There’s no sign on the door. In fact, there is no door. But these online boutiques are worth making a beeline for.

By APC

Shopdarkwhite.com

Sales Pitch: You know the Greenhills drill: Proprietor flies to Hong Kong / Bangkok / Asian Destination, shops until her supposedly leisure-only luggage limit can take, and then smuggles the wares in for the betterment of style society. The difference between that and Dark White, though, would have to be the fact that its proprietress is Bea de Jesus. Regularly trawling Uniqlo, H&M, and those streetside markets you can’t exactly get to from Ortigas (or Makati, or anywhere in the Philippines, really – unless you hop on a plane), the wavy-haired, street-edged businesswoman curates an eighties-inflected, hipster-genuflected, only-one-in-stock mix. So you can finally quit with the bilin.

Our Picks: The oversized tie-dyed shirts (P799), acid-washed denim things (P899 for zip-front skirts and P1399 for the shredded pants), and shirts with huge animal likenesses on them (try tiger or grizzly bear, at P699 up)

Wear if: You don’t mind getting your shirt dirty.

Order system: Payments made via BPI bank deposit or G-cash; free shipping for orders 3500 and up, most items

Staaldesign.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: Sister, or rather, BFF to shopdarkwhite.com, Staal Design is a chain-heavy accessory line created by Debbie Lupango. Deb and Bea actually star in the joint lookbook for the two brands, in a series of poses that could be taken by Terry (Richardson) but are actually shot solely on a tripod-and-timer basis. The self-portraiture is apt, considering the line’s DIY foundations. The pretty Deb and her former jewelry storeowner mom make the pieces themselves, using pliers and a considerable amount of eye-crossing. “Sometimes, I just stare at the piece to figure out how I’m gonna do it.” It being, high quality rhodium plated and slightly cheaper, lower quality metal manipulations that run the gamut of body armor, one-shoulder epaulettes and gladiatrix headbands. Not for the faint of heart. (But surprisingly, for the weak of wallet.)

Our Picks: The bust-cupping Rivulet (P1799), which could easily moonlight in collar-grazing and neck-skimming - depends how you wear it (a feature for most of Staal Design’s pieces)

Wear if: You’re the strong, albeit non-silent type. These pieces make such a statement, “they could even be worn alone.” (Deb’s words.) Hubba hubba.

Order system: Payment can be made through BPI Bank deposit, G-cash, or Paypal. Shipping fees to be added to the total amount of purchase.

Readyforrain.com

Sales Pitch: There are only two seasons in the Philippines (dry and rainy), and if you can’t be prepared for at least one of them (dry or rainy!), then you’d be unstylish for half the year (or more, considering climate change, what a bummer). Readyforrain.com takes care of that, with an assortment of patterned rain boots, rain flats, umbrellas, and omigosh – galoshes! - (look it up) from brands like Plueys and spiritedly illustrated my+brolly.

Our Picks: Ooh La Lace Plueys (P2399); my+brolly umbrella in How Kawaii (P1200)

Wear if: You want rainboots that don’t communicate motorcycle man or security guard.

Order system: Pay for cart items via credit card. Plus, part of the proceeds of my+brolly handpainted umbrellas will be used to fund access & transportation projects for wheelchair users around Metro Manila.

Deanandtrent.com

Sales Pitch: Manila menswear –especially when it comes to RTW – is not exactly a dying cause. In fact, it’s never really lived, considering the dearth of retail brands carrying men’s tops that don’t fall in the predictable logo tee category. The savior comes in the person of Dean, and well, Trent – a line of contemporary classics using less pricey materials like cotton and fleece. The brainchild of Timmy Ang, the line thrives on the man’s textile business-family roots. In 2003, after completing studies in Washington DC, Timmy worked in their family’s mills and learned to understand material and clothing production, to come up with a brand that skews Abercrombie in its relaxed feel (think henleys and peg-fastened jackets), or Costello Tagliapetra in its love of lumberjack-esque plaid.

Our Picks: The madras polo shirt and leather-feel nylon jacket (around P1200)

Wear if: You like Kings of Convenience (their music is first on the site playlist) and other moderate hipster favorites.

Order system: Although they used to ship, management now encourages its patrons to buy from its stores and outlets. The lookbooks and product shots on the site are enough reason to go, though.

Communemnl.com

Sales Pitch: Communemnl.com is a miscreant as far as online boutiques go. Think of it as non-walking, window shopping – where the products and new drops are all there to look at, but no chance to do actual online purchases. Reason being – they’re all about the commune: coming together, representing - all that come-from-behind heart-warmth biz-nuss that make a Spike Lee movie. Indeed, what the site lacks in cart surfing, it more than makes up for in its daily bulletins on its products (shirts with small words in big font, and sneakers, sneakers, sneakers) and brands (try Fresh Prince-era hiphop from Demeanor) that line its actual store shelves on Perea Street in Makati. How head-slappingly obvious. A streetwear commune that gets you to hit the street.

Our Picks: Pieces from Why You Do What You Do – shirts for the new school do-gooder (around P450)

Wear if: You’ve got a big heart… and bigger sneakers.

