I'm not a fashion blogger, so I don't know why I had promised my Instagram followers a "report" on the happenings that went down on the day I visited the first H&M branch in the Philippines. But whatever, here it is anyway!
I first went to an H&M store last summer, when my family and I stopped by its branch in the Outlets of Orange. Being a fan then of vibrant patterns and warm hues, I was thoroughly disappointed by its fall / winter collection: clothes limited to a palette of neutral colors. (It's odd how things can change in a span of just seven months. I am now obsessed with monochrome, and I regret walking out of that store without being able to buy a thing.) Which is why, when I heard that it was going to be opening its first store in the Philippines, I wasn't that thrilled. I wasn't the die-hard fan first in line, entering with a fat wad of cash and leaving with three full paper bags.
But that didn't mean I wasn't curious. Together with my mom, I paid H&M a visit in SM Megamall during its third day of operation. Contrary to what I saw in the US, H&M had three floors of to-die-for clothes, shoes and accessories that were all just begging to be put in my shopping bag.
Their pieces managed to pull off being affordable without having to sacrifice a killer aesthetic appearance, which is what probably makes it the store ideal for today's generation. Plus, it had such a photogenic interior! It was impossible not to take a picture (or four, hehe).
The only problem in my way that day was the number of people there! Probably everyone in Metro Manila came rushing in the doors of H&M and coming out with a paper bag of purchased items, so you could just imagine the lines in the fitting room and counter. I didn't bother falling in line to fit anymore, so I went with my gut and purchased the first dress I saw.
If you haven't visited H&M yet, I highly recommend:
(1) Emotionally preparing yourself, not just for the stuff you'll see but also for the ridiculously huge crowd of people that seems to grow larger every time you blink.
(2) Or waiting for the hype to die down (aka the time when you can actually count the number of people in the store with you) or for their branches at Robinsons Magnolia and SM North Edsa open.
Well, that's all for now! I'll be back soon, since I'm in a pretty productive mood to blog.
xx Angel