I might have already said before on this blog that I love shoes. I’ve loved shoes since I was a teenager. My mother had dozens of pairs of shoes when I was growing up. I have been carrying on the family tradition. But since we’re Filipinas, we’re excused.

This week, my favorite shoe comes from French designer, Jean-Michel Cazabat. They are called Kimberly Platform Sandals.

They’re gorgeous — just the right balance of sexy and tough. The color – eggplant – is in this season. The leather is suede. They are comfortable even though they have very high heels (4.25 inches or 10.8 cm) because the front part is elevated by 1 inch (or 2.54 cm). You can find them on Shopbop. There is also a version in black leather, but I find it too tough and aggressive.

Here it is being unboxed with loving care:

Background of Jean-Michel Cazabat: He has been designing shoes for over 25 years. He has worked for Charles Jourdan and served as president of Stephane Kelian’s US operations. Note: I loved Stephane Kelian shoes, but the company went bankrupt in 2002, a victim of the recession that followed the dotcom bust.

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NBC San Francisco Bay Area has asked me to contribute a weekly article to their fashion section. Last week, I wrote about Rickshaw Bagworks whose laptop and messenger bags can rescue even the most hardcore geeks from looking dweeby. This week, I have written about Hlaska, another San Francisco-based maker of gorgeous leather and fabric laptop bags and briefcases. The styles are very different: Rickshaw is for people who want a rougher, urban look; Hlaska has a more sophisticated style. Rickshaw allows you to customize your own bag (you can bring your fabric to their atelier). Hlaska is for people who prefer leather bags.

This is the look I put together today on Polyvore. It’s feminine and sophisticated, with a slightly tough look from the Jean-Michel Cazabat shoes and the Bally black leather bag. You can wear the arm warmers with the short sleeve knit top when it gets colder and then add the short coat if the arctic winds are blowing.

Makeup should be kept neutral, in this case, gray with a punch of color in the cheeks (see MAC palette below). MAC has a vast collection of shades to suit any skin tone and the prices are reasonable compared to other department store brands. They also have the funkiest packaging.

Shopplr Tough Girl look by Esme Vos featuring Paul Smith accessories

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Jean-Michel Cazabat Kimberly shoes

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