Every street corner and barangay courts are filled with people, even kids, shooting hoops every now and then.

To honor our love for the globally popular ball game, activewear brand adidas Philippines has launched a new shoe that signifies our burning passion for the sport.

Enter “Alab ng Puso,” adidas Philippines’ latest iteration of their BYW Select basketball shoes. The new kicks, adorned with hues of collegiate gold, acid orange, and legend ink, were made in collaboration with local street art collective Aral Cru.

“Alab ng Puso,” like its other BYW Select versions, is designed to add comfort and style to on-court looks. The shoes are equipped with Boost midsoles, dedicated to helping with high jumps, and a durable textile upper for longer plays.

The shoes also sport a distinctive heart-shaped tag with the adidas logo, and a unique illustration made by Aral Cru printed on their insoles.

Adidas and Aral Cru’s “Alab ng Puso” retails at P7,300 and is now available via adidas’ website and selected stores nationwide. Grab your pair now!

It can be quite hard to get your hands on some stuff that K-Idols are wearing because it’s either too expensive or they’re just inaccessible in our area. The good thing though, is that you can now match with their accessories as the Korean jewelry brand CCNMADE is now available in the Philippines through the online shopping platform Shopee!

Seen sported by members of BTS, MONSTA X, ASTRO, EXO, and even IU, their gorgeous minimalist pieces are handmade and perfect for everyday wear. They offer adorable and unique bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings to complement any outfit.

Now, in case you want to get the exact same thing your favourite idol is wearing, you can browse their shop and check out the photos of each product since most of the time, they put photos of the idols wearing them.

Since payday has just passed, you might want to check out their store here and find new jewelry to add to your collection. Apart from their debut in Shopee Philippines, they are also available in Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, and Mexico.

Shop their products here.

Dupe engagement rings? An audible gasp is heard from the audience. Quelle horreur! There’s been some debate recently about whether it’s okay for someone to wear dupe engagement rings. Who can forget the whole P299 engagement ring hullabaloo that divided social media?

On one hand, less expensive rings are practical, especially for those who may be on a budget. On the other, shouldn’t true love be celebrated with authenticity — even in the context of jewelry? There’s also a slightly elitist but also somewhat pragmatic way to look at this situation: if you can’t afford to purchase a real ring, then you probably can’t afford to get married just yet.

As it is with many other things in life, this whole issue could probably be resolved by understanding the context. Each situation is different, and every relationship comes with private nuances that only work for the persons involved. Perhaps because money is still such a taboo, it’s become hard to open up about issues regarding just that. As a nation that loves to engage on viral topics, however, private subtleties and taboos are set aside to give way to debate.

And let’s face it: dupe engagement rings do hold a purpose for a significant number of couples. Some people propose with them; others use dupe rings to travel.

As someone who’s neither in love nor engaged, the thought had never fully crossed my mind. But truth be told, even my parents don’t wear their wedding or engagement rings simply for fear of losing it. It’s tucked away safely in some deposit box at the bank, and I’m sure they aren’t the only couple to do so.

Camille Jimenez, the co-founder and CEO of Penny Pairs, who also runs her business with her husband, is among the many women who worry about losing a ring. Banking on these reasons, the entrepreneur has realized the need to make ring shopping more accessible — for whatever reason.

“We’ve noticed a lot of our community has recently been getting engaged, which makes us so happy!” shares Jimenez. “We’ve also gotten a lot of feedback from our customers and friends saying that they’ve been using our Juliana Ring as an option for both dupe and real engagement rings.”

With this, Penny Pairs has launched a beautiful new collection, aptly named the “Show It Off” Collection, featuring rings that can serve as a statement piece or an engagement dupe. They’re incredibly fun to layer and were also made for just that.

“We made the stones bigger to match other engagement rings in the market, and raised the setting so that it’s easier to stack with other rings, like wedding bands. This is also why this collection is so big: we wanted to give the same experience of choosing that perfect ring, in a more accessible way,” adds Jimenez.

These rings come in the most popular cuts for engagement rings including round, princess, pear, and marquise. They come in both gold and silver bands and are a particular favourite for Jimenez whenever she travels around. Should she ever drop one or lose another, it gives the CEO peace of mind knowing that she can show off her love without worrying about anything at all.

With all these arguments, what does the young CEO have to say to detractors of dupe engagement rings? “We believe every love story deserves to be celebrated,” she shares. “We just aim to provide the best for whatever purpose people use this collection for, whether it be for their real engagement or for an everyday replacement. We believe both ways are equally special.”