What's Your Shoe Personality? Fashionistas Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Raya Mananquil Share Theirs

If the clothes make the man, the shoes certainly make the woman. Ladies love a great set of steppers—whether they’re flats, sandals, boots, or those teeter-tottering high heels that are all the rage on the runway. In fact, shoes are so vital to the female lifestyle that they can even tell you who a woman is, what she likes, and how she operates—thus leading to the notion of the “shoe personality.”

At a recent event hosted by HSBC and Charles & Keith, five fabulous Pinays with a certified footwear fetish in common revealed their respective shoe personalities.

Interior designer Tessa Prieto-Valdes represented the Shoe Artiste, someone who sees the shoe-shopping process as a creative project which allows you to express your unique self. “Less is definitely not more!” according to Tessa. “You can never put enough embellishments on your shoes. Fashion should be fun so you should be creative and enjoy the things you wear!”

Supermodel and radio DJ Raya Mananquil identified with the Shoe Setter—a trend-loving stylephile who will try anything, as long as the shoe fits. “My love for shoes must have started when I got into modeling over a decade ago,” Raya shared. “Before that I was very pragmatic with my shoe choices. Now, I have a propensity towards black shoes. I like neutrals, too, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to take risks or be daring when it comes to my choice of shoes.”

Bag designer Rocio Olbes embodied the Shoe Diva—a girl who swears by high fashion footwear. “I’m a sky-high girl,” Rocio admitted. “I really feel that shoes and bags tie in your outfit together. It polishes your overall look.”

Fashion designer Stacy Rodriguez was a shoe-in for Shoe Biz, someone who is all about the glitz and glamour of the red carpet (and who isn’t afraid to bold fashion choices). “It definitely has to complement my outfit. It will also have to depend on how long my dress is, what color and style it is, and what kind of personality I want to bring out.”

Finally, Alexandra Rocha, owner of couture ice cream boutique Pinkerton, admitted to being Shoe Shy—a classic, comfortable, and functional footwear addict. “I’m all for flats, but I also love heels. I live in my ballet flats!”

Browse through the gallery below to see these shoe-loving stylistas in action—and find out how you can win free Charles & Keith shoes with HSBC’s hot new promo!

FN asks: What's your Shoe Personality? Which of these Fashionistas do you identify with the most?

(Photos by Robby Sibal)