STYLE ALERT: PYLONES RAIN PARADE UMBRELLAS

You'll be singin' in the rain in no time with these hot umbrella styles from French brand, Pylones.

These whimsical and charming umbrellas are wide enough to cover you from the rain, yet small enough to fit in your bag. The brain behind these brilliant reinterpretation of the good ol' umbrella is Laurent Mouveau.

With Rain Parade, you'll always be looking forward to the next rainy season!

I wish I could collect them all!

Red coquette

Blue bum

Pink

Mint blue Geisha

Green dude

Purple lady

White Parisienne

Buddha Orange --- I'm eyeing this one! :D

Black

Ditch your cane umbrellas, and forget about designer ones because they are so long ago. These babies retail at $32 each, and can be bought directly from the Pylones USA website. Better order fast, or have your loved ones abroad get 'em for you 'cos they're the hottest rain staple right now! And they're selling fast like pancakes!

**Photos are from goodhousekeeping.com, luuux.com, stylehive.com, kaboodle.com, polyvore.com, and pylones-usa.com

STYLE ALERT: RAINY SEASON STAPLES

The water trickling down my window and the calming sound of rain have inspired me to create this post.

The rainy season is my least favorite season of the year. It's impossible to look your best because it's the season of soaking wet clothing and mud- stained shoes and jeans. The rainy season is quite cruel, especially to commuters, so most people prefer to dress down.

Looking stylish shouldn't be a problem when it comes to dealing with the wet season. It's time to shop for these rainy day staples so you'll still look your absolute best even under heavy rains.

Photo Credits: glamgaloshes.com

RUBBER BOOTS

- Rubber boots have transcended their plain and boring look. Plueys revolutionized this rainy day staple by introducing it in super stylish prints. Though Pluey's might be expensive for some, our local department stores carry cheap, sturdy and fashionable rubber boots finds.

Photo Credits: bussbuss.com

UMBRELLAS

- Bringing an umbrella doesn't make you feel and look old or unfashionable. In fact, it's your best friend during the rain because it keeps you from getting wet. Opt for tote-able umbrellas if you're the type who keeps on losing umbrellas (like me). These super cute umbrellas are unavailable locally :(. I'm eyeing the Rain Parade umbrellas, the cute character umbrellas that make them great conversation pieces.

Photo Credits: retrotogo.com

HOODIES

- Hoodies are back in the spotlight! Personally, I love jackets. Opt for hooded jackets so you don't have to worry about getting wet just in case you forgot your umbrella at home.

Photo Credits: fashionno5.com

CARDIGAN

- Feeling girly? The soft and flowy textures of cardigans are great alternatives if you think that hoodies are making you look boyish.

STYLE ALERT: BLACK IS THE NEW PINK

Black is back! Time flies so fast and the new school year is about to begin. Time to keep your wedges, pumps, espadrilles, and booties aside and start shopping for the stylish school shoes. School shoes doesn't have to be plain and boring. Rock your way to school with Manels' newest collection: BLACK ROCKIN' SCHOOL

Manels Leathergoods, the country's pioneer brand in leather, heads into the Back-to-School season with its campaign entitled “Black Rockin' School”. “We want to bring the sexy back into black” says Mark Siggaoat, VP for Operations of Manels. The Manels “Black Rockin' School” collection highlights mid-cut leather boots, rubber-soled oxfords with a sneaker-type finish, and casual loafers for the men. For the ladies, modern mary janes and patent leather finish highlights the collection. “The Black Rockin' School collection has a little bit of something for the rebel in each of us” says Siggaoat. While the brand continues to carry its comfort staples and classic school shoes, the campaign takes a fresh angle into the Back-to-School season by giving style-conscious students a chance to “strut their styles” into the hallways this season.

Check out these pieces from Manels' newest collection.

Apart from footwear, Manels also offers fresh bag designs to complement your school style.

Manels has got you covered with their stylish leather footwear this school year.

Boot camp baby!

Leather remains at the core of the brand's collection and campaign. Visibly, the store's look for the season takes its cue from vintage 70's punk rock. “We were inspired by that rugged black leather jacket look from the 70's popularized by The Ramones” says Siggaoat. Manels continues to reinvent itself in staying at the forefront of leather footwear since its inception in 1964.

Checkout Manels at all major Metro Manila malls. Checkout their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Manelsleathergoods or through Twitter via @marksig_manels.

STYLE ALERT: SPRING/SUMMER 2011'S MOST COVETED BAGS AND LUGGAGES

Owning a piece from these much- coveted bags this summer is your one- way ticket to candy land! Add a dose of color and funk to your wardrobe with these must- have candies! Who says retro ain't cool?!

They're so juicy, they're enough to become perfect conversation pieces!

FURLA CANDY S BAULETTO BAGS

- One of the "IT" bags this 2011. This unconventional bag is made of durable and lightweight PVC, is almost see- through, and comes in electric colors. Definitely a statement piece!

Photo credits: bagbliss.com

KATE SPADE ESSEX SCOUT COLLECTION

- The All- American premium brand introduces satchels in soft pastel hues. If you'd rather have it soft and pretty, check out this S/S bag collection by Kate Spade. The Essex Scout bags is a reflection of the brand: timeless, elegant, and pretty!

CAMBRIDGE COMPANY SATCHELS

- If you can't blow 15k on an Essex Scout, then rejoice because the Cambridge Satchels are here to make your satchel dream come true! The Cambridge Satchels are taking the country and each closet by storm! Owning a piece of luxury has never been this easy and affordable!

Recently, the same company has produced these mouthwatering editions in the FLUORO COLLECTION. Don't you just love summer? It just inspires brands to be daring with colors!

Photo credits: philstar.com

RIMOWA SALSA RUBY AIR LUGGAGE IN WATERMELON PINK

- Here's something to complement your feminine side and adoration for anything pink. Rimowa, a premium luggage brand has introduced the limited edition Salsa Ruby Air in Watermelon Pink. If you love luggages and anything pink, then you shouldn't miss this one.

Photo Credits: checkyourshoes.blogspot.com

TUMI CRASH X VECTOR COLLECTION

- Tumi plays with colors as the "serious" brand breaks its conventions by teaming up with renowned designer John Matos aka "Crash" in the Crash X Vector collection. Collectors and artists alike will delight in these bags as they travel in style with Tumi!

FASHION ALERT: I LOVE PLASTIC ESPECIALLY IF IT'S BY FURLA

I know. You've probably come across blogs containing the same content like mine. But who can resist these juicy PVC bags from Furla?! Like them, I am majorly lusting over these! For the Spring/Summer of 2011 collection of Furla comes the CANDY BAGS.

Need I say more? I think the pictures will do the talking!

A unique (but risky) clear variant.

PLASTIC HAS NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD!

I am not quite sure how much these bags cost at the Furla store in Greenbelt. I saw some stocks in the store, but never dared to ask. It would just break my heart if I find out that I couldn't buy them right on the spot. Price in Singapore dollars is SGD450. That's roughly around 16k in Philippine pesos. :(((

I so want to have a red one. I am no bag person, and I rarely find myself falling head- over- heels with a bag. Honestly speaking, right now, I am willing to trade a chance of having a Balenciaga for this one!

These bags, if ever I have a chance of owning one, will definitely remind me of summer the whole year round! And it willl keep my Longchamps at bay for a long time! :D