WHAT'S ON STEVEN TAN'S CHRISTMAS LIST?

Check out his local and luxurious picks from SM Mall of Asia Main Wing.

- MARBBIE TAGABUCBA

If there's no wow factor, why bother?

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan might as well be talking about the shift to experiential retail spaces in Mall of Asia's Main Wing, now the destination mall for tourists and locals alike with world-class homegrown concept stores and cool brands we had to travel for, all under one roof.

This time he's talking about his Christmas list, squeezing in some quick window shopping in between meetings and events in the middle of the holiday rush in this well-curated side of the mall.

His first stop is Outside the Box pop-up on the ground floor, and goes straight to the Zarah Juan's famous bags. "Ang sarap pang pasalubong," he says, an annual tradition he's perfected over the years. This year, he's spending the holidays with his mom before he flies off to Paris, basically his second home. "Every single year, I buy pasalubong from Filipino designers and my friends in Paris love it." He then singles out a tiny but mighty handbag, handcrafted in the shape of a retro radio. "This would be perfect for my inaanak who's recently become dalaga," he says. He's also picking up some bag charms, fashion's biggest trend right now.

Tan then makes a beeline to the other end of the pop-up for Jor-el Espina's tops. "It is so refreshing," he says of the designer's modern take on the barong. "I'd wear this with light-wash jeans."

A bib top with matching floral embroidery is perfect for his sister for Christmas. "It can be formal, it can be casual, depending on how you jazz it up," Tan says.

"I love dressing in layers. It's why I love winter," he mentions as we go up the atrium escalator to the new Massimo Dutti store. "It's very understated and luxurious, yet it's not too expensive. Imagine wearing this in Europe this winter," he pulls out a moss green suede jacket, examining its sumptuous fabric.