As an unofficial queen of costumes, I have worn some of the most outrageous and complicated outfits, with matching accessories like feathered wings or bejeweled crowns. Recently I had the chance to put on what might be my simplest outfit ever—a Watsons uniform.

For my Watsons’ #CelebSwitch stint, I was a Watsons saleslady for a day, and got to surprise customers with my shopping choices and let them know about the Switch and Save campaign.

While hard at work, I was also doing my personal shopping after discovering the incredible savings of the Watsons private label products.

Skincare tips

At the Watsons SM Aura Premier branch, I moved to different sections of the store, including the Watsons Generics section.

Watsons, Asia’s leading personal care store, now offers a wider variety of products under its own label, from personal care items to beauty essentials, and even some medicines.

To keep skin looking healthy and protect it from free-radical damage, I explained the wonders of Watsons Glutathione to lighten skin and prevent skin darkening caused by UV exposure. Watsons Vitamin E is my recommendation for healthier skin.

In the beauty section, I recommended to customers the Watsons Body Serum Whitening for the reduction of dark spots and Watsons Body Lotion Whitening Mulberry for fairer and more radiant skin.

With such irresistible deals, the campaign has caught the attention of several celebrities who have made the Switch and Save, including Patty Laurel, Iya Villania and the newest addition to the group, Christian Bautista.

Last month, Christian made the switch from singer to store supervisor for a day, as he surprised shoppers at the Watsons Store in SM Mall of Asia.

Patty was the third Switch and Save ambassador to be a Watsons saleslady, this time in SM North Edsa.

New style hub at SM Makati

A week after my Watsons experience, I returned as a customer at the Little White Box opening at the second level of SM Makati.

This exciting new concept store is the newest style hub that will be the home of bags and accessories from global brands.

Architect and artist Carlo Calma designed the space using versatile display shelves and bright lighting to emphasize the products.

Little White Box’s first lineup is Italian brand Save My Bag. Founded in 2013 by couple Stefano Agazzi and Valentina Azzia from Bergamo, Italy, Save My Bag has a wide range of bags and accessories collections. The products are made of poly lycra, a material lighter and more durable than neoprene. This not only makes it lightweight but also waterproof.

Originally meant as a protection for luxury bags, Save My Bag was discovered by Oprah Winfrey and “Sex and the City” stylist Patricia Fields, who both used the bags as regular bags.

Azzia, who flew in for the opening, shared her interesting story about the creation of her versatile bag that comes in different styles, sizes and colors. With her husband, this beautiful young Italian entrepreneur creates every bag to be practical and very fashionable at the same time. The selection of colors is updated every season.

The couple proudly declares that their bags are made in Italy from the sourcing to the finishing.

During her visit, she was amazed at the energy she felt in Manila and in the SM Store. She was delighted with the partnership with SM, as it has the best locations and knows how to discover and support new brands.

For all the bag lovers out there, check out the Little White Box this Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m. There will be a special demo on how to use the bag charms and more using Save My Bag.

Shopping event

Hosting this special shopping event is Preen.ph, a new web portal in town. Taking a print approach to online content, Preen.ph merges all interests in fashion and beauty, food and beverage, and entertainment and celebrities into one website.

Preen editor Cai Subijano knows that women today have interests greater than just fashion and beauty. They have a broad range of other interests that Preen would like to feature, whether it’s healthy products, film, music and many more.

As Hinge Inquirer Publications Inc. group publisher Bea Ledesma puts it, “Preen is the girl’s guide to everything. You want to know what purse to buy? It’s on Preen. What to eat at the new hotspot? Also on Preen. How to tweeze stray hairs on your nether region? That will probably be on Preen, too.”

During its launch at Project Pie, Preen’s dynamic team talked about the site’s fashion, beauty, culture, profile and space sections that will take its readers into a fresher lifestyle spectrum.

What makes it different is how it is a hub and a one-stop portal for one’s lifestyle needs, as delivered daily with a dose of humor and wit, accompanied with striking imagery.

The event’s host was newlywed and perpetual cool girl Tricia Centenera-Valenciano.

Preen.ph, a collaboration between Hinge Inquirer Publications Inc. and Inquirer.net, is the first online venture into lifestyle and entertainment of the Inquirer Group of Companies.
Follow Preen.ph on Twitter and Instagram @preenonline, and like it on www.facebook.com/PreenOnline.

Food market, art exhibit

This weekend is the second Gourmand Market at C1 Park, Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC, in Taguig. Open until 11 p.m. today, the event offers a wide variety of savory and sweet dishes made by merchants just for the unique food market affair.

For art lovers, check out Kartini Asia’s “Asian Renditions,” a furniture and art exhibit at Harringtons Lifestyle Showroom. The exhibit is being held at the HMR Compound in the East Service Road of Sucat, Muntinlupa City.

Combining artisan touches of Asian-inspired and antique furniture with stylish contemporary detail, Kartini Asia put together a well-curated display and Asian furniture pieces.

Kartini Asia’s Nina Malvar shared her excitement about the exhibit that runs until the end of the month.

The exhibition also presents the body of work of Mission Artists Philippines. The founding members include Filipino talents who have shown great relevance in the subjects and themes of their art.