Shop in Spotlight: CCHairExtensions

I'm pretty lucky because I was born with a thick head of hair in a color I like. However, there are times (especially after a bad hair cut, or when I'm bored with my look) that I want to change my hairstyle, but not drastically. In comes cchairextensions.com. CChairextensions is a shop that deals with everything that has to do with hair, specializing specifically with selling hair. You know when you hear the word "weave" in movies or on America's Next Top Model? Yeah, they have that. They sell only 100% Brazilian or Indian virgin human hair at pretty low prices. Their extensions can be clipped on, looped on or taped on. You can also buy hair weave directly and have it put on by your trusted hairdresser. The hair weave comes in different colors--from jet black to beach blonde. It also comes in different lengths, from 16-inch to 26-inch hair weave! And of course, it comes in different textures--from straight to wavy to curly!
CChairextensions is legit and is endorsed by different bloggers. They even have a review page where all the photos, videos and blogs are posted. I might try to buy a set if I'm feeling adventurous, but now I'm pretty content with my hair. :) TWITTER | TUMBLR| INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | CHICTOPIA
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Shop in Spotlight: UKMilly

I'm all for clothes that are affordable yet stylish. I also advocate investing in clothes that can serve different purposes and functions, especially when it comes to gowns which we seldom wear. After all, we have to get the best bang for our buck. Since it's the holiday season, I'm sure a lot of us had/ still have a lot of gatherings to attend to--whether it be family or high school reunions or even weddings--some of which could call for formal wear. 

Shop in Spotlight: okdress.co.uk

buy here

Some companies have been e-mailing me telling me to check out their sites but on principle, I don't advertise sites that I personally don't like. One such shop is okdress.co.uk. They are an online shop that specializes in made to order dresses and gowns so unlike other online shops which have ready-made gowns, if you don't fit in a specific size (like maybe the dress fits perfectly but then it's too short on you), then this is the shop for you! My top pick are their strapless mermaid prom dresses.

Shop in Spotlight: Dressv.com

Who would've thought that you could buy wedding dress and related apparel online? Well, definitely not me. I always thought that wedding dresses and bridal party dresses were always to be made. (Well, if I were to get married, I would have my dresses made). But I realize, not every bride has that option thus enter dressv.com. It's amusing to see how everything can be found online now, including beautiful ready-to-wear wedding dresses.

Shop in Spotlight: Armessi

I am super happy, proud (and pressured) to announce to you that I will soon be taking on my very first styling project! I will be styling for Armessi, my former AIESEC co-app Yana Santiago's line.

Yana is a super talented Clothing Technology student at UP right now, and she will be showcasing her S/S 2012 collection at the NCCC Fashion Show featuring Davaoeno designers on February 25. She won't be here though, that's why she asked me! Haha. 

Little tidbit: Yana messaged me on Facebook and proposed this to me. I said YES! But then a few seconds later, I got cold feet. She said that I should go for it cause she trusts me.

Aww. :'>

Thank you sooooo much for entrusting this to me Yana!

So, a preview into Yana's Debut Collection: Into the Wild.

Shop in Spotlight: Freestyle Necklaces

I found about this shop because of Mandi Garcia's post wherein she wore this awesome Deathly Hallows necklace. I immediately fell in love with their quirky necklaces. I was so happy that they agreed to sponsor my blog giveaway! So, anyway, here's what happened during the interview.

Shop in Spotlight: Pirouette

I just posted the winners of the accessory giveaway. I was supposed to mail the prizes today but the courier ran out of pouches! FAIL. :(

So anyway, here's a little background on one of the shops who sponsored my giveaway: PIROUETTE.

Pirouette is owned by Michelle Achacoso. She named her shop Pirouette after the ballet term meaning to spin or to twirl. She says "My favorite thing to create have always been tutus. One day (after weeks of still not having come up with a name), a friend of mine wore one of my creations and started twirling around with glee! Thats when I thought that PIROUETTE was the perfect name for my shop. It gives off a feeling of whimsy and playfulness, which embodies the pieces that I hand-pick, create and sell."

Pirouette's been doing good, they even got featured in Meg magazine's December 2011 issue! Awesome! :-)

Anyway, see the rest of my interview with Acha here:

Shop in Spotlight: Dress Diaries + Giveaway Winner

For the first time in a long time, I have a free day to myself! My class starts at 11:30am tomorrow (No AnaChem lecture, score!), so I can wake up late and get enough hours of sleep which has well-eluded me. :) Finished auditing 2 giveaways today. But first things first, a background on the shop who sponsored my giveaway!

Dress Diaries is one of the more successful online clothing shops in Davao City. Their collections are almost always sold out within a day of posting and during bazaars, their booth is flocked my many a fashionista (I even featured them in one of my earlier posts, read here). It helps that owner Marylou Briones has a great sense of fashion, which helps in picking only the chic-est, trendiest stuff.

Shop in Spotlight: RP Online Shop ( + Giveaway Winner)

Posting the giveaway for Day 9 before Day 7 and 8 because I want to combine my Leyende review & the winner of the giveaway as well the SOUL Bloggers' Soiree post + giveaway winner announcement. :)

RP Online Shop started in 2007 and was named "Rakistang Pinkista", during Gia Santos' second year in high school. She started out selling her old clothes. Later on, as she moved to college, she decided to reopen her shop and gave it a more posh name. Thus, RP Online Shop was born.

