Cool Cardigans

Knit picks. Red and blue knitted cardigans from Surplus.


Lightweight hooded cardigan worn over a gray collared shirt and khaki pants.

This red zipped cardigan is worn with a white sleeveless top with a cowl neckline and khaki pants. A two toned scarf completes the look.This red zipped cardigan is worn with a white sleeveless top with a cowl neckline and khaki pants. A two toned scarf completes the look.

Pretty and preppie. A pink three- button cardigan for her and a gray V-neck cardigan for him.

It is said that the cardigan, the classic button down sweater, which is very much associated with preppies, was named after James Brudenell, the 7^th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander. During the Crimean War, Brudenell and his officers wore a “sweater coat” that inspired the cardigan.

By the 1900s, the V-neck “letter” cardigan was a hit in campus fashion. The look was smart but casual and generally styled with loafers, slacks, and white shirts. The legendary French designer Coco Chanel later gave it glam in the 1920s with her unstructured, collarless braid trimmed cardigan jacket

Cardigans have evolved since then and have become one of the most functional and versatile pieces in fashion. Its lightweight material makes it handy, it can be worn dressed up or dressed down, and its styles fit and flatter all body types.

And with lightweight cardigans ruling today’s runways – Christopher Kane’s bright neon cardigans, Zac Posen’s fancy cardigans in black and rich hues, Alberta Ferreti’s boho chic and ladylike versions, L’Wren Scott’s mix of fabrics, layering, colors, and eye-catching embellishments – can Surplus the store where you can get fashion for less be far behind?

With Surplus’s new cardigan collection, the art of layering will keep us cool in the cold season. There are classic button down cardies, sophisticated shawl collar versions, cool cropped styles, all-time favorite argyles, and trendy zip ups and hoodies.

And here’s another cool offer from Surplus – rechargeable flashlights for only P129.75 or 3 for P100 until December 31, 2011.

The Cardigan Collection is available at Surplus stores located at most SM Supermalls. Surplus is also in Facebook – simply search and visit Surplus Shop in Facebook.

Nice Corporate Dresses at SM Davao

Proper dress code is a must if you are in the corporate world or when you are at work or office. Being properly dressed commands respect and it somehow speaks and reflects the person that you are. There are a lot of formal dresses nowadays and all you have to do is choose which one best suits your style and taste.

At a time when women are equally comfortable chairing boardroom meetings, corporate dressing has taken a whole new direction.

Dressing styles now vary according to industry to reflect the culture and ethics of the work place – more conservative clothes, for example in banks, and more casual dressing in ad agencies. Casual Fridays is also catching up in corporate circles as a tool to make employees more comfortable with the organization and their colleagues.

Younger employees coming into the work force are more fashion conscious, and love to experiment with style even in formal wear. Dressing perfectly to work everyday is important for the complete look and feel for the employees.

Yes, the rules have changed, and we can get caught up in some corporate dressing confusion. Here are some tips on cracking the corporate dressing code from SM’s exclusive corporate wear labels, Alexane and Classics.

Power broker. Black and white striped A-line skirt, white woven shirt and black 2-button jacket

Perfectly suited. Loosely structured gray pantsuit

Time management. Black belted dress with high neckline and dolman sleeves

Skirting the issue. Floral printed straight skirt.

From desk to date. Black belted shift dress

Boardroom agenda. Abstract printed straight skirt

Corporate culture. Nude pant suit with belted jacket and wide leg pants

Deal maker. Printed black and white button-down woven shirt.

Dress for Success. Gray dress with banded wait and tulip cut bottom

Read the fine print. Short sleeved button-down shirt with optical print.

Paradign shift. Off white tailored shift dress

The art of business. Nehru woven shirt with painterly abstract prints...

• Treat your business clothing as an investment and choose wisely. Make sure you buy classic styles that suit your body shape, are comfortable, have quality workmanship and materials. SM has all the clothes that work – sleek jackets, straight skirts, pants, and shift dress.

• Dresses are in and in a big way, not only are they comfortable, they also exude sophistication and professionalism. A sheath dress works well even when worn just by itself, and you can choose to accessorize it. A jersey dress is the ultimate crease-free corporate wear, which doubles up as an evening dress when you dress it up with a sheer or trendy jacket.

• If your company has a more casual dress code, polo shirts, sports coats, and twill shirts will give a professional yet trendy appearance. Check out the collection of shirts from Alexane and Classics at the Ladies Wear Department.

• Whatever your style, always dress to impress. Always remember that people are one of the strongest expressions a company can have of its corporate brand, and impressions that people create do say a lot about the company’s work ethics or corporate brand image. And your dressing style bears great weight on the first impression you can create.

With the increasing number of choices in corporate dressing, you can not only look your part, but also exude immense confidence while feeling comfortable. The Alexane and Classics collection is available at the Ladies Wear Department of the SM Department Store.