Order system: Not Applicable

Soakswimwear.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: Looking at the message boards on Soak Swimwear’s site is a lot like witnessing Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Grief. First, there’s Denial. (Hi, I made an order through the online form but never got a confirmation... :( Did it go through?) Then, there’s Anger. (You won’t have this again?) Followed by Bargaining. (Hi I really love this... Can I make a special request? Can u make the suit a one pc? For all the new moms out there who want to wear a swimsuit without showing what shouldn't be shown :D) And Depression. (I've been anxiously awaiting your return too, ‘cos i placed an order but got no confirmation.) And lastly, Acceptance. (I just got my Rouge Bikini! I love it!!!) One customer even admitted to having her fingers go numb every time she’d fill out the prized order form, as stocks sell out really fast. Who knew runway-inspired bikinis and maillots could trigger substance abuse?

Our Picks: The Blair Waldorf-inspired Rosette Bandeau (P1550), and since we’re on the subject - the more-Serena-like bandage asymmetrical maillot (P1650). XOXO!

Wear if: You’re a Blair… or a Serena. (Dorotas need not apply.)

Order system: Fill out an order form like there’s no tomorrow (or - later) online, wait for confirmation via email, then pick up the item or deposit payment in their bank account for orders sent via courier.

Stylebreak.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: That mop-topped, shorts-wearing, leather-lace-up-shod Alexander Wang didn’t know the Gremlin effect he was igniting (read: overnight exponentiation) when he sent out his A/W collection of slashed black leggings. First spotted outside the runways on model Anya Hindmarch (at Balmain, no less), the fashion-assistant favorite has been spotted on this side of the globe, on everyone from celebrities (female, thankfully) to cover models (check stylebreak’s gallery of magazine features) and even baby clubbers (i.e. too-young-to-party people). Since then, nothing’s been safe from Stylebreak’s scissorhands and bleach cans. Dresses, white t-shirts and jeans all get the tattered treatment. But it’s fiiiine—we’re no strangers to danger.

Our Picks: The bleach-treated androgynous jeans (P1650), which are a clever, trompe l’oeil take on their famous side-slashed leggings

Wear if: You would like to come out on a style blog.

Order System: Fill out an order form, wait for confirmation, deposit payment and wait for item to be shipped to you, or schedule a meet-up a week in advance at designated Ortigas spots (the girls study in the area) like Podium, Starbucks UA&P, Metrowalk, and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Virtualmae.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: Poring over Virtual Mae’s vast selection of shoes will make you die and go to heaven, only to be resurrected and killed yet again by the sheer exquisiteness of yet another pair. That’s why they’re called killer heels, agree?

Right.

Now with that digression out of the way, here’s what mousing over to Virtual Mae’s site is like - with the brain cells kept forcibly intact: It’s like stepping into a DSW (Discount Shoe Warehouse – as frequented by those other DSW’s aka Designer Sale Whores). What it lacks in site design, it more than makes up for in its wild selection of shoes. Leopard-print pumps! Mesh-detail booties! Those never-say-die gladiators! And a couple of months ago—when the site just started—a price-points-away version of YSL’s buzzed-about cage shoes. Kill us now.

Our Picks: Style 132 – it’s a total sell-out.

Wear if: You’re a Carrie.

Order System: Leave a message on the site or through virtualmae@yahoo.com with your full name, style choice and size to order.

Yllashoes.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: The world isn’t flat, but your shoes should be. That’s the conclusion you jump to (and with these grounded beauties, it’s a comfortable landing) when perusing Ylla Shoes’ wares. Made of indigenous materials that minimize transport costs and thus your carbon footprint (the total amount of global-warming culprit, greenhouse gases your lifestyle emits), these chic, Chanel-feel ballet flats have definitely got sole. Make that—soul. Hallelujah.

Our Picks: The Frida Slingback flats (P950), made of a jute mess upper with patent leather instep, a cushioned pigskin leather insole, rubber non-skid soles, and a gunmetal studded square on patent leather ribbon.

Wear if: Audrey was her naaame…

Order System: Repeat after me: Order form, confirmation, BDO Bank Deposit or pick-ups. Shoes in sizes 4/5/6/7/8/9 can be made to order, 10s come with a minimal additional charge.

vidajewelleries.multiply.com

Sales Pitch: If you can get past the iffiness that the pluralization of jewelry brings, then you’ll definitely take a shine to Interior Design graduate Vida Tan’s “modern glam” accessories. Displayed via a flash site that oozes with sophistication via slinky computer-screen flourishes, her high-class creations of semi-precious stones, brass, gold, Swarovski crystals and glass bear the mark of a well-traveled, erudite woman—who gets the reference when a bangle’s called “Gehry” or “Baroque.”

Our Picks: The Arabian Nights necklace made of gold glass, and the Gehry bangle.

Wear if: You’re enamored with glamour.

Order System: Click on the tiny question mark that appears near every icon in the jewelry collection section. It’ll direct you to an online inquiry form. Or, access the order form at http://vidajewelleries.multiply.com, then pay through G-cash or Metrobank or Chinabank deposit.