I did a little interview with Gia about her shop:

Shop in Spotlight: Christine Angela Designs

Everyone wants to make a mark in the world. For Christine Angela Sevilla, she wants to leave her mark by having her own clothing shop which is why  chose to name her shop after herself. She envisions Christine Angela Designs to make it big.

She's always been into fashion but it was only two months ago, just a few weeks before her last term in college ended, that she started her online shop. She says, "As I stepped into college, an eagerness in me to break free from the usual things that I had no choice but to submit to. I hated doing routine work and doing things where I just couldn't find the importance in them. Every day, as I was in the car looking out of the window, I always imagined having to do something that I love - something that I know I can shine. I would dream hard of being the person that I want to be and being that lady who gets to have fun while working for herself."

Shop in Spotlight: Mauve

Make a Statement. Wear Mauve.

So goes the mantra of this new kid on the online shop block. 

Started just this August, Mauve already has a loyal client base. Owner Anina Rubio started her shop because she wanted a change of environment (she used to work in the corporate world!) -- from Engineering to fashion. Being an avid online shopper plus the emergence of online shops, the change proved to be good move because she says, Mauve surprisingly started out great. I can tell it's because of their All About Geometry Collection, which features necklaces in geometric shapes. Yes, you all saw that first on Mauve! It's cool cause it's definitely something different--and it was borne out of Anina's love for math! How unexpected is that? :)

I love the red and black necklace from the All About Geometry Collection!

The name Mauve was suggested by her sister because it sounded sophisticated and chic, and it definitely does the trick, doesn't it? To Anina, Mauve pretty much caters to anyone who loves to stand out and who loves fashion. Some accessories can be worn subtly so working girls can easily pair it with their corporate looks. Pile different Mauve accessories up? A different story. In the end, It's a matter of how you style the accessories :)

Anina said she loves having an online shop because she can do business in a hassle-free environment.

And when asked for advice for new online shop owners, all Anina has to say is:

"Be nice!"

Thank you again Anina for sponsoring my giveaway! :-)

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PS. Have you joined my Mauve giveaway already?

Shop in Spotlight: Plethora Shop

Plethora (n) - overabundance

That is what Christine Banayat of Plethora Shop had in mind when she chose to name her shop that. Besides, it's memorable, don't you agree? Say it. Plethora. Plethora. Plethora.

Plethora Shop was started in 2008 because nursing jobs were hard to come by and Christine wanted to be financially independent from her parents. She decided to relive her love for fashion and started her small business. Like any other business starting out, the first few months were hard because there was a lot of competition. Christine had to learn how to present her products well. Plus, sometimes there would be problems with other circumstances, like with the courier. But, at the end of the day, she learned how to deal with all of these for the love of the business.

She says having an online shop is one of the best things that happened to her. Aside from the other reasons mentioned above, she loves having her online shop since she gets to do the things she loves--fashion and photography. 

Plethora Shop sells vintage pieces. They cater to budget-savvy, confident girls that are tough on the inside. They have dainty chiffon and lace pieces which can be paired with animal prints and leather. Her regular clients usually request vintage dresses, sheer tops and cardigans--those are her best sellers. However, Christine has her share of "treasures"--her most favorite pieces! They even have their own place on her blog! (See them here)

Lastly, to new shop owners, Christine shares her favorite Steve Jobs quote:

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

"Never settle for anything, always improve yourself and your store, if you're not selling retake photos of your products, reinvent your site, add as many contacts as you can! Learn from your mistakes, Learn form others mistakes. Do some research, just never give up, If you're passionate about something just continue and never worry or be scared :)"

Thank you Christine! I was truly inspired! :)

Visit Plethora Shop on Multiply here.

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**By the way, if you've seen my You've Got Mail post, you'd see that Plethora is a sponsor on my upcoming giveaway! Don't forget to like/follow them! :)

Shop in Spotlight: Anagon Collection

Anagon Collection is an online shop owned by Ana Gonzales of The Fashionista Commuter. It formally opened in December 2005 but before that Anagon, as everyone now refers to her, liked selling stuff back in college. She tells me she even sold tie-dyed sandos and beaded slippers! But then, her friend suggested she sell accessories so it's easier to bring. Since Anagon loves crafts, she tried her hand at accessory making. And thus came Anagon! :)

The story behind the name Anagon Collection is quite funny. She said because her classmates were so used to selling her things, one day, a makulit classmate of hers would tease her "O, ayan na si Anagon Collection!", and the name stuck.

Like every other business starting out, Anagon recounts that the first few months that she opened her online shop, she had to learn the ropes. "Everything was experimental", she says. But because of love for the craft, she pursued and slowly, everything is paying off. She gets featured in a lot of publications, like PhilStar, Candy Mag, and even Business World! But more than the recognition she gets, she says meeting new people, the feeling that she was able to create something that people will love and actually earning from it is something that Ana loves about having her own business.

Anagon Collection sells accessories which caters to the modern day flower children who love accessorizing, don't want to spend a lot and still look hip (that would explain the logo then :P). Right now, their best-selling items are the wire accessories because they're unique. People have been clamoring for the personalized wire key chains, which are ideal to give out for Christmas, though Ana's personal fave is the gold wired headband, which you can wear to holiday parties.

Ana's advice to new shop owners:

Find your niche, and don't rely on fads. Not saying you don't follow them, but create something that will make you standout.

Thank you Ana for the time. :)

Follow her at The Fashionista Commuter.

Like Anagon Collection on Facebook here.

Check out their website here.

**Shop in Spotlight is a new section on my blog. It's where I feature shops that have tickled my fancy. :)